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Rare train cars rechristened by Montana Rockies Rail Tours

LIVINGSTON — As passengers filed out of the 1940s-model
train cars that carried them here from Sandpoint, Idaho,
Saturday, they were greeted by a crowd singing Montana
theme songs to the accompaniment of a band.

By ERIN EVERETT Chronicle Staff Writer

"Montana, Montana, glory of the West," they chimed as
they waded through a crowd to collect their luggage, before
posing for quick group photos and heading toward an ice
cream stand.

The celebration was for the christening of two cars of the
"Montana Daylight" train, which hauls thousands of passengers a year on scenic tours between
Sandpoint, Idaho and Livingston.

Montana Rockies Rail Tours http://www.montanarailtours.com/ headquartered in Sandpoint, recently bought 13 rail cars built in
the 1940s and 1950s from Amtrak and assembled them into the Montana Daylight, spokesman
Gary Puta said. Two of the cars were officially named after Livingston and Yellowstone
National Park on Saturday.

The "City of Livingston" is a rare vista dome and lounge coach built in 1947, and "Yellowstone
Park" is a restored diner where regional cuisine is served in the traditional white-linen and
china service.

"We’re recognizing the relationship we have with Montana," he said. "It’s really just our way of
honoring and thanking Montana," Puta said.

The ceremony included a christening of the two cars with champagne by Livingston city
officials, a speech by a Yellowstone National Park official, and tours of the train cars.

Right now, the departure point for a two-day trip is in Sandpoint, but next year the company
plans to move those operations to Livingston, company president Marcia Pilgeram said.

The company markets the train tours internationally, charging between $500 and $1,000
depending on the level of service. About 3,000 passengers take the train every summer
beginning in June.

More cars will be named at ceremonies in Missoula and Sandpoint, Pilgeram said. The train
has three dome cars, four coach cars, a dining car, a club car, a baggage car, and a service car.

They are classic rail cars that have been restored to carry passengers on modern-day tracks.

The train is named "Montana Daylight," because it only travels during the day, carrying up to
350 passengers on scenic tours on about 470 miles of the old Northern Pacific railway between
Livingston and Sandpoint, Puta said. The train is pulled by Montana Rail Link engines.

Serge Talbot, who led a tour group from San Diego, Calif., on the train ride, said he’d choose
rails over roads any day.

"The food was great, the rail cars are just wonderful," Talbot said.

Erin Everett is at [email protected]

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