Noting that sleeper space on the Amtrak long distance trains is now in short supply and selling at a premium, a new Chicago company was formed that will add sleepers and diners to the Amtrak trains. They will not be private RR cars but cars put in service that would accommodate a number of passengers.
The service will start this October on trains from NYP to CHI and NOL.
See it here. http://www.travelpullman.com/
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Raises a lot more questions than it answers, but I wish them the best. Sounds
like it could be a sort of OLE revival.
I dunno, looks like they might be the owners of a fleet of Private Varnish. Shades of a scaled back American-Orient Express type company.
I'd bet they wouldn't want the steerage, er... coach passengers wandering through the sleepers.
Rusty
IFRC, this is an operation of the Iowa Pacific RR which has several freight and tourist railroads in the US and UK. They have a large pool of FRA and Amtrak certified passenger cars and engines but initially the pullmans will be tacked on to regular Amtrack trains. They are working with Amtrak to get joint ticketing. This will be a "premium price" service and Amtrak coach passengers will not be able to walk in.
Tony
Up on "The D & H Bridge Line"
One detail that wasn't made real clear in the linked website was, exactly were do you dine? Do they have an exclusive dinning car that accompanies the Pullman sleepers? Or are these cars not really "Pullman sleepers" at all, but private "office cars" with some sleeping quarters, a kitchen, crew sleeping quarters, a dinning room, and a lounge/observation platform for viewing?
One detail that wasn't made real clear in the linked website was, exactly were do you dine? Do they have an exclusive dinning car that accompanies the Pullman sleepers? Or are these cars not really "Pullman sleepers" at all, but private "office cars" with some sleeping quarters, a kitchen, crew sleeping quarters, a dinning room, and a lounge/observation platform for viewing?
Quote from the website:
"Work is being done right now to restore 10 Pullman cars to reflect their original beauty and function, and to develop authentic Pullman on-board service."
The image of the bulnt-end obs in IC colors would probably indicate these won't be platform observation/business cars.
My guess is they'll have their own exclusive diners so as not to have to mingle with the riff-raff...
Rusty
Rusty,
I read all that too, however original "Pullman Cars", i.e. sleeping cars, had absolutely NO provisions for cooking nor eating meals in THAT car. Passengers went to the dinner for their meals. Only "private" or "office" type cars had sleeping quarters, crew sleeping quarters, kitchen, dinning room, and lounge areas.
Rusty,
I read all that too, however original "Pullman Cars", i.e. sleeping cars, had absolutely NO provisions for cooking nor eating meals in THAT car. Passengers went to the dinner for their meals. Only "private" or "office" type cars had sleeping quarters, crew sleeping quarters, kitchen, dinning room, and lounge areas.
Guess we'll have to wait and see. I'm not worried, I probably couldn't afford a trip anyway.
Rusty
April "Trains" has a one page article about the Pullman venture in the Preservation section.
On dining:
"The meals we'll be serving in the New York diner and the ex-Santa Fe dome to New Orleans will be classic American railroad cuisine..."
The New York train diner is listed as ex-NYC lightweight diner 448 and the New Orleans dome is listed as a former El Capitan dome-lounge.
--Reed
The parent company is currently running the "Saratoga & North Creek" railroad just South West of here. They're using D&H inspired GE and even a BL-2 for motive power, some LIRR-style double-decker cars, and a full length dome. Patrons who pay for dome car service are served restaurant-style meals.
Here's a link to their service:
Jon 
Apparently Iowa Pacific have bought at least eight former Illinois Central passenger cars, including three observation cars, a Pullman sleeper, an IC-rebuilt dining car and three heavyweight coaches.
http://www.rypn.org/forums/vie....php?f=1&t=32955
The Pullman sleeper is Illinois Central Greenville, built as Imperial Chariot for the NYC in 1940. It did not appear to be in very good condition, so I presume Iowa Pacific plan to do some substantial restoration and rebuilding work to be ready for service. I, for one, very much hope that this new Pullman service succeeds.
I have been in touch with some high level marketing people at Pullman. On April 21st or thereabout, the details of the trips, prices etc will be announced on their website. In June the website will be redone and all the pertinent details will be available. I expect the trips to be priced considerably above Amtrak sleeper rates but we will see how much. I foresee a $1000+ one way NYP to CHI fare so we will have to wait and see where fares come out. The cars will not be private but will have several sleepers. They will also have their own dining car and promise "world class" meals.
There were some Pullman sleeps which were "combo" cars, that is, they did have a small kitchen/dining area in them. Most of these type cars were plaves in obs. units.
I'll take a lower on #29 to Chicago, por favor! Ooops, wrong century! System
not responding???? Who are you guys.... Penn Central??!!
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