Privately Owned Rail Cars

Can you buy a private rail car?

There currently are about 150 private railcars (also called “varnish”) in good enough shape to be certified to run attached to Amtrak trains in the U.S., according to the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners. Cost of the cars ranges from $25,000 to more than $800,000, depending on the condition.

Train Buffs Are Traveling Cross-Country in Super Luxe ...

Does Amtrak pull private rail cars?

If they are an expensive hobby for train buffs, private rail cars are good business for Amtrak, which pulls an average of 35 private cars monthly. Amtrak charges $2.10 a mile to pull a private car — each additional car on the same train is another $1.60 a mile — plus about $100 for overnight parking at most stations.

Private rail car owners enjoy 'yachts on tracks' - The Washington Post

How much does a railcar cost?

Today, the typical freight railcar is in the $100,000 to $150,000 range. Overall, there are six basic freight railcar types. But within each railcar type, there are multiple specific design factors. The design options impact each railcar's capital cost.

Railcar economics are as complex as the movement of freight

How much does it cost to charter a private rail car?

You can charter a rail car for your whole trip for about $3,500-$5,000 a day, including crew, food, Amtrak fees, etc. This approach is often used for special family gatherings or corporate events.

Private rail car contact information, prices and itineraries