They are set to become “Pere Marquette Parlor” first class cars on the Institute’s popular North Pole Express holiday excursions behind 2-8-4 No. 1225, the engine that starred in the Polar Express movie and books.
The two cars were among 139 cars and locomotives offered for sale in November; a second batch of cars was offered the following month.
The Institute’s Aarne Frobom tells Trains News Wire that the cars are still at Beech Grove, but will shortly make their way to Owosso in freight trains.
While not divulging the cost, he says the cars came, “at what were for us fairly high prices. We expect that our high-volume Christmas season trips will let us recoup the investment over a few years.”
One of the cars is the former Willamette Valley, No. 39975. Trains News Wire is attempting to confirm the number of the second car.
Frobom says he doesn’t know the extent of any repairs that might be necessary, but hopes to have the vintage full-length domes ready for the Institute’s diesel-hauled fall color tours in northern lower Michigan, as well as No. 1225 excursion from Mount Pleasant to Cadillac set for Oct. 5.
The group doesn’t expect to make interior changes in the short term.
“The downstairs theater seating may be replaced by washrooms, wheelchair accommodations, coach seating, or other uses,” Frobom adds. “The mix of lounge and dining seating upstairs will be used to offer catered meal service in cooperation with on-line restaurants.”
Santa Fe Hi-level lounge cars behind Pere Marquette 1225 on a Christmas excursion – does it get any better than that?! I think not!!!!!
Charles Landey, you say you rode an ex-Santa Fe high-level car in 1995, and “it looked old and tired then”. I rode in one of these Pacific Parlour Cars in September 2016, and it was fabulous! Yes, those old lounge cars got a good makeover before the institution of the Pacific Parlour service (I forget just when that was); thus your insinuation that “24 years older = much worse shape than they were in 1995” doesn’t hold water.
I’ve great memories of the one trip where I was in a sleeping car on the Coast Starlight, and this got to ride the Parlor Car. A real treat.
To the two posters who mentioned Amtrak and Anderson, I totally agree, this would have been wonderful to have kept them. Am not sure if Anderson was hand picked from Trump group. Friend who worked as conductor for NS and became a dispatcher for Amtrak, now training to be an engineer, said that Wick seems to choose someone to take his place that does a terrible job and makes him look good. Happened at NS who have now stopped the steam program and happening at Amtrak too. So Wick must have a say in who the successor would be. I had no idea where Anderson came from and he told me this, I wish Anderson would fly away somewhere else Amtrak is not all about just making money for stockholders by cutting the trains up, it’s about taking passengers where they need to go and not just NEC either.
Rode it in 2003 after I had spent the night in Portland. Had rode Empire Builder there and stayed overnight, happened to be annual Rose Fest weekend and saw a parade and toured a Navy ship. On the Starlight, we were switched over to buses at Eugene, OR to Klamath Falls due to UP track work. Arrived at Klamath Falls at 10 pm and diner was kept open for us who were riding first class and wine was served with dinner, because we had missed the wine/cheese party. Beautiful car and glad I did get to see and ride in it. Final destination was San Francisco, where I met a friend who had flown out, I left 5 days before her, but what an awesome experience. My first long distance trip via Amtrak and loved every minute of it.
We rode the Coast Starlight 2 years ago and the parlours were in great shape and, to say the least, popular.
Joe and Roger, I see your (mutual) point. The Santa Fe highlevels aren’t the same design as the Budd single-levels for the Canadian or the California Zephyr.
I agree Roger, I rode the Canadian in November and the equipment looked like it was almost new. The obs. was totally rebuilt and gorgeous. Everything worked and was spotless.
Who got another 139 cars from Amtrak Sales in Nov and Jan 2019??
I am left wondering about the disposition of the other three Pacific Parlour Cars. Someone could have the foresight to buy and have them restored to The Coast Starlight after CEO Richard Anderson leaves.
What a shame it was for Amtrak to get rid of these classic cars. With the proper maintenance these well built ex Santa Fe lounges could have gone on pleasing passengers and enhancing their experiences for decades to come. But that,however,is the reason for their demise as the Anderson administration at Amtrak is doing everything in its’ power to make long distance train travel less appealing. Richard Anderson was hand picked from within the Trump administration to do just what he is doing;and that is to destroy and dismantle our remaining iconic long distance passenger trains.
Charles, Take a look at VIA’s Canadian and you will see how long distance train travel is supposed to be experienced and is supposed to look,and that is all with equipment that is 60 years old and older. They just don’t make them like that anymore!
Railfans love the Santa Fe fleet. Amtrak mechanical does not. The maintenance problems and the maintenance costs and the parts incompatibility are real issues. No airline flies Douglas DC-7’s or Lockheed Constellations or Convair 880’s any more.
I last rode a ex-Santa Fe high level (Sacramento to Richmond, California) in 1995. It look old and tired then. Now they’re 24 years older than that.
Penelope, I am afraid that there won’t be a Coast Starlight or any other long distance train if the Trump administration and its’ puppets at Amtrak succeed at their agendas to destroy them. Anderson will not leave until his dastardly and devious plans have been accomplished!
I hope that at least one of these Ex Santa Fe Parlour Cars was purchased by a museum as yes I agree that these Parlour Cars would look great behind any Preserved Santa Fe Warbonnet diesel.
I heard that the other 3 Parlour Cars were purchased by 3 individual buyers as well, but I don’t know who the other buyers are.
These would go well with the Santa Fe FP45 at Illinois Railway Museum if restored to Santa Fe colors.
Yes, it is a shame to see Amtrak get rid of them, but it might make more sense to make Pacific Parlor Cars out of something newer. Are there any Superliner Lounges that are out of service at Beach Grove?
I guess they were not in as bad a shape as Amtrak made off if they were able to get such a good price on them. No doubt the profits from them will be funneled to the NEC.