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

The dome car moved east as part of a special train: 821, 10031 OCEAN VIEW and 90214.

The last time I checked the AAPRCO Facilities Guide, the only privately owned dome that Amtrak will allow on trains 448/449 between ALB and BOS is PPCX 800203 MOONLIGHT DOME, a 1948 Budd product built with a lower profile dome for C&O's Chessie. Apparently there is a very close clearance requirement somewhere between Beacon Park and the bumpers at South Station.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=4300119

Yes, a standard height Budd Dome can clear into South Station, but as Mr. Carey points out in his first hand report "uh, not exactly" reasonable and practical:

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=102851&p=583025#p583025" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes going in BOS south with a dome will get you a really big electrical flash !!!

While not at present an Amtrak route, this link has Lehigh Valley open platform Business Car 353 taking passengers from Scranton to Delaware Water Gap, Pa. on Oct. 16, 2016 for only $25 more than coach fares:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1531275 ... _tab=posts

Juniata Terminal Company Varnish Pennsylvania 120 and Warrior Ridge were added to train 43 Pennsylvanian at 30th Street on Monday.

Train 42 Pennsylvanian brought Warrior Ridge and Pennsylvania 120 back from Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
ACS-64 609 pulled the Varnish off the train and shoved them back into the station on a different track as Keystone Service train 647 came along and blocked the view.

PV photo opportunity: BABBLING BROOK on train 281 from NYP to ALB and train 448 from ALB to BOS today 8/25.

What does it cost to charter an Amtrak train? What was the consist (someone said there was a conference-room car, I assume 1 coach and 1 diner or diner lite?) Was food provided by Amtrak or catered? Assume this ran "express", what was the runtime compared to a usual train? How many people travel with a baseball team, 30? 50?

NE Patriots have train service to their stadium

Probably 2-3 coaches and a cafe car.
Definitely not a diner (Amtrak doesn't have enough) and probably not a diner-lite (no real need).

You have the team,coaching staff, trainers,the beat writers,TV/Radio announcers,traveling mangement staff
and equipment personel. Baggage and team Equipment are most likely trucked between stadiums/hotels when
traveling along the NEC.
Most teams fill up a charter 727/737 plane easy,figure on at least 60 to 90 people per team.

This evening (Aug 29), while listening to the Mohawk Radio Feed, I heard the engine crew on LAKE SHORE LIMITED #49 identify the lead engine as #707, which is a P32AC-DM (dual mode normally used in service between NY and Albany). Could this be the next Empire unit to get painted at Beech Grove? This may be the first time the LAKE SHORE has been led by a dual mode west of ALB.
​Andy

Photo shows engine + 3 cars...one on the back says "metro" on the left so assume it's a metroliner cab car.

former cab car, the conference car 9800 does no longer have controls.
and since team was moved two days before game, they did not go to stadium but to a hotel.

Has any reaction by the players, favorable or otherwise, been noted in sports media to the rail journeys?

I would think it be a welcome relief from the "joy of flight".

sports teams just like other employees travel whatever way the employer wants, and Yankees have used trains quite a lot for games on east coast. so their not debutantes on this.