I'm not certain if this Brief Passage is factually correct:
Since before World War II, when rail was king and Prohibition was dead, the rolling saloon has been a national staple — its contents relied upon to make the strangers less strange, the commutes less interminable. But over the years, the bar cars began to disappear: Chicago, one of the last holdouts, abandoned its bar service in 2008.
At the end, only Metro-North remained, according to the American Public Transportation Association
Last time I checked, Bar Car Clubs still operate on METRA/UP/CNW North Line serving places like Winnetka, Lake Forest, and Kennilworth (I'm talkin' Atherton kind of towns). However these are Clubs, open to anyone paying the $900 annual membership dues plus applicable METRA ticket, and using former C&NW (UP styled) Lounge Cars placed at the head of Outbound trains.
Be sure to check out the linked material within The Times article.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
When you mentioned bar clubs, Mr. Norman, I was wondering if there could be something like an "Amtrak Club". Have an annual fee associated with Amtrak Club membership. Then have club member only cars, such as observation, lounge, bistro (all with waiters and light meals available), sports bars, recreations cars with card tables & TV's, etc.
Probably would not work, but just a thought.
Richard
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Richard, regarding regarding your immediate thought, with the whacking of anything adding to a premium product Systemwide away from Acela First Class, it is highly doubtful that Amtrak could consider premium cars as you have proposed that follow the model of many an excursion train. Even if Amtrak 'could make a buck' with such being offered, the political fruit is siomply not 'ripe' at this time.
I think it is a case of 'Thanks for the memories' with both your Coast Starlight out there, and our Auto Train out here (well East Coast but remember that's where I'm from).
Finally, allow me the liberty of being a five year old; 'they gored my ox, how about yours?'
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
In the future, I suspect any true first class amenities will be courtesy of Pullman Rail Journeys, should they be ble to expand beyond their efforts on CONO.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Here is a 2009 Chicago Tribune article concerning the METRA/UP/CNW North Line Club Car:
Tom Mullen isn't a meatpacking mogul or business tycoon. But the attorney has something in common with Philip Armour, Samuel Insull and other Chicago swells from the early 20th Century.
Mullen commutes downtown in a private rail car, a member of a club whose roster was once a litany of Chicago's most prominent and wealthy families.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
I'm not sure if I'm doing this properly, but I think I did use the UBB function to compress the URL and take the forum page back to usual size.
I agree that is nice to have a self moderating forum. But, it is nice to know our moderator is there when needed. She has been very helpful with the couple questions I've had.
I am sure my son who has a daily NJT commute would appreciate a bar car but seems satisfied with a seat in the upper level of their newish coaches while lost in a book.