Private car
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Private car is a railroad passenger car which was either originally built or later converted for or non-revenue service as a business car or private individuals. They were used by railroad officials and dignitaries as business cars, and wealthy individuals for travel and entertainment, and in the United States.
In the days of the robber barons and the Gilded Age, wealthy individuals had finely appointed private cars custom-built to their specifications. Also, many cars built by Pullman, Budd, and other companies were originally used in revenue service as passenger cars and later converted for use as business and private cars. There are various configurations, but the cars generally have an observation platform and include a full kitchen, dining room, state rooms, secretary's room, an observation room, and often servant's quarters.
Private cars were in more common the the heyday of passenger rail service and during the pre-Amtrak era (before 1971). In modern times, some private cars have survived the decades and some are used for tour rides, leasing for private events, etc. Others are on static display. A small number of private cars (along with other types of passenger cars), have been upgraded to meet current Amtrak regulations, and may be chartered by their owners for private travel attached to Amtrak trains.
| Rail transport passenger equipment | |
|---|---|
| Head-end equipment | Baggage · Express reefer · Horse car · RPO · TPO |
| Passenger-carrying equipment | Coach · Couchette · Diner · Dome · Lounge · Observation · Sleeper / Pullman |
| Miscellaneous equipment | Combine · Troop kitchen / Troop sleeper |
