Also under attack by "progress" the past decade or so have been the CDOT bar cars on the New Haven line. The loss of these institutions is a loss of color, in my opinion.

From a preservation angle, the challenge is clear: will anyone preserve/restore a club car to show what subscription commuter clubs were like before the age of homogeneity? The URHS has the upper hand as at least a few of their former commuter club cars are in restorable condition. IRM would be a great option, too. The memories Ross has shared are as much are part of rail history as Big Boys and Pullman porters, just not as well known nor as widely appreciated.

Oh for a return to the days before PC and socialism were the norm. Yes, subscription cars such as I was privileged to belong to were certainly that....privileged, and I found myself there as much by luck....... the same ingredient involved to some degree in the good fortune to have been born an American.

All this pc nonsense is so counter productive and wasteful.

I'm grateful I was able to be involved in the good 'ole days!!

Ross Rowland

Simply put, a private company has the absolute right to participate in "non-politically-correct" behavior. A public utility does not, especially when the behavior in question is blatantly discriminatory.

So a state commuter agency can't offer extra fare service but the post office can?

I am enjoying this thread, but we are veering off from RYPN land. Happy to carry on via PM, FB or email.

Rob

Has any private entity actually asked AMTRAK to carry their club car on a regular train? I'm aware they will include PV in their consists.....perhaps they are not deserving of being castigated for something nobody has made a legitimate request to have provided?

I don't for a moment believe we'll see a return to the days of Mad Men, chain smoking Chesterfields and 5 martini lunches....not sure I'd want to try that at my stage of life in any case....but there is probably a modern form of a social, subscriber based, PV provided service that could be developed. Whether or not it would consistently cover its operating costs is another thing.

dave

Atlantic City ACES service......... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_C ... ss_Service

Amtrak's Private Car Tariff has had quantity or "commutation" rates in it for multiple identical trips in a short period. Maybe Pullman Rail Journeys http://www.travelpullman.com/ uses that feature.

Follow-up on the OTHER car, from Railpace.com/hotnews:

The restoration of this DL&W MU Subscription Club Car is a long-term project. The Whippany Railway Museum http://www.WhippanyRailwayMuseum.net is utilizing the services of Star Trak, Inc. located at the URHS restoration facility in Boonton, NJ. Currently all of the earlier paint layers have been removed and the carbody and roof are now coated in primer paint. The lower, rotted portions of steel along the bottom and ends of the car have been cut out and refitted with new metal work. Repairs were made to a minor leak in a portion of the copper-clad roof. Steps and vestibule platforms are in the process of being rebuilt. Museum volunteers have removed all window frames, and they have been refurbished and fitted with new glazing. A notable feature of No. 2454's original 1912 construction is the stained-glass window panels above each large passenger window. Some time after the 1930 rebuild of the car for electric MU service, the stained-glass windows were plated over to give the car a more “modern” appearance. Museum volunteers removed all the plating and found that the original 1912-era wood framing and stained glass panels were still in place and intact. The wooden frames for the stained-glass unfortunately did not age well and were all removed and have been totally re-fabricated.

As for the interior, which is in remarkably good condition considering the three decades of non-maintenance and exposure to vandalism and the elements, WRyM staff have cleared the car of all carpeting and debris. Volunteers have already begun restoration of the interior of the car, including all woodwork, ceiling panels, light fixtures, seating, etc. The Club Car will eventually move to its new home at Whippany, NJ once Star Trak completes its part of the restoration process. Operation on the Museum's excursion trains is still a good two years away.

Three images attached showing the recent progress so far.