Most of the private railway cars were built in the 1920s to the 1950s. Some began life as business cars, such as New York Central 3, built for Harold Sterling Vanderbilt in 1928, according to NYC-3.com. Their interiors may include dark wood paneling with luxurious accouterments and classic open-air rear platforms. Other passenger cars in private hands include lounge cars, dome observation cars and Pullman sleepers. The owners have refurbished the cars to recapture their past elegance while providing modern convenience and safety.
Private railway cars that are "Amtrak certified" meet the mechanical specifications to be attached to Amtrak trains and run at 110 mph. Amtrak normally places private cars at the end of its trains. Amtrak on-board personnel, however, do not service these cars. Rather, the charter company provides service personnel, including cooks for cars with dining facilities. The cars can be taken along any Amtrak route, but leaving a passenger route for a destination on a freight-only line can increase costs substantially. Freight railroads are often discourage transporting private passenger cars.
The American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners suggests the cost of chartering a private railcar for a vacation is comparable to the cost aboard a high-end sea-cruise. The all inclusive costs of chartering the car run from $2,000 to $7,000 per day. But AAPRCO notes these cars may accommodate from six to 20 or more people. Pricing depends on the route including charges by the railroad to transport the car, food and beverage costs and servicing. Many of the private cars are also taken on tours when individual tickets and accommodations are available.
Several websites run by brokers and organizations provide lists of private railcars available for charter. AAPRCO gives such a list. Other lists, shown under Resources, are those maintained by Railroad Focus, Rail Serve and Private Railroad Car Vacations.
