What is a Private Railcar you ask?  

Also known as Private Varnish, is simple......

"a railroad passenger car which was either originally built or later converted for service as a business car for private individuals. A private car could be added to the make-up of a train or pulled by a private locomotive, providing splendid upholstered privacy for its passengers. They were used by railroad officials and dignitaries as business cars, and wealthy individuals for travel and entertainment, especially in the United States." 

This is the common defintion that you find in dictionaries, wikipedia, and other references.  In today's modern times you can find various privately owned rail cars at musuems, operating on tourist/short line railroads, and on Amtrak trains across the nation.  Now private rail cars encompass a wide array of cars beyond the traditional luxury business cars of early 20th century.  You have cars reprsenting all different types from the 19teens to the 1960's that are owned by individuals, non-profits, and some for-profits.  Through out the year, some private rail car owners will offer public trips on their cars.  

Have you ever wondered what it was like to ride a Pullman or Budd Sleeper, like it was the mid 20th Century?  Would you like to expereince what rail travel was like then on a regular basis?  Would you like to expereince these accomodations that use to be the standard in the railroad passenger industry from the 1940's & 1950's? 


Double Bedroom:

A wide comfortable chair or long sofa seat by day converts to lower berth for sleeper. An upper berth is stored folded away against the ceiling or wall and repositioned for sleeping. These rooms usually have an individual toilet and wash basin in each room. The aisle in double-bedroom (master bedroom and compartment) areas is on one side of the car, the rooms occupying the rest of the car width. Some variations may be found on business cars, such as a bathroom and shower shared between two bedrooms.

Budd advertisement for Double Bedrooms.  Click on the image to view.   

Roomette:

This room is designed for one person. The bed is stored against the wall by day allowing the use of a comfortable sofa seat for the passenger. These rooms usually have a toilet and wash basin. Roomettes are arranged on both sides of a car’s center aisle and are usually found in combination with double bedrooms in the same car.

Pullman Standard ad for "The Roomette".  Click on the image to view.

Open Section:

This was the classic accommodation in the Pullman days, but much less commonly found in modern cars of the streamlined period. Paired facing seats by day make up into lower and upper berths at night with heavy privacy curtains. Mattresses and blankets are stored away in the upper berth when the section is set up for day use. Your porter (attendant) brings a step ladder on call for the occupant of th eupper berth; the more agile descend without it.

Union Pacific advertising their new Pullman operated Budd built Sleepers in 1950.  Click on the image to view.

Tell Us What You Think

Below is a 13 question survey concerning the possiblity of a client of Batavia & Ohio Railway Services, LLC operating a private railcar operating behind Amtrak trains.  This survey is to see if there is enough interest in offering regular trips to the public.