Investing in rolling stock certified to run on the nation's rail system is not for the meek. Everything you do is measured in thousands or tens of thousands, including a short push from one siding to another. Playing with stuff like this is best left to businesses or folks with VERY deep pockets. Go look up how much even a modest weekend excursion on a charter tour will run you and you will get an idea of the numbers involved.

Thank you!

During the summer model Mondays are less frequent because less time is spent inside during the summer. They will pick back up in the fall and winter

trainroomgary I

Air lines are under 90 pounds of pressure and are dangerous to separate by hand. They are designed to be pulled apart as such.

@@MichiganCentralLines Thanks, that makes sense now.

Let us help you with that. www.aaprco.com/travel/where-do-i-start/

This is an extra local

Justin Noker there's a video of a luxury train coach home for sale around 200k and rent for a private owned rail line to park it starts at 1k depending on the location and state.

Pretty wealthy, a full vacation in one is the same price as a used car (starts at $3,000 per day for most services)

One thing that you have to think about is how much it takes to buy a car that is already at Amtrak standards vs buying a car that is not Amtrak certified and bringing it up to what Amtrak requires to be certified. If you can find it the AAPRCO has a pdf that would be of interest. If I remember however you can expect to spend something like $200,000+ to bring a car up to Amtrak specs and $500,000 or up easily on a car that is already Amtrak certified.

Justin Noker: Like the old saying goes"....if you have to ask you can't afford it."

You can charter one. If you go with a group the rate is pretty reasonable for the level of service you receive. Otherwise ownership and maintenance is expensive. The private cars are usually from the 1950s and 1960s and require to be rebuilt to meet modern safety standards.

Because that was their destination for a month

+Michigan Central Lines so they already left therem

+RB Railfan *?

RB Railfan correct they are already gone from ann arbor

+Michigan Central Lines oh ok.

charlie8you ... Theclosed Captain retired a couple of years ago.

also, what railway were the cars in livery for?

As far as I know private cars are for a person and it's owned by that person and not by a railroad

That is correct, however these are owned by a company, but still not a railroad. Sometimes railroad do own and operate their own cars as such though

These are new York central inspired

Privately owned cars, often referred to as "Private Varnish" are cars that are owned by someone other than Amtrak or another railroad. These cars are historically former business cars from freight railroads or were in service with a railroad prior to being retired into non-railroad ownership. These days a private car owner and can pay Amtrak to move their car as long as it meets Amtrak's rigorous safety standards. Many car owners allow their cars to be chartered out or be part of special excursion trains. You can see a private on car most Amtrak trains. As an Amtrak passenger you wouldn't be allowed on the car though.