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Today’s WSJ had this interesting article about overnight trains. Not surprisingly, no mention of Amtrak. Perhaps Amtrak’s CEO has this in mind for his experiential trains. New Age of Sleeper Trains
A couple excerpts: “Cushy sleeping berths on new railcars and might-ily refurbished ones are rolling into stations every-where, from the Scottish Highlands to the Peruvian Andes. They’re catering to a growing faction of travelers looking to escape the harried airline experience or simply to indulge their nostalgia—real or imagined—for overnight rail travel, largely fueled by books and films (see “Track Stars,” on page D6, for a sampling).”
While the author didn’t care for Italy’s overnight Venice to Dijon train, the night train from London to Penzance fared better:
“The Night Riveria might not be as se-y as the trains of Agatha Christie and Wes Anderson or as posh sound-ing as Belmond’s, but for the space and civility and price, it seemed hard to beat. By the end of the day in Penzance, I was watching jet trails crisscross the sky and already looking for-ward to the return train passage to London.”
Also mentioned were movies that appealed to many here, there was one I had not heard of:
“ That Kind of Woman - This lesser-known 1959 film, directed by Sidney Lumet, finds World War II vet Tab Hunter hooking up with Sophia Loren—you know, that kind of woman—in the club car of an overnight train from Miami to New York.“
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Incidentally, I noticed SAL 6BR-Lng "Red Mountain". That was the "protect" car for the "--Beach" Sun Lounge on the "Meteor". I rode in it once during '62 "Old Penn" to Richmond Broad Street.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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If Amtrak LD trains bite the dust, I wonder if an All-Pullman passenger train could make a comeback? Possibly west coast-Chicago-east coast with very limited stops along the way. It would have to be several cuts above present Amtrak sleepers, with good food and amenities. No slumbercoaches!
What was the last US All-Pullman train? Was it the Panama Limited?
I noted, in Mr. Palmland's link, a movie ad for "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974 with Albert Finney). That is my 2nd favorite Orient Express movie. I think the best one was the 2010 version, on PBS, with David Suchet as Poirot.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Richard, I think it was The Broadway. That lasted until about December '67 while the Panama went with the timetable change.
To continue, I have been "tempted" to try out the supposedly rejuvenated NightJet service Salzburg to Venice, but it simply looks to me like someone just put "lipstick on the pig". Also, at my age, it's change enough to spend the night on a plane and the strange surroundings of a hotel (even if the plane is Business Class and the hotel is "Four Star"). Am I going to pack up and lug my stuff on to the train? Will I just leave the hotel unoccupied (and possibly have staff worried about me)?
European rail "Eurailpass Marathons" were one thing fifty years ago; something else today.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Reviewing IMDB Goofs for "That Kind of Woman", I don't know where the one regarding GG-1's horns came from. They had "bull" horns as they apparently did in the movie.
Secondly, "Red Mountain", as in that I noted before, was delivered (source: Wayner) from ACF (apparantly amongst the only three cars SAL ordered from that builder) during 1949. The movie was set during 1944.
But all told, I'll watch it; I never seen a Sydney Lumet film I didn't like.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Richard, you have a point. This site is essentially unmoderated and discussing "That Kind of Woman" ("kept" back in '59? Oh, what do censors let through?) is off topic.
But let it be known, I watched the rail travel portion. Unfortunately, I cannot place this Lumet movie in the same space as I do "Network" and "The Verdict".
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Looks like they almost got it right with a Seaboard train advertised as the Silver Meteror. Much better than most Hollywood movies that usually just show a generic SP train. But, Red Mountain, and sisters Stone and Kennesaw where Georgia locations for use on the Silver Comet. Later bumped to the Silver Star when I saw them many times in Ashland.
I think you could guess that the movie would never be an Oscar contender when the star is Tab Hunter!. Sort of like the Elvis movies.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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