Private Rail Cars: Resources, Operations, & Discussion

[chuchubob]

Site Admin Note: bumping and combining several topics and adding "sticky".

This topic and the Unique Equipment topic are separate. PV sightings should continue to be reported there.

This thread should cover the operation, ownership, specifications, statistics, etc. of private vehicles in the United States. I put it in Amtrak as that is where they would primarily operate.

AAPRCO

Altiplano Rail

Berlin Sleeping Car

Cincinnati Railway

Dearing Railroad

Dominion Rail Voyages (Mt. Vernon)

New York Central 3

URHS (Hickory Creek aka 20th Century Limited

Provided by member JHDEASY

Washington DC Chapter, National Railway Historical Society (DOVER HARBOR, COLLINSVILLE INN and FRANKLIN INN)
http://www.doverharbor.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.dcnrhs.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Morristown & Erie Railway (ALEXANDER HAMILTON, BIRKEN and MORRIS COUNTY)
http://www.merail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Webb Rail, LLC (BABBLING BROOK)
http://www.webrail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Virginia Rail Investment Corporation (KITCHI GAMMI CLUB)
http://www.virginiarail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

F L Tours Ltd. (FRANCIS L. SUTER)
http://www.privaterail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Railroad Passenger Services LLC / Rail and Cruise Travel Center (EPICURUS)
http://www.railandcruisetravel.com/Epicurus01.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

C. P . Huntington Railroad Historical Society (NEW YORK CENTRAL 38, BRADDOCK INN and GEORGE C. DAVIS)
http://www.newrivertrain.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Original Post:

On Sunday April 4 Juniata Terminal's Warrior Ridge and Pennsylvania 120 were added to train 98, the Silver Meteor, at 30th Street Station in Philly for a trip to Sunnyside Yard, returning to Philly on train 97, the Silver Meteor.

I photographed the Varnish at Trenton in the rain.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/847" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 0741eTZTyd

http://community.webshots.com/photo/847" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 1243MxxRjz

http://community.webshots.com/photo/847" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 1881QYdAgq

http://community.webshots.com/photo/847" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 2186IsLNaR

[Gilbert B Norman]

As always, Mr. Vogel, many thanks for your timely and totally professional photography that you are willing to share with the Forum.

Of interest to me is the car Warrior Ridge. After a review of a June 1963 Official Register of Passenger Train Equipment, I learned that PRR never had a "--Ridge" series of lightweight cars. Mr. Levin and his Juniata Terminal was usually faithful to the Pennsy heritage.

I guess since the car was not from ex-PRR stock, but rather a 1950 Budd built ex-SP French Quarter Lounge as I have learned, a degree of "license' could be in order. While, it would have been nice if Juniata would have been able to obtain some "smooth' sheathing that Budd applied to painted cars, such as the PRR 21 Rmt "--Inn" sleepers (as well as ex-GN & NP domes), there are practical constraints that even the most "fastidious" of car rebuilders must respect.

But come to think of it, the unsheathed Budd built car has precedence, as that was how the 10-6 "--College" series was delivered to the N&W; in all certainty, those cars found their way onto PRR rails through interchange.

I would guess Amtrak chose to handle this private move on the Meteor considering its 4.5hr "flabby' schedule over the Corridor.

Once again thanks for a great job, Mr. Vogel.

[jhdeasy]

If you get a close look at WARRIOR RIDGE, by photo or in person, you will see that Juniata Terminal Company removed the Budd corrugated fluting and replaced it with flat stainless steel.

The latest issue of AAPRCO's Private Varnish magazine (with PROMONTORY POINT on the cover) has a short item on how the Levins selected the name WARRIOR RIDGE for the car.

There are a limited number of Amtrak trains which handle private cars on the NEC. The Crescent (19/20), The Cardinal (51/50), The Federal (66/67), The Carolinian (79/80), The Palmetto (89/90), The Silver Star (91/92) and the Silver Meteor (97/98) are candidates, on a not-to-interfere-with Roadrailers basis. PVs are prohibited on all of the Regional trains and Clockers, as they exceed 110 MPH; the only exceptions are NYP to BOS on Regional 140 and BOS to NYP on Regional 147, which operate SAT&SUN only via the Inland Route.

[queenlnr8]

PV on the NEC can't exceed 110 MPH?? Didn't these cars regularly exceed 110 in revenue days?

[Gilbert B Norman]

I was able to note, Mr. Deasy, from Mr. Vogel's photo that the corrugated fluting as well as SP's oversized numberboard were removed. However, I could not discern if any kind of fluting was installed; therefore I presumed the sides were left as they were with the N&W "--College" 10-6 sleepers.

Quite wisely, Mr. Levin secures his fleet in his NE Phila shops ("Serving the Nation") when not on the road. Residing in Chicago, my opportunities to view first hand his superb equipment are, of course, limited.

Lastly, one further off topic off Forum point. After MP had thrown in the towel, one of their Budd Domes (defer to Mr. Ainsworth for exactly which one), all of which were delivered with corrugated sheathing even though painted, got in a minor "scrape". Even though the car was returned to service, it returned without any sheathing on the side on which the scrape occurred. Therefore, it served out its days, including latter days on the IC - but not Amtrak; in a "one shoe off, one shoe on; Diddle Diddle Dumpling...." manner.

[jhdeasy]

queenlnr8,

Amtrak limits PVs to 110 MPH.

PVs with bolted pedestal trucks (a few older heavyweights with original trucks) are further limited to 90 MPH.

[Chriss]

Those cars are kept in Philly?

Do you know where? Is it possible to visit? Are they on the web?

[chuchubob]

Juniata Terminal is a privately owned business located on the North East Corridor in Philly, easily seen from the train between North Philadelphia Station and Frankford Junction.

Walk-up foamers are not appreciated.

Interesting equipment can often be seen from the train. SEPTA R7 Trenton Local and NJTransit Atlantic City train are the venues of choice, for financial reasons, for seeing Juniata Terminal from the train.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/225 ... 8462ToCRvo

[Bennett Levin]

Just to clear the air and provide some factual information.


The Warrior Ridge still has its original Budd fluting beneath the new stainless steel sheathing. The new steel was applied over the original sheathing using a combination of techniques including space age science, and modern welding techniques. Special fillets were fabricated to allow the new sheathing to appear seemless and to enhance the rigidity of the application.


Since the car was modified so many times by Amtrak it really did not represent anything of any significance. We did not letter it PRR but rather JUNIATA and did not name it in any of the PRR named servies of cars.

Whimsey!!!!!

Thanks to Bob for great photos.

[CarterB]

Does Amtrak charge a per mile charge for any type of PV, or are there other factors that figure in? Will Amtrak haul a PV to a mid-point station or must it be end point to end point?

[John_Perkowski]

To answer the question of if a PV can run "short", the answer was YES.

I've seen PV Tamalpais (an ex-ATSF business car, run out of CA) run the CZ from the Bay to Reno/Sparks. It would turn in the Reno area for backhaul.

I used WAS malice aforethought. I'm not current in this area.

Best info source is AAPRCO: http://www.aaprco.com

[crazy_nip]

I dont know why, but there has been a PV at tampa union station all week

it has been on track 3, its a blue L&N painted car which I have seen here before on 90 north

It is likely heading SOMEWHERE this weekend, likely on 90

[AEM7902]

<i>Walk-up foamers are not appreciated.</i>

Would walk-up foamers be appreciated if they were clinching a check for $100 visitation fee?

DISCLAIMER: I am not a foamer, nor would I spend $100 visitation fee on some Private Varnish if I were going to spend some money on some equipment. I was speculating on behalf of Chriss.

[C&O 15]

Would walk-up foamers be appreciated if they were clinching a check for $100 visitation fee?

I wouldn't think so. $100 doesn't go very far towards restoring and operating passenger equipment.

[C&O 15]

Would walk-up foamers be appreciated if they were clinching a check for $100 visitation fee?

I wouldn't think so. $100 doesn't go very far towards restoring and operating passenger equipment.