I recall in the early 1970’s a tour of a train with modified passenger cars visted my hometown (Tullahoma,TN) and was parked on a spur track for about two to three days and offered tours of art exhibits within the modified passenger or baggage cars. What became of this train? When did it run and where did it travel (schedule)? Who sponsored this excursion/tour? This traveling exhibit/museum sure made an impression on me.
I heard it brought art to small towns everywhere, to expose people to art.
It lasted only for a few years.
Just Google it.
It’s been in operation since sometime in the 70’s. I just recently read that it is switching over to trucks starting this year. I saw it here in North Platte about 10 years ago and they had some neat old heavyweight cars they were using.
I rememnber in the fall of 1997 the Art Train was here in Boone for the annual Pufferbilly Days and I remember it did have a set of Heaveywieght cars they had it parked on the Boone and Senic Valley interchange track near downtown Boone Larry
I can confirm that Artrain is switching over to trailers. It is based across town from me, with the rolling stock stored along the Norfolk Southern line through town. They have put their railway equipment up for sale. I’d first heard this was happening after my sister interviewed for a volunteer position there last year.
Their web site, at http://www.artrainusa.org/ doesn’t acknowledge the change, yet, but they issued a press release which appeared in our local paper over the last couple of weeks.
The Art Train was just up here in Green Bay, WI this past summer-we had some of the crew at our hotel. I hadn’t heard about a switch to trucks. Too bad.
the Michigan dinner Train in Walled Lake Mi (former COE Rail) has 2 stored F-7’s that are painted “Artrain”…i remember seeing these enigines and the train in Ann Arbor Mi in the late 80’s early 90’s