It's the convention in Portland that you probably never even knew was happening, but might of thought something was up if you saw 30 vintage railroad cars pulling into town. When I went to get pictures of them the railroad police scared me away.

The American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners (AAPRCO) came to Portland for their 2014 convention at the Westin on Sunday and they arrived in the very rail cars that they own, some of which past U.S. Presidents have ridden in.

The cars are down in the rail yard off west Commercial Street sitting like a museum. Some of these passenger cars are almost 100 years old and all have been beautifully restored.

Don't bother trying to get a look at them though. I tried and ran into the railroad police. Yes, the railroad has it's own police department.

I pulled over to an area where cars were parked near the rear of the train and got out of my car to take a picture. I didn't get approached by the police officer but he was driving all around the area with his lights on making it clear that if you didn't have a special badge you weren't getting anywhere near the train where you could get a picture. This is the best I could do from the other end of the train on public property.

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Luckily plenty of rail fans have been able to catch video of the train as it made it's way to Portland from Chicago and as it backed into the yard on Commercial Street in the fog.

 

 

The Press Herald got an inside look at the train. Next time I'm going to apply for a press pass and avoid the cops.

 

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