I was driving to work this morning and approaching a railroad crossing in Cedar Lake, In and saw what I thought was a Great Northern dome car. The track are the ones used by Amtrak and it was heading North to Chicago. It was about 3 passenger cars and 3 power units. It was gone in a flash, so I couldn't identify much more.
Does anyone know anything about this, or have spend too much time in the train room and am seeing things?
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Iowa Pacific owns a great dome painted GN. It was used for a PolarExpress car for a shortline railroad outside Lubbock, TX.
Also could've been this car....
I think this car is to be used on the 611 trips...
I think it was Iowa Pacific, but I think the great Northern car was attached too. Do the Iowa Pacific cars have full domes?
Thanks Guys!!!!
You know all kidding aside Amtrak does have passenger cars that you can rent or lease. They have the ability to couple these cars in the Chicago station and put them on trains going west.
A friend of mine rented one for a family reunion for a 1 week trip out to California. They said it was allot of fun.
There is an organization of private railcar owners, and they have their own magazine called "Private Varnish." Many of the older passenger cars you may see pulled by Amtrak are these privately owned cars, both streamlined and heavyweight, usually painted in their original liveries although now privately owned. Amtrak will tow private cars at the end of their passenger trains for a rate of so much per mile. They also have conventions and special events where numerous of these private cars are pulled together in a special train to some destination. Many of the cars are also available for private charter by the owners.
I've seen quite a few of these over the years. Just saw two in Denver in November. Saw beautiful Southern and Seaboard passenger cars riding behind the Amtrak Texas Chief a few years ago, and recently a California Zephyr and a New York Central in Dallas. A few years ago I visited a GM&O (Gulf, Mobile and Ohio) heavyweight observation car having some interior finish work done on a siding near Union Station in Dallas. It was owned by one of the founders of Hard Rock Cafe. The exterior was splendid, complete with brass railings on the end porch and a large red marker light integrated into the roof above. The interior (I was allowed to walk in) was unbelievable, finished in carpeted Victorian splendor, with the rear room looking like a luxury sitting room with overstuffed chairs and couches, wood paneling, stained glass lamps, etc.
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American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners Inc.
Our mission is to promote the operation, ownership, and enjoyment of the private passenger railcar.
The unique enjoyment of private railroad passenger cars can be experienced as a car owner, as a charter client or as a passenger.
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Here's the (ex-GN) Iowa Pacific full dome on display in Franklin Park, Illinois in 2014:
Rusty
It's not all that uncommon to have a private rail car in an Amtrak consist. Amtrak has compliance rules (electrical, HEP-compatibility, etc) that require the car to be able to sit anywhere within the train. They charge a mileage rate, plus switch moves.
There are frequently a few private rail cars parked in the coach yard at LAUPT (Los Angeles Union Station). Private rail cars show up here pretty frequently. ATSF 3751 "sleeps" nearby at the Amtrak maintenance facility.
Rusty, that is the car I saw this morning. So I saw the Iowa Pacific engine consist pulling their Great Northern dome car!!! I am not losing my mind!!
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