I love private rail cars, also known as Private Varnish. I’ve always thought this would be the best way to travel and see the country if time was no factor. During the summer months, PV’s are fairly common on all the transcontinental trains as private owners vacation or the public charter cars for their own once in a life time experience.
This video features PV’s on the Southwest Chief. During the summer and fall of 2017, we were fortunate to catch twelve cars as they made their way through New Mexico. Complete descriptions of these cars are available on our website.
Cimarron River: http://www.cimriver.com/
Colonial Crafts: http://colonialcraftsrailcar.com/
Cyrus K. Holliday: It is now owned by the Kennebec Financial Corporation, the family corporation of the Sefton family, wealthy San Diego pioneers. They founded San Diego Trust and Savings Bank and were major players in San Diego development and history
Overland Trail: http://www.overlandtrail.com/index.html
Pacific Sands: PACIFIC SANDS was delivered to the Union Pacific Railroad in April of 1950. Part of a total of 50 Pacific Series sleeper cars delivered by the Budd Company that year, the Pullman Company and Union Pacific had high hopes for the future expansion of rail travel by re-equipping the “City” trains with sleek, modern stainless steel cars.
Tioga Pass: Built in 1959 by the Canadian National Shops in Point St. Charles, Quebec, the car was part of an order for 12 similar cars designed for railroad executives. Originally number 23, and later number 93, Tioga Pass spent most of its life in Edmonton, Alberta.
Warren R. Henry and Evelyn A. Henry: This dome car and sleeper car are owned by Patrick Henry Promotions. Based out of Houston, TX, this company specializes in marketing and promotions for the restaurant and b
Very well done…great, terrific, bravo!
Only question I am left with is “Where did I go wrong?”
Very exclusive ‘club’ I imagine.
Thanks for the nice works and for watching. It definitely would be the way to travel. Keeping that in mind, groups of people frequently charter one of these cars and the cost split between a group wouldn’t be much more than a good hotel.
The number of passenger cars on the Cars Available for Charter list by AAPRCO continues to shrink…so enjoy this while it lasts, I think the end is near for the Private Railway Car as more and more are sold off for dedicated steam excursion service or donated to museums.
Sad but true. I try to capture them anytime one rolls through New Mexico. Unfortunately it seems that there are a lot of repeats on the SW Chief. Thanks for watching!
Parts availability is also an issue. Even the supply of cars that can be cannibalized for out-of-production parts is shrinking.
When they scrap out the red and blue circus train cars plus sell off the circus trains parts inventory, many hard to find parts will be back on the market. The trucks alone become a very valuable commodity.
That’s good to know that something good will come out of the circus train!
Sad but true.