Privately-Owned Rail Cars

Post by euroderf » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 4:54 PM UTC

Waterluvian wrote: post #205

chiph wrote: post #17

This is my "if I won the lottery" dream. Which it would have to be, since everything about it isn't cheap. Purchasing a Pullman car then upgrading it to Amtrak standards will cost at least $300k. Any interior upgrades are on top of that (renovating the galley with modern appliances, adding central air since some cars used block ice for cooling). Amtrak requires you add 480v head-end power (but you will likely want a…

My billionaire dream is to make a 2/1 scale model railway. These little ride-on hobby railways are very cool. But I want everything twice as big as the real thing. Impractical, but conceptually hilarious IMO.

Post by euroderf » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:04 PM UTC

rsync wrote: post #80

chiph wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like trains. And I wouldn't have to be the one driving - I'd be the one sitting at my dining room table enjoying my postprandial bliss. Downside is you're limited to where Amtrak goes (or having to hire a locomotive and getting permission from Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, etc. to use their tracks) If I wanted to go the van-life route, I'd probably order a B-Box from Advanced RV in Cleveland. They have more inte…

The very best answer: “I like trains.”

Post by euroderf » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 5:25 PM UTC

bookofjoe wrote: post #206

AlbertCory wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, but you probably get these enormous bills you weren't expecting, and absolutely nothing you can do about it.

The super-rich NEVER see a bill: they have people for that

Post by lupire » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 7:20 PM UTC

runarberg wrote: post #109

Cupertino95014 wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thinking entrepreneurially here: Why not lease a car for a month, or a year? All those inspection, maintenance, parking, and labor costs are rolled into your fee, except the railroad can handle them much better than you can. If it's "your" car, only people you approve of can sit in it. It's a rolling party!

I’ve had similar thoughts, not as a entrepreneur, but as a way to squander the lottery money on one epic party, that starts in Seattle and ends 32 hours later in LA.

Post by bmsleight_ » Fri, Nov 04, 2022, 8:23 PM UTC

prawn wrote: post #131

jesuscript wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s inherent safety built into this dream. Van life in the woods sounds dangerous. Your train is traveling at a certain speed at all times on a route that’s operated by professionals. You are also not utterly alone and there is a company that can provide some customer support. You’ll never have to make a stop at a shady motel or gas station. Van life is a first class ticket to becoming a tidbit in serial killers…

I've travelled on a few luxury multi-day train trips* and also lived for months out of a bus, camping in forests, etc. Both have felt very safe to me. People are unnecessarily paranoid about camping in forests! The best aspect of the train trips are catered food/drink, not having to drive and otherwise sitting in your cabin with a book. Obviously you don't have the flexibility of stopping, backtracking or deviating a…