The Dagny Taggart: Private Traincar
This is rounded observation car designed as a sleeper-lounge car. It has a big lounge in the back end of the car, a dining room table, a kitchen, and then several “roomette” bedrooms.
In Ayn Rand’s 1957 dystopian novel Atlas Shrugged, protagonist Dagny Taggart uses a revolutionary, light weight metal to expand her railroad empire. The controversial material replaces steel rails and saves her family’s business. Of course along the way Dagny finds true love and purpose.
The railcar named after Dagny Taggart is now on loan to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum by a generous benefactor who is allowing us to use the car in First Class and Charter service. This is a rare opportunity for guests to experience life in a private railrcar, with a modern design to entertain guests of railroad barons.
In her novel Ayn Rand offers up science fiction, mystery and romance. On board the car Dagny Taggart we promise to deliver at least one of the three…the romance of riding our steel rails in unbelievable style and comfort. First Class tickets are available at www.duluthtrains.com. The car is offered for private dinners on select evenings for a flat-rate of up to 6 passengers, and for first-class rides on various excursions. For private charter information call us at 800-423-1273.
History of the Traincar:
Built by BUDD Car Company in 1949 for the New York Central RR, the car carried the markers at the end of the Southwest Limited that ran between New York and St. Louis. She also filled in on the line’s famed Twentieth Century Limited whenever one of her tail cars was undergoing repairs.
