The old heavy weight, dubbed The Constitution, is particularly noteworthy because it once hosted Presidents Warren Harding and Woodrow Wilson.
The Constitution was one of three Pullman cars completed in January 1906 for charter service, according to its current owner, Willie Cade. In the early years of the car’s existence, it could be charted for a day at the staggering price of $75 — nearly $2,000 in today’s dollars. If you wanted the car for two or more days the price dropped to $50 a day. The price included the services of a cook and two attendants.
In the 1930s, according to local newspaper accounts, the car was purchased by Lauren J. Drake and moved to Plano where he had it taken off the rails and placed on a piece of property he owned. The car was then turned into a weekend home, about an hour away from Chicago. The car has been owned by a number of family members over the years.
Cade says his family decided to put it on AirBnb so others could enjoy it. The car rents for $136 a night. The car has a kitchen, dining room, four bedrooms and an “observation room” at the end of the car. Cade says eventually he hopes to restore the car’s interior to exactly how it appeared in the early 1900s.
“It’s just a wonderful place to getaway from it all,” he says. “It’s just a great car.”
Maybe ten years ago I stayed for two nights at the Four Sixes Bed and Breakfast in Fredericksburg, Texas, which was located in an 1894 Pullman office car. It was first a private car for the owner of the Four Sixes Ranch. It then went to the Quanah, Acme and Pacific and later Frisco executive fleet until retirement. President Theodore Roosevelt rode on it while visiting the ranch for a hunting trip.
It had been relocated to a short stretch of track in downtown Fredericksburg, a very popular vacation spot in the Hill Country. The former dining room had a magnificent king size mahogany bed. The kitchen was intact but not operable. The small observation lounge had a nice couch was stocked with books (including railroad books, of course) and the included breakfast was provided at a nearby restaurant. It was a bit expensive for me at the time but I had my own private Pullman car and I absolutely loved it.
The B&B was owned by a family that also owns a local jelly company. I quick web search didn’t turn up a current listing for it, so it’s probably not operating any more, but you can see the car by searching Google maps for 300 Live Oak St and clicking on street view.
If I happened to be traveling through Plano I’d definitely consider giving this one a try.
Does the car still have its wheels? Makes me wonder if it could be made fullynoperational–and compliant–with current day standards.
Wonderful! $136 isn’t too bad either.
Yes, it is indeed classic ACL Purple and silver. I personally would title this Pullman Private Car or Buisness Car turned bnb as currently it comes across (without seeing pictures) as a “standard” Pullman car, such as a 12-1 or 10-1-2.
Without looking it up (that would be cheating) those colors look like Atlantic Coast Line. Yes? No?