I’ve been on several trips lately that have required air travel. Maybe I’ve had my head in the sand—or too high in the clouds for too long—but I recently learned of another means of getting around this country (and the globe) that doesn’t involve planes, buses or automobiles.
(Bare with me as a get to the design part of this post.)
If you’re not flying privately by way of your NetJets or FlexJets charters or on your own Piaggio P-180 Avanti II (the fastest turboprop business plane on the market), chances are you’re going commercial in first class or coach with me. Or on Amtrak. (Or “Go, Greyhound!”)
Well, at a cocktail party a month or so ago, some friends were talking about their acquaintances who happen to travel the country via their own railroad car. No, not just a private cabin they’ve reserved on Amtrak—they actually have their own railcar.
I just couldn’t believe it; if this were true, why aren’t we all traveling this way? I’ve never traveled via Amtrak or the Orient Express, only on France’s high-speed TGV from Nice to Paris, but I have been captivated by the romance of train travel since I heard about last year’s launch of a new train service from Moscow to the French Riviera. (About 100 years ago, Nice was once a popular playground for Russian aristocracy and train service had been a regular occurrence.)
High-speed rail in this country seems to be going nowhere fast, so why isn’t private rail travel a viable option? Even a slow-moving locomotive would beat the slow navigation of airport security lines. In my search to find out the basics regarding private train travel, I quickly discovered that there is no Cliffs Notes version—just lots of rules and regulations. So, I’m going to direct you to the source for everything you need to know, The American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners. (Yes, there is such a group!)
Still with me? OK, since everything old is, indeed, new again—hello, Steampunk trend!—it only seems like a matter of time before train travel, in some form, reemerges. Let’s hope we can recapture some of the romance of it and enjoy the luxury of time it affords.
What I’m dying to know is what interior designer—or architect— would you commission to design your own private railroad car? And how would it look? Retro? Modern? Steampunk chic?
PS: You can actually charter trains as well. Just as a reference, one company offers a private rail car from about $7,500 per day for 8 guests for 700 miles, or a private train for $140 per person (for 800 guests) for a 400-mile round trip. That could be a fun trip, granted that 800 of your closest friends could join you!
Aaron Spelling survived a plane crash during WWII and then vowed to never fly again. He only traveled by private train car or by ship.
Part steampunk (love the past-meets-future aesthetic!), part old steam train (think 3:10 to Yuma or O Brother Where Art Thou). You can throw in Christian Bale for free too!
@The Peak of Chic. I didn’t know that about Aaron Spelling. I know Whoopie Goldberg only travels by bus (I think), as does John Madden.
What a great post, I can’t wait to hear what designers people mention. I wish we could go back to the Agatha Christie, Poirot, drinks in the dining car feel of rail travel. Looks like we can… for a price.