Hi all. I have a few questions below about private passenger rail cars.
1) If I where to purchase a non-Amtrak certified car (such as this one: http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/detail.asp?id=1641&n=Pacific-Grove-REDUCED-622 ), how much would it cost to certify a car like this? I know there is a wide range of prices, but I just need a ballpark number.
2) Once I buy a private car, such as this one, where can I store it? I know that Amtrak charges exactly $2,625 per month to store it at a terminal such as Chicago, and a lot of people say that you would be better off buying your own private rail siding, but to me that sounds more expensive. What would be the cheapest way of storing a railcar? If building a siding is the cheapest, then how much would it cost to build a siding track big enough to fit a passenger car?
3) Amtrak's Private Car Tariff states that it costs $2.75 to ship one car per mile of track. It also states that there is a minnimum charge of $1,315. Does this mean that Amtrak will charge me $1,315 when I run my railcar one way, or on a round trip?
4) Lets say I store my railcar along one of amtrak's routes. Can my car be added to an amtrak train at a non-major terminal area such as Ottumwa, Iowa? If so, does Amtrak asses another fee to pick up/set out my railcar? Or can cars only be put on and taken off at terminals such as Chicago an Milwaukee?
Thanks!
You should go to the AAPRCO website and get the advice you seek from those who own private cars that are Amtrak certified. These owners are usually very helpful, and perhaps some are familiar with the car you arew looking at.
I believe you'll find that the places where your car could be added or removed are limited. If you store your car elsewhere, it will be moved as an unoccupied freight move to such a point.
This is one of the issues we would have to overcome if the Adirondack Scenic were to offer to haul private cars on our line. At present there is no means to drop a private car off an Amtrak train at Utica, or to put one back on, for that matter. The only other option would be to have the car moved as freight from somewhere the car could be added or taken off.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
As J. P. Morgan said in answer to a question about the cost of his yacht, "If you have to ask, you can not afford it."
A private railroad car is also much more visible and ostentatious than a private jet. Everybody is going to see your private car on the rear of the train as you arrive at Chicago Union Station but very few will get to see your private jet taxi up to the facility on the Central Avenue side of Midway Airport (away from the main terminal).
In order to build a siding you have to own property. The track is cheap. The expensive part is a switch. Its really expensive to add a switch in a signalled main track (over $100,000), but no class 1 will let you build a business car spur off a main track. Cheapest, lease an existing track (don't forget about maintenance on the track).
3) Amtrak's Private Car Tariff states that it costs $2.75 to ship one car per mile of track. It also states that there is a minnimum charge of $1,315. Does this mean that Amtrak will charge me $1,315 when I run my railcar one way, or on a round trip? 4) Lets say I store my railcar along one of amtrak's routes. Can my car be added to an amtrak train at a non-major terminal area such as Ottumwa, Iowa? If so, does Amtrak asses another fee to pick up/set out my railcar? Or can cars only be put on and taken off at terminals such as Chicago an Milwaukee?
These two tie together. You have to have some way to get a car from your track to the train. Since you won't be having a spur directly off the main that means a switch move by whatever railroad owns or serves your track. The $1315 is a one way minimum. $1315 is the equivalent of about 480 miles. Below 480 miles its $1315 and above 480 miles its more. Chicago to LA is about 2000 miles so that would be $5500. The expensive part is getting the car from your track to and on the Amtrak train. I know at least one class 1 charges about $3000 a switch. $3000 to get the car from your track onto the Amtrak train, $3000 to get the car from the train back to your spur.
Lets say you are going to run your car Chicago to LA and hold it at a non-Amtrak track at LA. That could be $3000 to switch the car at Chicago, $5500 Chgo to LA, $3000 to switch it at LA. The return trip would be the same charges back. Round trip would be $23,000 plus the cost of the car, supplies, food, and any storage charges for the track at LA plus the storage charges for your track at Chicago.
Chicago to Milwaukee could be cheaper, $3000 on, $1315 trip, $3000 off, $3000 on, $1315 trip, $3000 off. $14,630 plus incidentals. If Amtrak can switch the car at destination its probably cheaper but where will be a switching charge. That's probably why people pay the Amtrak storage fee, to avoid the railroad switching fees.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
There is an old saying that comes to mind
'If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it.'
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I'm curious about this in the description: 'NEW 3" wheels installed by Amtrak'
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
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