The ‘Great Dome’ car offers a rare and unique fall travel experience to view this season's brilliance on the Adirondack and Cardinal train. The dome is open to all passengers on a first come, first served basis on select departures. The dome car features an upper level with windows on all sides and overhead to provide the passengers with panoramic views of magnificent scenery. Get a jump on planning and map out your fall travel adventure now. Don't forget to make a hotel reservation in your destination to complete the trip.
On the Adirondack train, immerse yourself in the changing tree colors and of Lake Champlain as you travel from Albany across the Canadian border to Montreal. Trails and Rails volunteers will also be aboard most trips, offering scenic and historical commentary between Saratoga Springs, NY and Port Henry, NY.
Or ride the Cardinal train and take in the breathtaking colors of the trees, the New River Gorge and the Shenandoah Valley. The dome section runs the full length of the car, a rare feature even when dome cars were more numerous on the nation's railroads.
The only remaining dome car in Amtrak service, car number 10031, is a Great Dome car previously used on the Chicago - Seattle Empire Builder when the train was operated by the Great Northern Railway and the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad (later the Burlington Northern Railroad). It was built in 1955 by the Budd Company for the Great Northern and carried the name “Ocean View,” car number 1391. It was conveyed to Amtrak in 1971, with this car first being given the number 9361. It was renovated in 1985, renumbered 9300, and used in daily service on the Amtrak Auto Train to and from the Washington, D.C. and Orlando, Fla. areas through 1994. It was further refurbished in 1999, renumbered to 10031, and has been used in various Amtrak services including the Pacific Surfliners (formerly San Diegans) and other charters and excursions.
Far left image photo credit: Kevin Burkholder
