 Luxury Trains: Traveling by train in a luxury railcar adds an extra dimension to a vacation regardless of the destination. The sightseeing alone is a unique experience with a perspective only seen while in motion on the tracks. It is both nostalgic and entertaining, as today's contemporary railcars are filled with creature comforts comparable to five-star hotels and resorts.
Francis L. Sutter and Palace on Wheels are two luxury railcar operators that offer such packages. The cars are restored to original luster and supplemented superbly with the finest of amenities.
The Francis L. Sutter
Built in 1914 by the Pullman Company, the railcar was originally known as the Pennsylvania Railroad Business Car 7503. It originally was a 90-ton mobile office used for transporting railroad executives, VIP clients, and other individuals of distinction.
The oxidized, retired railcar was rescued in 1983, restored and renovated, and put back on the tracks as the Francis L. Sutter. It is the oldest car in the U.S. that is capable of traveling 110 miles per hour attached to a locomotive. The elegantly appointed railcar can accommodate up to 16 passengers during the day, and six guests overnight. Its magnificent circa 1930's opulence is completely intact. The railcar also is equipped with a cellular telephone system, a DVD system and a CD player.
Chartering the Francis L. Sutter is a unique outing that offers a yesteryear experience with contemporary indulgences. The Francis L. Sutter is available for around-the-country excursions or short trips. Additional railcars can be added.
For more information, visit www.privaterail.com.
Palace on Wheels
The Palace on Wheels tours is a weeklong rail adventure where all guests are treated like maharajas. Most trips begin in New Delhi and returns a week later. Each day takes vacationers to a new city of India. The third day's stop is in Jaisalmer, which was founded in 1156 A.D. It is filled with numerous palatial mansions that are over 800 years ago. Jodhpur is next on the list.
A stop at the city of Sawai Madhopur includes a visit to Ranthambhor National Park, which is located in the ruins of a fort from the 10thcentury. It is a wildlife sanctuary renowned for offering visitors the opportunity to observe tigers and other animals in their natural habitat. It. In-depth tours of Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur, and Agra follow. The fabled Taj Mahal is in Agra, and Bharatpur is the location a world-famous sanctuary, the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. It is the nesting grounds of thousands of egrets, Siberian cranes, migratory waterfowl, and other rare species of exotic birds.
For more information, visit www.palaceonwheels.com.
For LxM James Rothaar
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