Train owner returns to town for presentation

By Rebecca Sloan

The locomotive aficionado will discuss his historical rail cars Sunday.

GUSTAVUS — It’s been nearly three months since ABC’s “Good Morning America” broadcast live from Gustavus as part of its whistle-stop “50 States in 50 Days Tour,” but unforgettable memories still linger for many locals.

Area residents will have a chance to make some new memories when the owner of two of the plush passenger cars used on “GMA’s” specially equipped Amtrak train comes to town.

Bennett Levin, a self-made millionaire and train aficionado, will give a presentation about his restored railroad cars and locomotives at the Gustavus Historical Society meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Gustavus Town Hall at the corner of state Routes 87 and 193.

A native of Philadelphia and a retired mechanical engineer, Levin owns three restored luxury rail cars and two locomotives.

One of the most famous is the PRR 120-Pennsylvania, which transported the body of Robert F. Kennedy to Washington, D.C., for burial in 1968.

Levin loaned two of his plush passenger cars to “GMA” for their whistle-stop “50 States in 50 Days Tour” and rode the train along with news anchors Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts and Chris Cuomo.

“It was an amazing experience. So much discipline and technology went into it,” he said of the tour.

Levin said he enjoyed his whistle-stop in Gustavus and looks forward to returning here.

“Everyone in Gustavus was very welcoming and nice. It was beautiful farm country — a real slice of America,” he said, adding, “It’s refreshing to get out of the big city and visit rural areas.”

Linda Lipps, a historical society member, said she was thrilled when Levin offered to give a presentation on his historical rail cars and locomotives.

Lipps met Levin when “GMA” broadcast live from the Barclay North Road farm that belongs to Lipps and her husband, Henry.

“I met Mr. Levin on the ‘GMA’ train, and I got to see the inside of the passenger cars he owns. Those cars were gorgeous — mahogany paneling, plush seating — I was very impressed,” Lipps said. “[After ‘GMA’] I never thought I’d see Mr. Levin again. When I e-mailed him recently, I did so only because I was hoping to get a ‘GMA’ commemorative train poster. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he said he’d be willing to come here and give a presentation.”

Levin said his PowerPoint presentation will be about one hour long and will detail the restoration and history of his rail cars and locomotives.

Levin’s son, Eric, completed much of the restoration at the Juniata Terminal Co., a rail yard Levin owns outside of Philadelphia.

The posh PRR 120-Pennsylvania features four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a stainless steel kitchen and a marble dining room table, for example.

Levin’s love of trains took root at a tender age when he watched railroad cars roll past his grandmother’s home.

He said the best thing about owning restored historical rail cars and locomotives is seeing the reactions of retired railroad workers.

“When you see retired rail workers come down and look at the train and they are filled with such nostalgia, it’s the best thing,” Levin said.

Levin enjoys putting smiles on the faces of others and has used his trains for various charitable causes.

Levin made headlines in 2005 when he and his wife, Vivian, collaborated with owners of other historical rail cars to create a temporary train called the Liberty Limited.

The Liberty Limited carried American troops injured in Iraq and Afghanistan from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C., to the annual Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia.

In 2005, Levin also organized a train trip that raised $20,000 for Ronald McDonald Houses in Chicago.

Levin and his wife were honored for their charitable work in 2006 when they received the prestigious George Washington Medal from Valley Forge’s Freedom Foundation.

Lipps said she hopes Levin will discuss some of his humanitarian work during his historical society presentation, particularly the Liberty Limited train trips.

“He seems like a man who does a lot of wonderful charitable work, and we are very excited to have him as our guest,” she said.

The Gustavus Historical Society meets four times per year and has about 40 members.

Meetings are open to the public. Guests can bring a covered dish and their own table service. For more information about the meeting call Linda Lipps at (330) 876-1482.