By: RMC3Posted on
Travel by private railcar is a rare treat in today’s pre-packaged travel world. Photo by Alex Ramos.

This blog post offers a glimpse into the history of Private Car Service with a look at the private railcars we have either traveled aboard or chartered for clients for trip between 1985 and the present. It is not meant to be detailed but will offer a view of future blog posts.

Open-platform business car “Yerba Buena” was the first private car we traveled aboard in 1985. It will be one of two cars used for our March 2020 “California Limited” to Kansas City.
Former Canadian National touring car “Burrard” was a guest favorite for trips to Reno, Los Angeles and San Diego. Owner Bob McLean is seen on the platform at Los Angeles Union Station.
Former Burlington sleeping car “Silver Iris” was on our snowy trip to Denver, in February of 2019. We enjoyed it for trips to Reno, Seattle and Los Angeles as well as Denver.
“Burrard” and “Two Rivers” have made several trips together. This was the APPRCO convention train in 2013, headed west through the Feather River Canyon along the former Western Pacific.
California Railtours former Rio Grande lounge car “Royal Gorge” and former Santa Fe Pleasure Dome “Plaza Santa Fe” often traveled together. This was the return of a one-way charter from Reno.
Ryan Martin braved the cold along the Truckee River to capture this view of the former Burlington “Silver Solarium” as we headed for Reno one winter Saturday.
Another view from Ryan Martin featured the 1923 Pullman business car “Tamalpais” with a happy bunch aboard for a birthday trip to Reno and back.
Another former Burlington Route Budd dome car we used was the “Silver Splendor”, seen here boarding another birthday group at Los Angeles for a trip to San Luis Obispo and Hearst Castle.
This 1927 ACF dining car may not travel the rails, but we enjoyed helping aboard for several “Dinner in the Diner” events on the former Rio Grande “Castle Peak” at the Joshua Tree Southern Railroad Museum.
“Salisbury Beach” was enjoyed for a trip from Los Angeles to Oakland and back to visit San Francisco and the Walt Disney Family Museum.
We honed our craft by offering a First Class service aboard the two Pullman heavyweight cars on the Wildflower Express at the Western Railway Museum in the 1990’s.
Former California Zephyr Budd cars “Silver Lariat” and “Silver Solarium” were always favorites of clients and guests.
“Sierra Hotel” and “Plaza Santa Fe” made for a great combination for a corporate Christmas party.
Party Car “Pony Express” was perfect for a wedding trip and reception between Los Angeles and San Diego. A great time for one and all!
“Plaza Santa Fe” is a former Santa Fe Pleasure dome lounge car built by Pullman for the famed “Super Chief”, featuring the Turquoise Room.
Oahu Railway Parlor car 64 at Kahe Point on a train operated by the Hawaiian Railway Society.

That’s a good sample of the cars we have had the pleasure of traveling aboard with clients and guests. We look forward to sharing in more detail!

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