No. 10077 "American Orient Express" Deluxe Streamlined Passenger Train, Privately Owned

The “American Orient Express,” privately owned, is the only all-first-class luxury streamlined passenger train to operate in the 1990s that captures the spirit of earlier famous trains, such as New York Central’s “20th Century Limited” (see No. 10156) and Santa Fe’s “Super Chief” (see No. 10168).
 
The train was originally operated (1989-1993) by the American-European Express Railway Company (AEE), located in Panama City, Florida.  AEE had its operational and sales headquarters in Chicago, with additional sales offices in New York City and Washington, D.C.
 
The “American-European Express” began operations November 15, 1989, linking New York and Washington, D.C. with Philadelphia and Chicago. Early in 1991, Baltimore, Wilmington, and Indianapolis were added to AEE’s schedule, under the power of AEE’s own locomotives.  Twice-weekly service was offered eastbound and westbound, with New York and Chicago as the terminating points for all trips, but bad luck in the form of accidents and declining ridership caused the demise of the AEE in mid-October, 1991, and the train went into mothballs at a CSX yard in Jacksonville, Florida.

For each journey, the “American-European Express” could accommodate up to 116 passengers, up from the original capacity of 54.  The train consisted of a twin diesel locomotive, baggage car, five or six sleeper cars (depending on ridership), two dining cars, a club car with baby grand piano, and a parlor/lounge/observation car. 
 
The observation car was built in 1948 for service on the “20th Century Limited,” and was dedicated by Dwight Eisenhower and Beatrice Lillie.
 
AEE passenger cars were built between 1948 and 1958 by Pullman-Standard, American Car Foundry, and the St.  Louis Car Co.  All cars were totally re-outfitted in the 1980s and 1990s at a cost of approximately one million dollars each.
 
In 1993, ownership of the American-European Express changed, and it came under the ownership of the Oregon Rail Corporation of Portland, Oregon (as of 1999), with sales offices in Portland and Omaha, and also in Downers Grove, Illinois. Portland-based Henry Hillman was CEO and president of the company.
 
In 1994, the train changed its name from the “American-European Express” to the “American Orient Express.” The train is based in Denver and has a regularly scheduled itinerary nationally for about seven months a year.  The other five months are used for special charters and maintenance at its Denver-based facilities.
 
All “American Orient Express” passenger cars are fully Amtrak compatible and approved for use at speeds in excess of 100 mph.  Sleeping car accommodations offer individually controlled air conditioning and heating, and some cars with Presidential suites offer side-by-side sleeping berths and private showers.  The club car features a full-service bar, Art Deco ambiance, and a piano player for entertainment, including sing-alongs.  Vintage dining carriages feature regional specialties and traditional menus from the streamliner era, served at tables set with fine china, silver, crystal, and linen.
 
“American Orient Express’” powerful twin diesel locomotive sets are General Motors Electro-Motive Division’s E-8 AA units, built in the early 1950s and one of the last to sport the streamlined “bulldog” nose.  At 2250 horsepower per unit, the twin E-8s could easily pull “American Orient Express” passenger trains at speeds up to 100 mph. Amtrak motive power is also used often under a lease arrangement.
 
No.  10077 represents an accurate model of the “American Orient Express” in “HO” gauge, with twin-unit E-8 AA diesel locomotives and six streamlined passenger cars in its distinctive royal blue and cream color scheme.  The set was manufactured in Italy by Rivarossi in 1998.  The E-8s were phased out on the real train about 1995 for more modern locomotives.