AlaskaTours.com

Built in 1929 the Presidential Railroad Car first saw service with the Northern Pacific Railroad. Followed by a series of owners, the car operated throughout the American railroad system before finally being shipped to Alaska.

Word is the car never actually carried ‘The President’ but instead transported Senators, State Governors, eager to be seen politicians, and not surprisingly a few Railroad Presidents. If it was anything like those old Black & White movies we’ve all watched, this elite crowd puffed on Cuban cigars and talked big! With imagination you can conjure the era, long gone political voices speaking of vague promises, winning wars and dusty intrigues. As the car rattled across Mid-Western states - the aroma of spilled bourbon and old cigar smoke blended with elegant dinner parties and well dressed people waving to crowds.

Hang on a moment, why all this nostalgia? It’s back and on track! Time to start practicing your own wave! Now the 1929 Presidential car is home after a ($1.5 million) refit in Colorado to meet current safety standards. Looking fabulous, the car is available once more to ride the rails on a private charter basis! Just imagine riding the Alaska Railroad in your own Presidential car. Attached to the rear of the train, you too can wave from the observation platform – just like they did in the old days. Your adoring fans will be impressed as you journey through Alaska’s great interior. You see - it’s been a long while since the moose, grizzly bears, wolves and little critters saw anything quite like this!

Equipped with a full kitchen, the chef and waiting staff will ensure those elegant, champagne, dinner parties are not a thing of the past. The car has one bedroom (double bed) with beautiful, en suite facilities. While parked at night, your friends will be housed in comfortable hotel accommodation nearby. Talking of friends, a total of 12 is a sensible maximum for travelling. The dining table seats 16, so new pals can always drop by for a bite to eat.

All the logistical stuff can be arranged online (www.alaskatours.com) Things like buying food and wine, bringing the chef onboard and organizing best places to park (find car parking tricky? Try trains). Wildlife and sightseeing excursions are added wherever you are and my personal favourite - having a bush plane swoop down, land on a nearby lake and whisk you off for an ‘eagle’s eye’ view of mountain tops.

For the most unique experience, if you avoid peak season dates when the railroad is super busy – it’s possible to have a private locomotive haul your ‘Presidential car’ through Alaska. Just imagine sharing this fabulous experience with your closest friends and relatives. Brings a whole new dimension to exploring Alaska!