Historic Pullman cars available for tours Labor Day weekend

Publication Date
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Body

Historic Pullman Foundation, Mandy Burrell Booth, 773-640-1206, amandamburrell@gmail.com

Amtrak, Marc Magliari, 312-544-5390, MediaRelationsChicago@Amtrak.com

Metra, Michael Gillis, 312-322-6776, mgillis@metrarr.com  

CHICAGO – Three historic rail cars built by the storied Pullman Company will be on display in Pullman, Chicago as part of the Grand Opening celebration for Pullman National Monument and Pullman State Historic Site on Labor Day weekend, September 4 and 5, 2021. An Amtrak 50th anniversary P-42 locomotive will move the three Pullman cars—Northern Dreams, Promontory Point, and New York Central 3— to the 111th Street/Pullman Station on the Metra Electric Line, where they will be stationed for the event.

Tickets to tour the cars will be available day-of with a suggested donation to Historic Pullman Foundation. Tickets will be available at the event Information Tent, on the southeast corner of 111th and Cottage Grove Avenue. The tent will open at 9 a.m. Tours will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Donations will benefit Historic Pullman Foundation, the nonprofit partner to Pullman National Monument. The American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners and volunteer docents will provide the tours. Masks will be required for all tour participants, and Metra-provided masks will be available. 

“Amtrak appreciates the invitation to ‘power up’ the railcar display with Unit 161, a locomotive painted in special colors to celebrate our 50th anniversary year,” said Derrick James, Senior Manager, Government Affairs & Corporate Communications, Amtrak. “We have cheered on the progress at the Pullman site and see our role as continuing the legacy of the Pullman Company and the Pullman Porters with our National Network of Amtrak trains providing sleeping car service across the country.”

“Metra is excited and proud to be hosting these historic cars during this noteworthy grand opening,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “With the Metra Electric Line providing direct service to Pullman, we look forward to connecting our riders to this reinvigorated historical area. And we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship between our agency and the National Monument and State Historic Site.”

"The American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners is pleased to be part of the Pullman grand opening celebration," said AAPRCO Executive Director Julie King. "Our members come from all walks of life and share a love of trains and private railcar travel. We're proud to be able to share these beautiful, historic rail cars with the public."

“Historic Pullman Foundation is excited to showcase Pullman’s legacy of railway innovation in partnership with Amtrak, Metra, and American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners,” said Joseph C. Szabo, President, Historic Pullman Foundation. “Not only through this event, but also through ongoing programming and exhibits at Pullman National Monument and its partner sites, visitors to Pullman have many opportunities to learn about the continuing American story that is Pullman.”

Visitors to Pullman on Labor Day weekend are encouraged to take public transportation to the event. The Metra Electric Line serves Pullman with stations at 103rd, 107th, 111th, and 115th Streets and Cottage Grove Avenue. On Pullman’s Grand Opening weekend, a shuttle will stop on Cottage Grove at the 107th Street and 111th Street stations and near the 103rd Street station to connect Metra passengers to event activities.