Hello all- I'm interested in buying an old Pullman, insulating and refitting it and living in it. I've seen it done, with many cabooses and with at least one Pullman in a town not far from where I live, but I'd feel a bit nervous about knocking on doors and asking a stranger, "How'd you do that?" while pointing at some detail of his house. This is a rural area, I'd likely get shot before I got enough details to get my own car done So my questions, for those out there who know or have ideas, are these- -Where can one get a Pullman, preferably cheap but sound, with the interior in such a condition as to keep the price down? -How does one arrange to get this car shipped from East Backwater Oregon to New England? How much would I expect to pay? And how long would it take? -Could I, once this car was refurbished (note that I'm ignoring those painful months of work between 'it's here!' and 'it's livable!') have the car hitched onto a freight train and moved to another state, when I moved? I expect so; but could I be in it while it was moving? -What does it take to get a traincar 'Amtrak certified'? I've seen that description next to many Pullmans for sale on the net- just about every one of them says 'not Amtrak certified' which I rpesume means I couldn't refurbish this car, tack it onto the back of an Amtrack consist and try to make money on it. But where can I find out what it means for real? Thank you all. I've asked questions and taken answers without contributing much- I've little to contribute to trains forums, alas, having negligible experience. I am really grateful for the help you've given.
Not Amtrak certified means that the car cannot be moved on Amtrak trains because it does not meet the lastest Amtrak requirements regarding braking and Head End Power. Remember, all Pullmans were built prior to Amtrak and utilized 32 VDC systems and steam heat from the train line. Many also had clasp brakes. Amtrak requires 480 VAC HEP and disc brakes. Cars can be rebuilt to Amtrak standards, but rehab costs are $250,000. and up. Freight railroads will move old passenger cars, but they must meet all mechanical requirements concerning wheels, bearings, and brakes - which, unfortunately, many do not. For example, no plain or "friction" bearing equipment can be interchanged. When I was with the AN, we donated a caboose to a museum in Pensacola, and tried to move it by rail. In spite of our shop looking over the brake system before moving it, it took us a month and the replacement of the entire brake system to move it 100 miles to the interchange! It CAN be done though. Dante Stephenson, who owns "Dante's Down the Hatch" restaurant in Atlanta, GA, lives in two private cars on an NS siding in Atlanta, one of the cars was Barbara Hutton's.
Not a Pullman, but Via has/had Via Blue coachs that they are/were selling like crazy. A book author who is somewhat local (460 miles away from me) lives in an old coach, caboose, and a couple freight cars. Happy Railroading! Dane
PS- couldn't you just stick it on a big flat car?? It would cost alot, but it would probably be cheaper than upgrading the car (if it doesn;t currently meet AMTK/Freight Road standards)
