Houstonians, Who knows what this train is??

[groovyone]

I see this every day on my commute home, right where I exit SB I-45 to catch the North entrance to the HOV.

[Abel]

hmm interesting... ive never seen that one

[Flores]

Amtrak?

Yup:

http://g.co/maps/yxrrc

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by Flores

Amtrak?

That was actually my first thought.

I think it is the exit to Dallas/Pierce off I-45. (The street, not the city)

[kenw]

no, those are private railcars, owned by folks with considerable $$$. They are kept there so they can be coupled to Amtrak (that's the Amtrak Station btw) when they want to go somewhere, which costs a ton of $$. You can't just couple any old railcar to a train, it has to have a lot of inspections, certifications and be maintained very very well....

Often a bunch of these will go to Super Bowls and other wealth-gatherings. Sometimes Amtrak will put together a special train fro a bunch of them, sometimes they ride on the end of freight trains to get where they are going.

It makes 1st class on an airline seem like a bus in Bangladesh....

[groovyone]

Wow, thanks Ken!

I had just found em on Google Maps, but the photo looks old: 29.767267,-95.36754 - Google Maps

There are only two showing on the Sat view and they are clearly mid renovation.

TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILWAY | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Toys that look like the cars without the observation window: Railroadiana - Models - EMD F7 and B Unit | The Texas & Pacific Railway - Railfans Depot

They look like two of the three are this car: Rolling Stock - Observation Lounge Car El Paso Texas - 24 July 1935 | The Texas & Pacific Railway - Railfans Depot

This may be one: Rolling Stock - Business Car - Ellesmere | The Texas & Pacific Railway - Railfans Depot

[groovyone]

One more article. This looks like it would be the view from the observation level on the one car: Private rail car owners make stop in Galveston - Your Houston News: News

The cars look right but the paint job doesn't match: PHCP ::: Patrick Henry Creative Promotions, INC.

Actually the Dome car paint job is an exact match!

[crazeazn]

sweet

[RexGig]

I do not know the owner's name, but I have been inside one of these rail cars, and yes, it is v-e-r-y luxurious! (I am acquainted with a local peace officer who guards it.) If I recall correctly, for enough $$$, it can be leased, and hauled around the USA. It looks to me like there are more cars there now than before, so the fleet seems to be growing.

[craigb456]

Precises start at $8,500 a DAY

[RexGig]

Expensive, yes. That is how the rich live. I first learned about this train when I was offered a job working security for a Super Bowl-related event being held for celebrities on the train; this being when the Super Bowl was in Houston. (I could not accept the offer, as I anticipated being ordered to work an official assignment.)

Another example: This train has been used for whistle-stop campaigning by very high-level political candidates.

[wclavey]

I know this is an old thread but I just found it... about 15 years ago, I was doing some strategy consulting for the president of the Santa Fe railroad. He had the use of a fully renovated set of 3 cars that included a lavish dining car and full kitchen, a car with about 8-10 single rooms and a club car type lounge with an open observation deck on the back. It would get attached to various freight trains and we would travel for 2-3 days - - there were usually 4-5 of us in total, counting the president. I usually flew to Chicago and took a taxi to the rail yard and got on the train. Sometimes we would get switched in the middle of the night from one train to another. The I would get off in some other city & fly home. One of the best gigs I have ever been on.

[kenw]

Originally Posted by wclavey

I know this is an old thread but I just found it... about 15 years ago, I was doing some strategy consulting for the president of the Santa Fe railroad. He had the use of a fully renovated set of 3 cars that included a lavish dining car and full kitchen, a car with about 8-10 single rooms and a club car type lounge with an open observation deck on the back. It would get attached to various freight trains and we would travel for 2-3 days - - there were usually 4-5 of us in total, counting the president. I usually flew to Chicago and took a taxi to the rail yard and got on the train. Sometimes we would get switched in the middle of the night from one train to another. The I would get off in some other city & fly home. One of the best gigs I have ever been on.

ok, now i have to hate you......seriously, I rode ATSF several times as a child in the 60s. Would give anything to be able to recapture that. And no, Amtrak won't do it.