Union Pacific office-car train in Chicago's Ogilvie Station

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Joined
Dec 18, 2007
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1,148
Location
suburban Chicago (Deerfield)
This morning, there was, and might still be, a long Union Pacific office-car train on Track 1 at Chicago's Ogilvie Transportation Center (nee Chicago and North Western Station). The train was spotless and gleaming, and I could see people eating in a dining car and well-dressed gentlemen conferring in a lounge car. It was guarded by multiple security guards, and half the Track 1-2 platform was taped off so the hoi polloi couldn't board or get too close to the cars. I didn't get a chance to write down the car names as I was swept along with the irresistible flow of commuters from my train that arrived on Track 2, made worse by having only half the platform to walk on.

There were two dome cars, one being "City of San Francisco," one of the other cars was named "Green River," and there was an observation car at the end. Over the rear observation platform there was a banner stating "Wind Distribution Center." My guess, since (1) there are a lot of wind farms along the Chicago-Springfield-St. Louis Amtrak route, and (2) Union Pacific owns that line, is that the train is some sort of promotional inspection tour of the wind farms.
 
Interesting.

I have a great lack of respect for these office-car trains run by freight railroads (out of stockholder profits). If passenger rail wasn't profitable enough for the general public, why is it worth providing for the execs? If they don't believe in the worthwhileness of passenger rail, why aren't they on airplanes or in cars or something? Wouldn't that leave more money to return to the stockholders? It just feels *hypocritical*. (That's why I don't have a problem with Amtrak's office-car train, or the ones owned by mixed freight-and-passenger railroads.)
 
I believe, if the truth be known, the rail executives really only ride that train because they "have to", for business purposes, Given a choice, I'd bet that the vast majority of them would prefer to fly. Maybe they would want to take their kids aboard for the novelty and experience, but other than that, they are aboard because their boss wants them there to entertain the clients and/or pols. Of course there will always be a 'closet railfan' in an executive capacity, but he'd better keep it in the closet if he wants a good career.....

The Claytor brothers were a notable exception to this....
 
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Boy, talk about a railfan window! You see the size of that rear window on the last car? I'd love to ride along with that view through the Rockies....
 
I too saw that train and have a photo of the rear end with the "Wind Distribution Centers" banner. The security for the train was actually really nice and waved me closer to take a closer picture but also to give me some history of the train. It was built in the 1950's and as guessed was being used to try and secure more funding. I don't know from whom, wind turbine producers, energy companies, local and federal governments, all, none, etc. I've seen that train in the OTC at least once before, so let me see if I have pictures from then as well. If you google "Wind Distribution Centers" which is how I found this forum, then you get some pages from the UP about delivering turbines via rail.
 
I too saw that train and have a photo of the rear end with the "Wind Distribution Centers" banner. The security for the train was actually really nice and waved me closer to take a closer picture but also to give me some history of the train. It was built in the 1950's and as guessed was being used to try and secure more funding. I don't know from whom, wind turbine producers, energy companies, local and federal governments, all, none, etc. I've seen that train in the OTC at least once before, so let me see if I have pictures from then as well. If you google "Wind Distribution Centers" which is how I found this forum, then you get some pages from the UP about delivering turbines via rail.
When I was on the CZ at the Denver station in Nov '11, I saw freight cars w/the blades for the windmills.
 
You have to admit, it is a nice consist.
That's not the same consist that's in Chicago now. Here's the train giving rides to the invited guests yesterday:

 
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Interesting.
I have a great lack of respect for these office-car trains run by freight railroads (out of stockholder profits). If passenger rail wasn't profitable enough for the general public, why is it worth providing for the execs? If they don't believe in the worthwhileness of passenger rail, why aren't they on airplanes or in cars or something? Wouldn't that leave more money to return to the stockholders? It just feels *hypocritical*. (That's why I don't have a problem with Amtrak's office-car train, or the ones owned by mixed freight-and-passenger railroads.)
Like any business, there will be multiple levels of scrutiny. Accounts will be audited and questions asked. I thus don't believe that directors are being given a blank ticket to waste stockholder money. Hiring / chartering a train like this will cost a substantial amount of money for the hiring party, and part of that charter income is used to maintain and repair the cars.

Running a regular scheduled service is quite a different game to running a charter for a pre-booked group. In fact Amtrak also has a charter train business and I beleive it is profitable. But just because you can fill a train once on a special occasuion, doesn't mean you can fill it every day.
 
Here are the two photos I have from May 6th:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianbobcat/9299059030/" title="IMG_0082 by brianbobcat, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3762/9299059030_7da650b4e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0082"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianbobcat/9296282371/" title="IMG_0084 by brianbobcat, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/9296282371_b27a57bd01_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0084"></a>

That slow motion video above was pretty cool too.
 
Sorry, that was my reply up there. I tried adding the embed code from Flickr, but I guess that didn't work. You can see each picture clicking on the first link in the code. Again, sorry. If there had been a preview post option, I would've used that.
 
Brianbobcat's photos:

9299059030_7da650b4e7_c.jpg


9296282371_b27a57bd01_c.jpg


To share photos from Flickr on this forum, use the "BBCode" option, not the "HTML" option.
 
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I believe, if the truth be known, the rail executives really only ride that train because they "have to", for business purposes, Given a choice, I'd bet that the vast majority of them would prefer to fly. Maybe they would want to take their kids aboard for the novelty and experience, but other than that, they are aboard because their boss wants them there to entertain the clients and/or pols. Of course there will always be a 'closet railfan' in an executive capacity, but he'd better keep it in the closet if he wants a good career.....
The Claytor brothers were a notable exception to this....
Let's see, a cramped airline seat and a ton of security vs. luxurious accommodations, free gourmet level food cooked to order, free booze, no security hassles (at least for the execs), and no need for a hotel room when they get where they're going. I can't believe that they'd really rather fly over top of the line luxury; sorry!
 
I believe, if the truth be known, the rail executives really only ride that train because they "have to", for business purposes, Given a choice, I'd bet that the vast majority of them would prefer to fly. Maybe they would want to take their kids aboard for the novelty and experience, but other than that, they are aboard because their boss wants them there to entertain the clients and/or pols. Of course there will always be a 'closet railfan' in an executive capacity, but he'd better keep it in the closet if he wants a good career.....
The Claytor brothers were a notable exception to this....
I don't think you know railroad executives very well. If they didn't enjoy these trips, these fleets wouldn't exist. Besides, it's the best way to see the lines in actual operation and the condition of the roadbed. Not to mention, a unique way to wine and dine big shippers.
 
Both of you are correct...I don't really know for sure...just an impression I get. based on a conversation I once had with a high level railroad traffic dept. exec.

You and I would love the opportunity to be aboard one of those trains, for sure. Winging across the country in a Gulfstream V, wouldn't be a bad option, either......
 
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