Trains Magazine wrote:OWOSSO, Mich. – Two Amtrak Pacific Parlour Cars will soon join Steam Railroading Institute’s passenger car fleet. The cars were built as Santa Fe Hi-level lounges by the Budd Co. in 1956 and used until last year by Amtrak on the Coast Starlight.
They are set to become “Pere Marquette Parlor” first class cars on the Institute’s popular North Pole Express holiday excursions behind 2-8-4 No. 1225, the engine that starred in the Polar Express movie and books.
The two cars were among 139 cars and locomotives offered for sale in November; a second batch of cars was offered the following month.
The Institute’s Aarne Frobom tells Trains News Wire that the cars are still at Beech Grove, but will shortly make their way to Owosso in freight trains.