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Re: Vintage Passenger Train at Austin Amtrak Siding

What a treat!!
 
Penny and me went down to the station and walked the complete train. Two Amtrak enginespulling approximately ten total vintage high end cars including cars from the California Zephyr, Sunset Ltd, SP Daylight baggage from the SP 4449 heritage consist, a Lightweight Pullman from the Super Chief and two cars from UP and others.
 
It's carrying a travelling music show, three touring live acts including one of my Appalachian  roots music preservation bands favorite, The Old Crow Medicine Show.  Tour started in California and is ending in New Orleans with numerous tops along the way to do shows.  Stopped in Austin today.  Your can read all about it at the Railroad Revival Tours website  http://railroadrevivaltour.com/.
 
We had great conversations with some of the crew members working of various cars since there were no railroad cinder dicks (police) to run us off as is often the case these days. 
 
Bill 


On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 12:52 PM, Everett Lee DeGolyer III <ldegwhee@hotmail.com> wrote:
For those TTA members who might be interested, these sorts of rail passenger movements may be uncommon these days, but they're hardly new. Back in the day (50-60 years ago and longer), symphony orchestras, opera companies, and other theatrical productions would cross the country by rail. Unlike circus companies, these organizations would not own their own equipment but would charter cars and equipment from outfits like the Pullman Company and individual railroad companies. This would make for some very interesting passenger trains as these cars either moved by themselves or tacked on to regularly-scheduled passenger trains. So in Dallas when New York City's Metropolitan Opera Company would perform there, you'd see things like NYC, PRR, and NH passenger cars or Pullmans used for Northeastern runs looking very much opera out of place in the Lone Star State.
 
Anyone wanting to equip their Golden Gate Pullmans with opera divas practicing singing scales on their own is going to have to wire up their cars' sound systems on their own. My own electronic skills just aren't that good.
 
--Lee DeGolyer
 
From: bstettner@earthlink.net

To: ttat-members@aoot.com
CC: members@hotgg.org
Subject: Re: Vintage Passenger Train at Austin Amtrak Siding
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:43:56 -0500


There is a concert tonight at 4th and Waller.  Groups performing are traveling by train.  See Austin Am Statesman Metro front page for more info.

Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:21 AM
Subject: Vintage Passenger Train at Austin Amtrak Siding

Hey All,

 

There’s a vintage passenger train on the siding at the Amtrak station.  At least three cars, all vista dome, including the observation car.  They look like the all aluminum Texas and California Zephrs.

 

Don’t know how long they’ll be there or what they’re doing (or what’s pulling them).

 

-Mike