Non-Amtrak cars on NB Texas Eagle?

[Daniel Norton]

Any clue what the two new-looking cars on the end of this morning's northbound (through Austin) Texas Eagle are?

They have no Amtrak colors and there is a gray bar above the windows running the lengths of the cars. There is lettering inside the gray bars that I was unable to make out.

 

[Texan Eagle]

Any clue what the two new-looking cars on the end of this morning's northbound (through Austin) Texas Eagle are?

They have no Amtrak colors and there is a gray bar above the windows running the lengths of the cars. There is lettering inside the gray bars that I was unable to make out.

Single level or bi-level cars?

Single level ones could be private cars right?

 

[Daniel Norton]

Single level or bi-level cars?

Single level. My memory of the windows is fading, but I believe they were larger than those on a typical Amtrak coach.

 

[the_traveler]

Those were probably what is called Private Varnish (PV). If you have to ask how much PV cars are - you can't afford it!

(Many cost like $100,000-$500,000 or more - plus the cost to transport them!)

PV cars are usually old cars from the "good old days of railroading" that have been bought and rebuilt to the original look. Many can be rented out - for much $$$!

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Yeah, the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited see Private Varnish from time to time. If all you want to do is ride on (as opposed to own) a PV car you can sometimes do so for a price similar to today's Amtrak sleeper tickets in some cases.

 

[Daniel Norton]

Yes, I understand that they are probably PV cars. I am wondering if they can be identified.

 

[the_traveler]

Any clue what the two new-looking cars on the end of this morning's northbound (through Austin) Texas Eagle are?

...

there is a gray bar above the windows running the lengths of the cars. There is lettering inside the gray bars that I was unable to make out.

Maybe ex-NYC cars?

 

[Daniel Norton]

Maybe ex-NYC cars?

Nope. These are modern-styled and look shiny-new.

 

[stntylr]

Creative Charters has private cars that run on the TE fairly often.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Maybe ex-NYC cars?

Nope. These are modern-styled and look shiny-new.

Well now you've got my attention. Does anyone know of any PV consist that includes modern equipment from Europe or Asia? Otherwise I have no idea what this could be and I don't think you can just build and certify your own designs like you can with a boat or car or something.

 

[MikefromCrete]

As far as I know, PV'S are all "classic" cars, some from the 1950's, others earlier. I never heard of any new cars in the PV ranks. A new coat of paint could make an old car look modern, however.

 

[Daniel Norton]

They're not any of the current CC stock, as the only paint was a dark gray bar running the length above the windows, with lettering. If memory serves (it often doesn't), the two cars were identical, the windows were sleeper-car sized, it had no ribbing and it seemed remarkably free of nicks or dents that would suggest an older car. (Don't put too much weight on these details, as I was looking through my bedroom window as it rolled by 100 yds away — and 15 minutes early, which is very unusual.)

If they're still attached, it's Train #22, which will hang out for 45 minutes in St. Louis tomorrow (Weds) morning and about 20 minutes after sunrise it will depart for Chicago.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Didn't the Southern Pacific at one time run some smooth sided Coaches and Parlor Cars with oversize windows?

 

[Daniel Norton]

Didn't the Southern Pacific at one time run some smooth sided Coaches and Parlor Cars with oversize windows?

Yep, in bright "Daylight" colors: http://file048b.bebo...9724026320l.jpg

The cars I saw looked like these SNCF cars, but with no paint other than the gray bar above the windows:

http://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/

(It's possible that the cars I saw were painted a light gray, very close to a shade of stainless steel.)

 

[Bob Dylan]

Creative Charters has private cars that run on the TE fairly often.

You are correct Stan, Ive been inside these cars and they are pretty plush! They are kept in HOS @ the Amtrak Station and often run on the SSL and TE as you said! However one of these cars is a Dome and the OP mentioned that they were Single Level, so I dont think these were Creative Charter PVs!