Uniq. Eqpmt Sightings: Private Varnish (PV's), Charters, etc

From MOUNT VERNON on train 51: spotted Budd stainless steel car parked outside engine house of Buckingham Branch RR at Staunton VA. No vestibule (lounge or diner?), stripped with no markings. Appeared to be in good shape. Any idea what car I saw?

On time train 51 met late train 50 at LaGrange siding a few miles west of Staunton at 3:29 PM.

Arlington wrote:Sorry if this has been covered, but what will happen to PVs when all the NEC trains have been re-carded for 125mph with the advent of V-II bags and diners? Do we think their movements will be limited to off-hours on trains like 66/67 (where overnight trains don't need the speed anyway), or will prices go up to offset the operational risks/losses of PV trains having to operate more slowly?

Amtrak leadership has informed AAPRCO that long distance trains will be slowed from 125 to 110 MPH between NYP and WAS in either direction to accommodate movement of private cars on the days they are scheduled to operate.

66/67 are the only trains on the NEC that handle private cars between BOS and NYP. Unfortunately, Amtrak is unwilling to switch cars on/off 66/67 at NYP.

P/V Babbling Brook was spotted tied down by itself outside the Harrison PATH Car Maintenance Facility in the small NJ Transit Yard (Not sure on the name). It seems to move pretty quickly, spotted it at Morrison & Erie's' shops on Monday

GP40MC 1116 wrote:P/V Babbling Brook was spotted tied down by itself outside the Harrison PATH Car Maintenance Facility in the small NJ Transit Yard (Not sure on the name). It seems to move pretty quickly, spotted it at Morrison & Erie's' shops on Monday

BABBLING BROOK will move from NYP to MTR on train 69(18), returning from MTR to NYP on train 68(20).

Amtrak refers to that yard as Hudson.

Amtrak full dome lounge car is on the head end of train 48(17) headed for ALB and use in autumn service on the Adirondack between ALB and MTR.

Two Pullman Rail Journeys cars (CHEBANSE and ADIRONDACK CLUB) went south to NOL tonight on the end of train 59(17).

As per trainorders.com: Private car Sugarcreek will be heading out of train #42 Pennsylvanian this morning from Pittsburgh, PA.

Superliners may make a guest appearance in Philadelphia's train yard early next week via the Rockville Bridge and the Keystone Corridor.

Approaching 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, train 42 Pennsylvanian had P40 DC 821 on the front and Private Varnish Sugarcreek on the rear.

#10021 Pacific Cape was seen at Sunnyside yard this morning on a trainset in the front with ACS64 #609, it went down to Philly. Note it is no longer in Phase IVb it is now in Phase 3.

Train2009 wrote:#10021 Pacific Cape was seen at Sunnyside yard this morning on a trainset in the front with ACS64 #609, it went down to Philly. Note it is no longer in Phase IVb.

So, what livery is it in, Phase 3? It's not fair to tease us with an incomplete report.

It's in Phase IIIb. I saw it yesterday at 30th Street Station. Although it was part of the exhibit train consist, only the vestibule was accessible. I was disappointed I couldn't actually get inside.

What else is in the Exhibit train and how did they get to 30th St.?

Beech Grove #10001 is now in Phase III as per Facebook's Amtrak Northeast Corridor Railfans.

Pennsy Parlor Cars Greenwich Escape and Greenwich Harbor sitting at South Station.

J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON and WISCONSIN on train 49 (23) from NYP to CHI enroute AAPRCO convention special train.

BABBLING BROOK on train 235 (24) from NYP to ALB, then on train 281 (25) from ALB to NFL; return on train 64 (27) from NFL to NYP.