DESCRIPTION:
Private Party Car Pony Express – is
comfortably appointed to provide a warm and sociable environment
for group events such as birthdays. anniversary celebrations, weddings/receptions, holiday
parties and other social gatherings. It has an antique bar, comfortable
lounge area and parquet dance floor. The car has been set up
to function as meeting space, a classroom/ conference room and
as a film/ event production office. It has numerous power outlets
for computers, projectors, copiers, etc;.and, is equipped with
a video projector, DVD/VCR,/Stereo and 81 inch projection screen.
Ii is fully approved for service on Amtrak trains operating throughout
the United States
The “Pony” is now based in northern California.
- Accommodations – The car can comfortably
accommodate 36 – 40 people for group events and has sleeping
accommodations for 2. The bunkroom has a bathroom with retention
toilet and full sized shower
- Companion Car – The Pony Express is
ideally suited for use as a companion to other private cars operating
either on a regularly scheduled Amtrak train or as part of a
private train.
- Special Use Car – The Pony is uniquely
suited for special use as a support car for special events and
film production. It is equipped with full-open end doors on the
lounge end and the floor and walls can be protected so the car
can be used for storage of bulky items up to and including an
automobile. See photo below.
HISTORY
The Pony Express was built
in January, 1941 as end-door Baggage/Express car #4210, of the
Canadian Pacific Railway by Canadian Car and Foundry Co. of Montreal.
It was one of a lot of ten such cars, 4202-4211. It displays
the slightly curved sides which distinguish Canadian Pacific
streamlined passenger equipment of that era from that of any
other railroad in North America. These unique cars were once
used by the CPR to transport Royal Canadian Mounted Police horses
used for the RCMP’s world famous Musical Ride.
These cars were built with only one window
on each side. The additional windows in this car and the rider
compartment were installed as part of the cars’ initial refurbishment
by Anbel Corporation of Brownsville, Texas in 1987-88. Reconstruction
to current Amtrak PC-2 standards, interior paneling, carpeting
and parquet dance floor were done by The Train Source, Inc. 1997-2001.
The unique interior paneling configuration
was inspired by the simple, but elegant designs used in Virginia
& Truckee Railroad Co. passenger cars 3 & 4 built by
Kimball in 1872 and once owned by Short Line Enterprises (predecessor
to The Train Source, Inc.)
Specifications
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