See the Autumn Colors of the New River Gorge via the Autumn Colors Express this fall on October 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th 2020.
The Oliver Hazard Perry will operate as a lounge class car on the 2021 Autumn Colors Express
Car History
Built in 1954 by P-S in Lot #6926 to Plan #4187A as CN 5C-3DR sleeper #1104 MOUNT RESPLENDENT, 1 of 6 such cars (#1100-#1105) built in that Lot, which was ordered in October 1952; cars were delivered in June 1954. CN later reconfigured these 6 cars to 3DB sleeper buffet lounges #1090-#1095; #1104 as #1094 RESPLENDENT. Sold by VIA in 1993 to private ownership
Built in Jan 1955 by American Car and Foundry for the Union Pacific Railroad as car 7007 initially assigned to the Union Pacific City of Portland service, the Southern Hospitality has a long and storied history, changing hands multiple times before ending up in the care of the Saint Louis Union Station in Saint Louis, MO.
This car will add even more luxury to the Autumn Colors Express, whether you ride in the dome or the lower level lounge.
Car History of the Southern Hospitality
Built as UP 7007, the car was sold to Auto Train and numbered as its 705 in June 1972.
After its tenure on Auto Train, it was sold into private ownership, eventually being renamed and re-homed in St. Louis. Railexco is proud to present this beautiful car as a part of the 2021 Dome Class.
The New York Central’s 20th Century Limited was billed for years, as “The Most Famous Train in the World.” The railroad’s fabled train sped along the 958-mile “Water Level Route” between New York, averaging 60 MPH, for sixty-five years – making the trip in just sixteen hours. The train was exclusive and sophisticated; boarding passengers walked along a crimson red carpet. In 1948, General Dwight D. Eisenhower ceremoniously inaugurated a new set of cars for the New York Central’s most famous train. Among them was the Hickory Creek, an observation sleeper lounge. The car was acquired by URHS in 1991, and has been meticulously restored to its historic appearance.
Now is your chance to ride this beautiful car. We’ll have only 24 seats available per day, offering you unparalleled service in our Chairman’s Class. Enjoy chef-prepared food, beverage service, all while enjoying the scenery of West Virginia’s New River Gorge from the elevated Lookout Lounge at the back of the car. Book your seats now for a historical, unforgettable ride aboard the Hickory Creek!
This former Seaboard Airline Lounge Class car features a unique domed ceiling, with plenty of room inside to stretch out in its spacious seating area. Walk down the hall from the lounge and you’ll discover three spacious Private Suites.
A 1954 Budd short dome, this dome car ran on Northern Pacific’s famed North Coast Limited before Amtrak. Now owned by Paxrail, this car features Dome Class and Lounge Class seating.
Click below to see seat numbers.
Built in 1949 for the Pennsylvania Railroad for use on the famous Broadway Limited train between New York and Chicago, this beautiful observation car is one of our Lounge Class cars, on the Autumn Colors Express.
The Frank Thompson will not operate with reserved seating.
Built in 1953 by the St. Louis Car Company, the Wisconsin Valley, formerly a U.S. Army Medic car, offers you a smooth ride while enjoying a quiet lounge environment. With comfortable lounge chairs and table seating for 20, this is an exciting addition to the 2021 Lounge Class.
Click below to see seat numbers.
261’s beautifully restored, and recently re-glazed Lake Pepin is a member of the 2019 Deluxe Coach Class. Built by the Budd Company in 1952 for the Pennsylvania Railroad as a 60-seat coach, 14-seat lounge, and delivered for service on the Boston-Washington Senator, it was later converted into a straight coach and used on the Pennsylvania’s Clocker service.
Click below to see seat numbers.
The Berlin, part of our 2021 Private Suite Class was built by Pullman Standard in 1956 (Lot 6953, Plan 4198) for the Union Pacific Railroad as an 11 double bedroom sleeper “Placid Lake” #1504 for service on various Overland Route trains. The Placid Lake was frequently assigned to the Union Pacific streamliner City of Los Angeles. Today, it’s an all-suite palace, ready to host you and your party in one of its six suites.
Click below to see seat numbers.
Note – Seats must be purchased in groups of 4 for this car in the same Room.
Silver Palace was built for the Western Pacific Railroad in 1948 as a 46 seat coach, with an additional 24 seats in the dome, for the famed California Zephyr. The car plied the scenic route between Chicago and Oakland, CA, for over two decades, until the train was discontinued in March 1970. As WP had no need for the car after the train was eliminated, the car migrated East and joined the fleet of the new, private Auto-Train Corporation, operating initially between northern Virginia and Florida and later, between Louisville, KY, and Florida.
After the demise of the original Auto-Train, the car was sold into private ownership and passed through several owners. The car was extensive remodeled as a lounge car for country western singer Merle Haggard but was then sold once again and its final assignment was on the Algoma Central Railway in Canada, toting passenger to and from the scenic Agawa Canyon north of Sault Ste. Marie. The car was acquired by the Friends in December 2017 and it has been under restoration since its arrival at Minneapolis Junction. Silver Palace will continue its role as a first class lounge car with the dome seat sold exclusively as “Dome Class”.
Click below to see seat numbers.
