Experience an Unforgettable Luxury Railroad Adventure with Amtrak Tow Service
Key Highlights :
Do you dream of experiencing the luxury and grandeur of rail travel in the days of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers? Now you can with Amtrak tow service. With this service, you can buy a disused railcar for around $200,000, restore it, and have Amtrak tow it along any major American rail route. This little-known service is a great way to experience the beauty of rail travel in the U.S.
The American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners (AAPRCO) is the main organization that facilitates private railcar travel. David Hoffman, a director of the AAPRCO, says, “It’s kind of a hidden business. You won’t believe how many times people say to me, ‘I didn’t know you could do this.’” Amtrak is the only locomotive service you can use for this type of travel, and the basic fee is about $4 per mile. Amtrak also charges for storage, which is typically around $2,000 to $3,000 per month.
To use Amtrak tow service, you must meet certain safety requirements and provide 30 days’ notice to Amtrak prior to the trip. You will also need to purchase the appropriate insurance and have the car wired to comply with Amtrak’s power system. Ozark Mountain Railcar is the biggest brokerage for private railcars, and they sell cars that are anywhere from 40 to 100 years old.
If you want to restore your car to its former glory, you can expect to pay close to a million dollars for “new air-conditioning, new plumbing, new electrical systems,” and other structural considerations. Of course, you will also need to redo the interior to modern tastes.
For some, the cost is worth it for the experience. Hoffman’s most popular route runs from Chicago to the West Coast through the Rockies, and riders get to see stunning sights that cannot be seen from a car or a plane.
So why not experience the luxury of rail travel like the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers? With Amtrak tow service, you can make your dream a reality.
