Passenger Trains > PV Trio on 29

The Catalpa Falls, Passaic River, and Chester County arrived into Chicago on train 29 this morning. The cars belong to the (now closed) Catalpa Falls Group LLC. The cars are reportedly on their way west to a new home. 

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Around the wye

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58 came into Chicago with the 170 (and 814 under tow). I don't think I have ever seen 814 before. It is missing it's nose. 

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Passic River appears to be a 48 seat dining car.  What is it's origins?

Built for the AT&SF by the Budd Co. to Amtrak ,rebuilt as a heritage {HEP} cafe/lounge  numbered 3108. To the Morristown & Erie. Rebuilt and used on the Maine Eastern RR as their Penobscot Bay when the MERR shut down the car returned to the M&E and became  Rocky River and later Passaic River and then to Catalpa Falls Group. dba as Executive Rail.  Private car number is 800762. This is from notes and may not be 100%  , I'd appreciate corrections.

First I had heard about the Catalpa Group shutting down.  Too bad!  They appear to have done a very nice renovation on the Falls and their ex-Pennsylvania obs car.  EDIT - looks like the Frank Thomson is owned by a different group.

Dave

Very interesting- It has gotten more difficult every year in running private cars. I suspect there will be fewer running behind Amtrak.
Joe

Trainatic Wrote:
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> Very interesting- It has gotten more difficult
> every year in running private cars. I suspect
> there will be fewer running behind Amtrak.
> Joe
Unfortunately Joe, you are absolutely correct.  Amtrak management has continued to make it almost impossible to operate a private car with them, even though for the most part, this is gravy money for them.  These car owners spend tons of money every year to keep these cars in perfect shape in order to be allowed to operate with Amtrak, and Amtrak charges an arm and a leg to haul these cars.  Liability insurance has gone through the roof to insure these cars, thus these owners cannot make any money with the types of fares they must charge to lease the cars.  On top of that is the general maintaining of these cars, they are like a private air plane to maintain as everything continues to go up.  The best of luck to whoever has purchased these cars.  The only places to operate them now are with privately owned regional or short line railroads.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

For better or worse, the cars are going off Amtrak.  Next stop Heber, Utah.

800762 Passaic River was built by Budd for the AT&SF as their 1562 , going to Amtrak it became 8106 . Rebuilt as heritage cafe/lounge  3106 . Following retirement it went to Morristown & Erie and was used on M&Es Maine Eastern as M&E Penobscot Bay ; when the MERR ceased operations in 2015 the car returned to the M&E and was noted as Passaaic River in 2016.  CFG renamed it Rocky River in 2020, later changed to CFG Passaic River.  /// 800081 Chester County was built by Budd for the NYC as their 2936 , same number under PC.  High  Iron Co. acquired it about 1977 and converted it to a parlor car. In 1977 it was part of the Chessie Steam Special as  #17, in 1978 it was  #20.  To the Morristown & Erie as M&E 2936 Morris County.........between PC and HICo it may have been on the LIRR  ??