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| A rendering of the new luxury train // (c) 2011 The Greenbrier |
The Greenbrier, a classic American resort in White Sulphur Springs, WV, has announced plans to revive the luxury train experience in America, with the July 2012 debut of The Greenbrier Presidential Express.
In a move that recalls the glamour of the unveiling of the streamlined 20th Century Limited express train in 1938, The Greenbrier Presidential Express will bring the resort's signature décor and service to Washington, D.C.'s Union Station.
Guests will board for a six-hour, nonstop trip to White Sulphur Springs, the 15-car train accommodating up to 240 passengers and featuring a board room car, salon car and even an open-air car for admiring views and photography.
"We want to bring back the glamour of rail travel," says Jim Justice, chairman and owner of The Greenbrier. "Everything from the décor to the food will make you feel as if you are already at the resort."
World-renowned decorator and the resort's curator Carleton Varney, president of the Dorothy Draper & Company, with his associate Brinsley Matthews, have taken The Greenbrier's signature Dorothy Draper décor and applied it to the train's interiors and exterior.
A team of 40 skilled craftsmen in Pottstown, PA, are refurbishing all 15 cars with the finest woods and fabrics. The cars, originally built in the 1950s, served as the long distance trains for the Union Pacific and Santa Fe railroads.
Commenting on the plans, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin III said, "I am thrilled that The Greenbrier Presidential Express will soon bring people directly to West Virginia to see our beautiful state, meet our wonderful people, and enjoy the place we all call home."
This project is being designed, built and operated by a new West Virginia company, The Greenbrier Express Company, Inc., co-founded by Jim Justice, Paul Nichini and Ross Rowland.
Located in White Sulphur Springs in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, The Greenbrier has been welcoming guests since 1778. Known as "America's Resort," it encompasses 6,500 acres of undulating countryside that includes four golf courses, The Greenbrier Clinic (specializing in executive health), a 40,000-square-foot spa, a mélange of sporting activities, shops, private homes, guests-only casino and, at its heart, a vast and imposing 710-room hotel.
Visit www.greenbrier.com.