CHICAGO — Four private cars have made their way to the Windy City to participate in this weekend’s “Pullman Railroad Days: People, Progress and Innovation.” The event Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, is sponsored by the Historic Pullman Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
As in previous years, three Pullman-built private cars will be positioned on Metra’s 111th Street station platform for tours by visitors. This year’s entries are 1923 heavyweight Dover Harbor; streamlined observation lounge Blue Ridge Club, constructed in 1950; and the glass-topped, big-windowed Hollywood Beach, one of only two active Seaboard Air Line “Sun Lounge” cars that once operated on the line’s New York-Miami Silver Meteor.
A fourth car, heavyweight business car NYC 3, which made an appearance at last year’s “Railroad Days” event, is coupled to the other three to provide overnight sleeping accommodations for the onboard service staff. But the 111th Street station platform isn’t long enough to allow visitors to pass through more than three cars.
As in past years, Metra, Amtrak, and the American Association of Private Car Owners teamed up to position the equipment and sponsor the event.
The event is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. It includes admission to the private cars, the historic Florence Hotel, Pullman factory and neighborhood walking tours, and all exhibits. One of these is the recently-opened, “People of the Pullman Strike.”
Adult admission is $37 on the day of the event ($26 through today, May 30); children under 12 are free. More details and tickets are available at the Historic Pullman Foundation website.
