abqdave
Train Attendant
A small train of private cars in Albuquerque today.
http://picasaweb.google.com/abqdave/Amtrak...erqueJune32010#
http://picasaweb.google.com/abqdave/Amtrak...erqueJune32010#
I used to subscribe to that magazine. Anyone can; you don't have to be associated with a private car. The AAPRCO has a convention every year with dozens of cars in attendance and one or more special trains of only private cars. The last one was in Savannah.There are dozens if not hundreds of privately owned railroad cars that are used by their owners and/or rented for private charter excursions. They range from the old Varnish heavyweights to early streamliners. There are a surprising number of sleepers and luxurious president style cars that are for lease. I've seen some renovated to look like apartments with queen sized beds in the bedrooms and even one that featured a fireplace in the living room/dining area. These private cars are strictly for the well to do and are always pulled by an Amtrak locomotive at a fee of something like $2.00 per mile.If you have interest in reading about private RR cars there is (maybe was) a magazine called "Private Varnish" that lists a bunch of them, their locations, and has pictures of them. I found this magazine at a train show a while back.
Try this link: http://www.aaprco.com/Private_Varnish/varnish.html
While the idea of traveling in a private car is very appealing, its probably way above the affordability point of the members of this forum. We will just have to be happy riding in a private Amtrak bedroom w bath enjoy the meals, the scenery and leave it at that. Our Chicago trip this month on the CL ran us $600 round trip. In a private railcar that same trip would cost us about $5000-$6000, maybe even more. Thats quite a bit of sheckles!I used to subscribe to that magazine. Anyone can; you don't have to be associated with a private car. The AAPRCO has a convention every year with dozens of cars in attendance and one or more special trains of only private cars. The last one was in Savannah.There are dozens if not hundreds of privately owned railroad cars that are used by their owners and/or rented for private charter excursions. They range from the old Varnish heavyweights to early streamliners. There are a surprising number of sleepers and luxurious president style cars that are for lease. I've seen some renovated to look like apartments with queen sized beds in the bedrooms and even one that featured a fireplace in the living room/dining area. These private cars are strictly for the well to do and are always pulled by an Amtrak locomotive at a fee of something like $2.00 per mile.If you have interest in reading about private RR cars there is (maybe was) a magazine called "Private Varnish" that lists a bunch of them, their locations, and has pictures of them. I found this magazine at a train show a while back.
Try this link: http://www.aaprco.com/Private_Varnish/varnish.html
Private cars Palm Leaf, Silver Rapids and Silver Solarium continue their Native American field studies trip today, traveling from Winslow, AZ to Albuquerque, NM on Amtrak #4.
Cars will layover in Albuquerque for two days and depart on #3 on Friday to head back to Los Angeles for arrival Saturday morning.
So I was partially right. The Solarium & Rapids are owned by California Zephyr Railcar Charters. I can't remember off the top of my head who owns the Silver Palm.Found this on another forum posted 6/2/2010...
Private cars Palm Leaf, Silver Rapids and Silver Solarium continue their Native American field studies trip today, traveling from Winslow, AZ to Albuquerque, NM on Amtrak #4.
Cars will layover in Albuquerque for two days and depart on #3 on Friday to head back to Los Angeles for arrival Saturday morning.
It's been discussed here before, but it's possible to charter a car on the cheap. For example, if you catch a positioning move it can be quite affordable. Of course with that the drawback is you've got to be lucky with times and destinations for it to work.While the idea of traveling in a private car is very appealing, its probably way above the affordability point of the members of this forum. We will just have to be happy riding in a private Amtrak bedroom w bath enjoy the meals, the scenery and leave it at that. Our Chicago trip this month on the CL ran us $600 round trip. In a private railcar that same trip would cost us about $5000-$6000, maybe even more. Thats quite a bit of sheckles!
Ryan is correct! When I rode the Cardinal to PHL on NTD in May we picked up three private cars in Cinnci being moved to WAS! The staff told me that the fare including meals was $300, which was less than the highbucket roomette I had on #50! If I'd known I would have cancelled, ridden coach to Cinnci, then taken the private varnish for sure! (It was a sleeper, dome and business car in great shape, looked like new!)It's been discussed here before, but it's possible to charter a car on the cheap. For example, if you catch a positioning move it can be quite affordable. Of course with that the drawback is you've got to be lucky with times and destinations for it to work.While the idea of traveling in a private car is very appealing, its probably way above the affordability point of the members of this forum. We will just have to be happy riding in a private Amtrak bedroom w bath enjoy the meals, the scenery and leave it at that. Our Chicago trip this month on the CL ran us $600 round trip. In a private railcar that same trip would cost us about $5000-$6000, maybe even more. Thats quite a bit of sheckles!
The California Zephyr Railcar Charters will be doing just that- October 7-8: Vista-dome sleeper from Denver to Emeryville. Positioning move! From $799/person. A bit pricey, but for some it may be worth it.Ryan is correct! When I rode the Cardinal to PHL on NTD in May we picked up three private cars in Cinnci being moved to WAS! The staff told me that the fare including meals was $300, which was less than the high bucket roomette I had on #50! If I'd known I would have canceled, ridden coach to Cinnci, then taken the private varnish for sure! (It was a sleeper, dome and business car in great shape, looked like new!)It's been discussed here before, but it's possible to charter a car on the cheap. For example, if you catch a positioning move it can be quite affordable. Of course with that the drawback is you've got to be lucky with times and destinations for it to work.While the idea of traveling in a private car is very appealing, its probably way above the affordability point of the members of this forum. We will just have to be happy riding in a private Amtrak bedroom w bath enjoy the meals, the scenery and leave it at that. Our Chicago trip this month on the CL ran us $600 round trip. In a private railcar that same trip would cost us about $5000-$6000, maybe even more. That's quite a bit of shekels!
Blasphemy! That is Gathering dates!The California Zephyr Railcar Charters will be doing just that- October 7-8: Vista-dome sleeper from Denver to Emeryville. Positioning move! From $799/person. A bit pricey, but for some it may be worth it.
I signed up for emails for a couple of the private cars in LA. They were open at train day last year and had a signup list. There have been some incredible bargains but never yet when I've had time to take them. Some are full service, but the real deals are repositioning where you bring your own food and make your own bed. LARail.com has several cars. Google for private cars based near you to find ones that will add you to their list. AAPRCO also probably has a list on their website.The rates for riding in a private rail car for positioning sound interesting but I would think that these are not well publicized or the high rollers that use them might complain. I've seen private rail cars on the rear of the CL (which we will be on this month) but its seems that if you don't know about the availability of the positioning move you are S.O.L.
In addition to draining your bank account Amtrak presents more paper work than there is in ten trees. Liability insurance in high $$$ is an absolute must and any mechanical failure is totally on you. Sometimes I wondered if I was selling my first born !While the idea of traveling in a private car is very appealing, its probably way above the affordability point of the members of this forum. We will just have to be happy riding in a private Amtrak bedroom w bath enjoy the meals, the scenery and leave it at that. Our Chicago trip this month on the CL ran us $600 round trip. In a private railcar that same trip would cost us about $5000-$6000, maybe even more. Thats quite a bit of sheckles!I used to subscribe to that magazine. Anyone can; you don't have to be associated with a private car. The AAPRCO has a convention every year with dozens of cars in attendance and one or more special trains of only private cars. The last one was in Savannah.There are dozens if not hundreds of privately owned railroad cars that are used by their owners and/or rented for private charter excursions. They range from the old Varnish heavyweights to early streamliners. There are a surprising number of sleepers and luxurious president style cars that are for lease. I've seen some renovated to look like apartments with queen sized beds in the bedrooms and even one that featured a fireplace in the living room/dining area. These private cars are strictly for the well to do and are always pulled by an Amtrak locomotive at a fee of something like $2.00 per mile.If you have interest in reading about private RR cars there is (maybe was) a magazine called "Private Varnish" that lists a bunch of them, their locations, and has pictures of them. I found this magazine at a train show a while back.
Try this link: http://www.aaprco.com/Private_Varnish/varnish.html
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