See the country in luxury and style
By Bill Gray, the President of Pennsylvania Pullmans Inc.
We’ve all seen those old movies like Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, where the debonair and somewhat wry Mr. Thornhill (played by Cary Grant) finds beautiful secret agent Eve Kendall (played by Eva Marie Saint) while traveling from New York to Chicago on the famous 20th Century Limited. Intrigue and romance are in store as they meet and eat in the dining car and later retire to Ms. Kendall’s comfortable Pullman bedroom. Including a scene where Thornhill is “folded” into the upper berth.
You too can be treated to those same accommodations, albeit without the intrigue and high drama of Hitchcock’s players, on some very special cars that have been lovingly restored and returned to service.
Many of today’s heritage passenger railcar owners and enthusiasts belong one or both of the two primary organizations that support restoration, maintenance and operation of these unique pieces of America’s transportation history. The Railroad Passenger Car Alliance and the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners create a networking environment and enable those interested in keeping these historic railcars alive and in operation for newer generations of travel enthusiasts to enjoy.
Of course, in most cases, these privately-owned cars could not operate without an ongoing and positive relationship with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation better known as Amtrak. Amtrak sets the rules for Standard Maintenance Practices, Safety and Inspection Requirements to ensure the cars (many formerly owned by Amtrak) are appropriately maintained and inspected so as to be safe to operate attached to regular or special Amtrak trains at speeds up to 110 miles per hour.
As an added benefit, the revenues provided by these cars help Amtrak to reduce deficits that are typical in all public transportations systems worldwide.
Historic Pullman Railcars
Historical Reference of Pullman Train Cars
In the late 1940s and 50s, many of the US Class 1 railroads took pride in the passenger trade and anticipated a robust Post WWII travel demand. They ordered hundreds of modern “lightweight” passenger cars and offered the best amenities on their flagship trains in order to outdo competing carriers on various routes. A classic example is the competition between the New York Central Railroad’s famed “Twentieth Century Limited” over the “Water Level Route” with The Pennsylvania Railroad’s “Broadway Limited” through the “cool mountain air” from New York City to Chicago. This also extended to the California trade from Chicago with competitors Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (Santa Fe) and Union Pacific to the West Coast.
The American-based railway car manufacturers included the American Car and Foundry (ACF) of St Louis, the E. G. Budd Company (Budd) of Philadelphia, and the original purveyor of the comfortable Sleeping Car The Pullman-Standard Manufacturing Company (Pullman) of Chicago. Each used their designers, engineers and finest craftsmen and metal workers to create these sturdily built cars.
Two events conspired to foil the most comfortable way to travel, namely airlines became safer, and the Interstate Highway System completion enabled drivers more rapid access to America.
As rail passengers fled in droves, the once passenger-friendly Streamliners with their comfortable accommodations and high-class dining experiences became more of a financial drain on the railroads. This resulted in downgrades or elimination of trains and the services offered. Once the freight railroads collectively decided to dump their passenger business some people had the forethought to maintain a viable rail transportation alternative, and this ultimately led to the creation of Amtrak.
Travel Groups Experience Peaceful, ‘Green’ Transportation
Many travelers are beginning to recognize of the benefit of train travel from city-center to city-center with no need to be concerned about long wait lines, bad weather, low clouds, turbulent skies, cramped seating, etc. and Boeing’s ongoing “quality escapes.”
The other trend is that the environmentally conscious amongst us seem to be re-discovering eco-friendly passenger rail.
Dining room image Blue Ridge Club
Nostalgia and Comfortable Travel on the Train
Back to Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. Can you picture yourself enveloped in a 1950s time capsule with Art-Deco or Streamlined-Moderne design appointments in your Pullman car as you sit back, relax and enjoy a Chef-prepared meal in a comfortable dining room? The ambience with linen tablecloths and period china service, or perhaps enjoying stimulating conversation over your favorite beverage in the lounge makes this a very civilized method of travel.
Or maybe you dream about having a wonderful night’s sleep in a cozy Pullman berth (bed) as the beautiful American landscape rolls past your picture window as the rhythm of the rails gently rocks you to sleep.
Thanks to the dedicated owners of these heritage railcars, you too can have a fully immersive experience as your Pullman car travels along a coastal plain, or glides over rivers and crosses through beautiful mountain scenery like Glacier National Park on the Empire Builder. Enjoy the vistas as you ride the California Zephyr from Denver through the front range of the Rocky Mountains with multiple tunnels including the 6.2-mile-long Moffat Tunnel that passes under the Western Continental Divide at 9,239 feet above Sea Level before continuing west through the spectacular red rocks of the Glenwood Canyon to Salt Lake City and then follow the historic route taken by Robert Louis Stevenson as you ascend the Sierra Nevada range and gaze down upon Donner Lake.
Oh, the sights you shall see as you glide upon the steel ribbons stretching across the enchanted New Mexico landscape and following the original Santa Fe Trail from the comfort of your Pullman car on the tail end of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief.
You can enjoy the pleasures of Pullman Travel today. There are around 30 cars presently Amtrak-certified and available for charter on the Amtrak network. Additional cars are available for operation on Shortline and Tourist Railroads throughout the United States.
No matter Amtrak-certified or not, the varieties of cars are quite amazing. Some are configured in various ways for entertaining guests onboard. Some cars are for daytime travel or dining, some include sleeping accommodations only while others are a combination of bedrooms and dining and lounge space. Then there are the Vista Domes with their raised glass enclosed structure above the normal roofline.
Dining Room image Blue Ridge Club
How Can I Ride in a privately-owned Pullman?
If you want to participate in a unique experience by riding one of these heritage cars, you do have a few options. One way is to charter one (or more) cars with your family or friends for a tailored trip by contacting individual car owners or trade associations.
Alternatively, you may be able to participate in a public trip as advertised through the car owner/operators associations or the owners.
Railcar Charter Websites
- sleeponatrain.com
- pullmans.com
- northernsky.com
- patrickhenrytrain.com
- acwr.com/excursions
- webbrail.com
- https://www.pacifichomerail.com
- https://www.adiosrail.com
- https://www.urhs.org/charters
- https://261.com
- https://www.larail.com
- https://doverharbor.com
- https://www.virginiarail.com/
- privaterailcharters.com
- https://railexco.com/charters
- aaprco.com/charter-a-private-car
- rpca.com/charter
Arrangements can be made with an individual car owner, or multiple car owners to match your need for types of cars and the need for sleeping accommodations, meal service and drink service. Charter customers should also be familiar with available Amtrak origins and destinations for the planned trip. The car owner/operator can provide advice on the potential for overnight parking occupied with your party.
When extra capacity or specific car types are needed one may charter multiple cars which are coupled together and operated on the same Amtrak train. This provides ability for passengers to pass back and forth between the Private Cars.
In some instances when the Private Car is operated on other than a Superliner-equipped train, the passengers may wish to book their additional sleeping capacity in the Amtrak consist.
Berlin and Blue Ridge Club
Price Expectations for Rail Cars
Prices vary based on the route distance, meal service and other factors. Charter prices range between $5,000 and $25,000 per car, per day depending primarily on distance travelled.
Passenger Safety on the Trains
For charters on Amtrak, customers must become familiar with and abide by the Amtrak Safety Manual, policies and protocols found at: https://www.amtrak.com/privately-owned-rail-cars.
Group Travel by Train: Origins and Destinations
Amtrak publishes information on which origin and destination stations are available for Private Car travel (https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/privatecars/Amtrak-Private-Car-Guidelines-011724.pdf)
Some Amtrak Stations permit the parking of the cars while occupied by guests and this provides a valuable opportunity to enjoy very popular annual events like:
- Albuquerque NM Balloon Fiesta (https://balloonfiesta.com)
- New Orleans LA Jazz Festival (https://www.neworleans.com/event/new-orleans-jazz-%26-heritage-festival/3197/)
- Seattle WA Seafair (https://www.seafair.org)
Pullman Railcars
What Types of Cars are Available for Groups?
- Sleeping Cars provide overnight accommodations for between 10 and 32 passengers. Some cars have a combination of the following sleeping accommodations:
- Double Bedrooms (1 Upper and 1 Lower single bed)
- Roomettes (1 Lower bed and sometimes 1 upper bed)
- Master Suites (1 lower Full, Queen or King Size bed)
- Sections (Daytime booth seating converts to 1 upper and 1 lower bed)
Luxury Sleeping Car BERLIN
10 Roomette 6 Double Bedroom Sleeper PACIFIC SANDS
- Sleeper Lounge Cars provide a combination of bedrooms and lounge or dining space and typically have an onboard galley or kitchen for food preparation.
Pullman sleeper lounge cars
- Observation Cars have end facing windows and are able to operate at the rear position on the train to provide 180-degree viewing of the scenery to the sides and rear of the train. Some Sleeper Lounge cars and some Dome Cars are also Observation Cars.
- Office Cars (or Business Cars) were designed for use by railroad officials and dignitaries, and later used by political candidates for “Whistle Stop Campaigns”. These cars have a “porch” referred to as an “open platform” often with ornate brass railing on the end of the car. A sitting room or lounge is usually located next to the platform with end facing windows (so it’s an Observation Car). These cars have a dining room near the forward section of the car which is separated from the lounge by 4 or 5 bedrooms. At the very front of the car is located a pantry/kitchen with crew sleeping quarters.
- Dome Cars were created to provide a panoramic view from a glass enclosed raised section of roof at the middle of the car. In some cases, the upper-level dome runs nearly the full length of the car with a lower floor underneath serving as kitchen or housing mechanical service and bathroom facilities. Some Dome Cars are also Sleepers and include the benefits of a sleeping car on the lower level with seating in the Dome for scenic viewing. These cars are not able to serve New York City due to height restrictions and clearances caused by tunnels and overhead catenary wire.
Pullman Railcars
A “cottage industry” that supports U.S. Jobs, Amtrak and Tourism
The car owners and operators support a number of jobs here in the United States. Owners provide critical financial support for the railcar shops that restore and maintain these cars. This includes annual Amtrak inspections and other Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) required inspections.
Car owners also contract with highly skilled personnel who provide Onboard Services and booking services. This includes Chefs, Attendants, Porters and Tour Operators. Clearly, car owners are cheerleaders for a robust Amtrak network and fully support the expansion of the network to reach more tourism opportunities throughout the U.S. Finally, Private Car owners and operators provide a “green” tourism opportunity to introduce International Travelers to the beautiful sights here in America.
To see America up close, we encourage you to come ride the Rails in Pullman Comfort.
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