A The genesis of the American Orient Express was the American European Express, which begin operation in February 1989 between Washington, D.C., and Chicago. The service operated with a pair of consists each including a diner, lounge with grand piano, and three sleepers coupled to Amtrak’s Capitol Limited. Later, the service operated Chicago-New York as part of the Broadway Limited. Later yet, the two five-car consists were combined and an 11th car was added, former 20th Century Limited observation Sandy Creek. The service shut down in October 1991.
The equipment came to life again in 1994 as the American Orient Express, purchased by venture capitalist Henry Hillman in November 1997. The service would run under that name until spring 2006 when, under legal pressure from Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe, it was rebranded as GrandLuxe Express, and sold to Colorado carbuilder Tom Rader.
GrandLuxe Rail Journeys, which left the cars largely as they were, declared bankruptcy in August 2008. Twenty-five of its 31 cars were purchased by Philip Anschutz’s Xanterra Parks & Resorts, which operates the Grand Canyon Railway. With the goal of starting the American Railway Explorer, an AOE-like operation but even more upscale, Anschutz began a multi-million-dollar conversion, which included gutting the cars for asbestos remediation. Floor plans were created, schedules planned, and brochures printed. Then, in August 2011, with most cars gutted, work stopped and never resumed.
Fifteen of the cars were acquired by the Greenbrier Presidential Express, a luxury parlor car train slated to run between Washington and the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs, W.Va. The train was the brainchild of Ross Rowland, who hoped to use former Chesapeake & Ohio 4-8-4 No. 614 as motive power, and Jim Justice, the coal magnate who had acquired the resort. These cars were moved to the former Bethlehem Steel plant in Pottsville, Pa., but little work was done before the project stalled. In September 2014 nine of these cars were sold at auction. – Karl Zimmermann
I was fortunate enough to travel on the Orient Express from Paris to Venice in 1982 and then toured the National Parks of the West for 2 weeks on the American Orient Express around 1994. Both were epic experiences… the European trip was brutally hot in July with no air on the train and black tie dinner attire. Very beautiful though and I loved the experience. Of the AOE trip, I like to say I spent a year on a train one week! It was actually very lovely but the 2 week adventure was strenuous by train… and I was 28 at the time! Feeling very blessed that I was able to enjoy that exclusive train trip with my parents!
I remember the AOE from back in ’98 or so, it was at the UP rail yard in Oakland during the winter. My friends’ painting company landed the contract to restore the interiors, and I was brought in to do the woodwork/varnish. Fabulous ribbon grain mahogany floor to ceiling, unique marquetry inlays at each dining table, faux marble painted overheads (perforated sheet metal, real tricky to mask) and a full blown baby grand in the bar car. We gussied up those cars quite nicely, it’s really too bad the venture didn’t succeed. I guess the old saw “it’s not the destination but the journey” doesn’t resonate with folks anymore. Great memories all the same.
I worked on the American Orient Express for the United States and Trans Canada runs. Beautiful train , sorry it’s no longer running.
A few of the cars were stored in Atlanta for a time and occasionally ran on the New Georgia Railroad tourist excursions.
As part of Philip Anschutz’s purchase, six cars went to Grand Canyon Railway. I know at least one of the full length domes has been rebuilt and is running with the name “Fred Harvey”.
One of the cars the “Berlin” was purchased by Kevin Moore and is available for hire. Contact http://www.sleeponatrain.com. I have had the pleasure of being the steward for this car for the last 6 years.
The car is beautiful inside as it is all mahogany wood and each room has its own shower ,sink and Toilet Very comfortable traveling.
I think it was the former Bethlehem Steel plant in Pottstown Pa. not Pottsville Pa.