I plan on being trackside tomorrow morning to view the “Mark Twain Train” come through Eola on its way to Quincy, IL with the first of eight such train trips (one in each direcion both Saturday and Sunday this weekend and next weekend)…does anybody know the identity of the private (i.e. dome) cars being used on these trains? Thanks.
UPDATE: Well, some of us were trackside this morning to see this train come through. The “advertised” train was the regularly scheduled Amtrak train to Quincy from Chicago and it came through Eola at 8:18 (right on time) with the regular Genesis unit and four Amfleet cars followed by an ex-Amtrak full dome lettered Rio Grande (something). The dome seemed to have about ten to fifteen passengers in th dome seating which seemed dissapointing and those of us trackside were also dissapointed to see only one dome car. Now for (as Paul Harvey would say) THE REST OF THE STORY…most of the guys left shortly after the 8:18 passage of the regular Amtrak train but one of my trackside buddies stayed behind and at about 9:35 a.m. we saw a headlight approaching from the east and (low and behold) here came an unscheduled train led by an Amtrak Genesis unit and five or six private cars including a Santa Fe baggage car, three coaches/diners and two short domes. Unfortunately we were so surprised by this “special” train that nobody took photos or wrote down the exact consist. If anybody else did get shots of the special please post them. Now I am wondering if this “special” will also run the rest of the schedule of the “Mark Twain Train”?
Jim, the two short domes fit the images of the PUGET SOUND and the SIERRA HOTEL. Perhaps we will get a confirmation on the Forum. If not I will eventually learn from another source and post ut here.
Jim, the two short domes fit the images of the PUGET SOUND and the SIERRA HOTEL. Perhaps we will get a confirmation on the forum. If not I will eventually learn from another source and will post it here.
Further down the page at “Current Happenings” there is a brief description of the history of the full length dome used for the trip. An Ex-Santa Fe car, it previously spent time in Alaska, probably in Anchorage to Denali Park service, there under the name Nenana. It is now owned by Ed Ellis’ Iowa Pacific Holdings.
I am also looking into the surprise that followed. Might just have been equipment being postioned or returned for from a special train move, but I do not think it is involved with the Twain outing.
One of the guys who saw the second train on Saturday morning was back at Eola at about 3:45 p.m. that very afternoon and the five car “special” blew through Eola on its way back (I guess) to Chicago…wow, what a quick trip to the western part of the state…couldn’t have made it all the way to Quincy and have any time for sightseeing before having to turn around and get back to Eola by 3:45! The mystery evolved!
I think the second train of private varnish might have terminated it’s run in Galesburg, and then made it’s return trip to Chicago beginning in early afternoon.I saw the second train on the Galesburg railcam about 11:35 AM or so. It appeared to pull ahead after sitting at the platform about a half mile to the wye, made a backup move and then sat there for quite awhile. I quit watching then, but I’m thinking it went back to Chicago from there.
I recall a similar private rail car trip last year from Chicago to Galesburg and return. Amtrak ran it (for a fee of course). The PUGET SOUND and the SIERRA HOTEL were among the PV’s on it and it now seems they have done it again this year. Presumably someone nearby will provide a confirmation. Not me as I reside in AZ.
The train was for an annual outing-The Donnelly Bros. (RR Donnelly and Sons Printing)-friends and associates get a ride to Galesburg for lunch and enjoy the trip. Consist was 1 Amtrak motor, Santa Fe Baggage Car TAOS, NYC Swift Stream (6 Bedroom Lounge), Mid America Rail Car’s Santa Fe lounge MOHAVE, and the Donnelly’s domes Puget Sound and Sierra Hotel.
I haven’t looked, but an internet search would probably get history and details on the cars.