Hi, PED
Here's a quick rundown of what I understand about the use of business cars/business trains.
Throughout the history of railroads, the officers of the company from President, down through the ranks and into some of the general manager or superintendant levels, felt that these executives required private office space and special transportation above what was available for the general public.
When "business" required executives to be away from their main office, the business car, or office car would be their "home-and office- away from home. The cars were staffed with a chef and steward and there was room for the exec to have some of his (her) staff, secretary, stenographer, etc. along.
There were some pool cars where managers would share certain cars but higher up the ladder the cars were assigned to individual officers. Some, like Robert R. Young, kept his car even when he went to work for other railroads.
There were cases where the exec. might take his family along or use the car for "non-railroad" uses. Not often, but it did happen.
More recently, entire trains of these business cars would travel the system for various reasons, most often for inspection of track or facilities or for "schmoozing" potential customers or providing a place for "preferred" customers or officers of the company to stay while at a distant location.
Conrail's OCS (Office Car Special) and the above mentioned Burlington Northern Business Train were frequently seen. NS, CN, UP and others have their own "Executive" trains.
The Pullman Company had Private Cars available for use. All you had to do was make a request and guarantee so many (about a dozen or so) first class tickets and they would provide your very own car.
Individuals have owned private cars through the years as well. Many of the "elite" have travelled in cars that they owned outright and made arrangements with the railroads to have the cars placed, usually on the rear, of regular passenger trains.
In the "glory" days of railroading the private car was the way to travel for the likes of the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies Huttons, et-al. During special events, such as the Kentucky Derby, it wouldn't be unusual to see two-dozen or more private cars lined up nearby.
Today there is two groups of private car owners:
http://www.aaprco.com/ and the http://www.rpca.com/
There is some interesting reading here about New York Central business cars:
https://nycshs.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/businesscars.pdf
The Conrail OCS:
http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/ConrailEquipment/OCS
And motion pictures of Conrail's OCS:
I enjoy running several business and private cars on my layout. It gives me an excuse to have "foreign" equipment and makes for interesting passenger operations.
Have Fun, Ed
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
I was fortunate enough to have a tour of the Topeka Shops where the BNSF cars are kept and maintained. They had a Regal car there that looked like it had just come off the 1950 Super Chief...
And Part Two...
I was like a kid in a candy store!
Enjoy, Ed
I'll never tell my secret method
_____
Actually I did a Goolgle search for Santa Fe Business Car Consist. It was the first hit. Probably just lucky.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
I was looking for at for the past three days, with no success. Amazing that you found it.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
List here:
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,923121
Since I got three 4-4-2 Regal sleepers after the formation of Amtrak.
I was wondering what was the consist of a normal business train during the 1980s to early 90s before the BNSF merger.