Car 50

Car 50 was originally constructed in 1928 as a track inspection car for Isaac Burton Tigrett, acting President of a small logging railroad, the Gulf, Mobile, & Ohio. The car was outfitted with first class fixtures, including mahogany paneling, and brass lighting. The railroad continued to use the car after Tigrett's death until the 1970s, when it was sold to a private owner after a fire in the porter's quarters. After several years of negotiation, Isaac Tigrett, founder of the Hard Rock cafes and House of Blues and Isaac Burton Tigrett's grandnephew, acquired the car and began extensive renovations.

The car is furnished with opulent memorabilia that Tigrett collected during his worldwide travels. The million-dollar interior boasts gothic revival architecture and is decorated with artifacts from Belgium, Russia, India, and France, including teak carvings from the interior of a Maharaja's palace, stained-glass church windows, and antique Buddhist tankas. It has state of the art sound system, automated jet air seating upholstered in a blend of Persian Mohair and velvet. Among the original artwork is a circa 1790 English oil painting on wood of voluptuous cherubs.

Today there are only about one hundred forty, privately owned, operable rail cars, and Car 50 is the only one still owned by a railroad family. The car can accommodate 15 passengers comfortably, and provides sleeping quarters for eight, plus staff. The car is available for private rental, and rail travel arrangements are made through Amtrak, which charges a per-mile fee for towing.