Provided you have enough time and money, a long-distance train ride is one of the most delightful ways to travel. Watching the country roll by, from a plush train car can feel almost cinematic – not to mention there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that rail travel is more environmentally sound than its alternatives. As with any form of transportation, however, there are drawbacks to spending days on the rails: the food is mediocre, the bathrooms can be dirty, and – if you’re traveling solo – it’s likely you’ll have to share a seat with a stranger.
Some train enthusiasts, however, have figured out a way to work around this inconvenience: anyone wealthy enough to own their own private car, can simply pay to attach it to the back of an existing Amtrak train. As unusual as this method of travel might sound, there is a community of enthusiasts promoting private train-car ownership. “The railroad passenger car represents a more relaxed and civilized time and the private car is the epitome of the elegance and grace of a bygone era,” reads the Association of Private Railroad Car Owners’ (AAPRCO) website .
“Men and women across the country have salvaged these magnificent pieces of history from the scrap yards and brought them back to life.” The cost of acquiring your own out-of-use train car starts at roughly $200,000, but equipping old cars with modern amenities can cost “close to a million dollars,” AAPRCO official Tony Marchiando told the Robb Report.