In 2006, while on a trip to Temecula, California I pulled into the parking
lot of a vineyard and said "How did they get that train here!?" It was just a
year after the Midnight Rider got licensed by the Public Utilities Commission
as a "Tractor-Trailer Limousine" to operate on the roads of California and
Nevada. That was the first time that I met Mike and Pamela Bartholomew Machado
along with the rest of their partners. I was invited to see and photograph The
Midnight Rider Limo and hear their story. The crew from Disney Japan was there
also filming a segment on the massive "Orient Express" style transport for
viewers in Japan. Pamela took time out of her schedule to show me the inner
workings of this amazing limousine. Join us on the Cruise with Bruce radio
show to hear all about their journey.
When Mike and Pam started formulating plans to build the "Midnight Rider"
with their friends in 1986, they never thought that some day The Midnight
Rider would set a Guinness World Record in 2011 as the world's heaviest
limousine, but it has. In January, 2011, The Guinness Book of World Records
listed The Midnight Rider as the world's heaviest limousine. At 50,560 pounds
(22,993 kg) the 25.5 ton tractor trailer conversion has set the record. From
front to back of the train like limousine it's 70 feet. The limo is 14 feet
high and 8.5 feet wide and features three lounges, a full bar and five
televisions (Watch the video to see the inside). The Black exterior with gold trim hints at the elegance of the
trains in Victorian times. If you were in doubt before walking into the limo
you aren't by the time you leave. The inside is reminiscent of the Victorian
Era with wood, brass and materials that were used when the rich traveled
around Europe via train.
Listen to Bruce Oliver's interview of Pamela Bartholemew Machado as Pam
talks about the journey that they've taken to make the Midnight Rider Limo a
reality. Find out how you can get a ride on the world's heaviest limousine as
it travels throughout the Southwest and California. Find out which
destinations you might want to travel to that they frequently visit with their
guests. The Midnight Rider accommodates parties of 40 passengers who want to
visit the vineyards and sights from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Find out what a
ride would cost you if you wanted to travel around Hollywood for a day. Maybe
the day will come when you get to see one of the four new "Midnight Rider"
style tractor trailer limousines someday operating on the road ways from New
York to Boston or in New Orleans, Orlando, or Chicago. Find out where you can
get more information on booking your ride on the Midnight Rider by listening
to the Cruise with Bruce Show on March 22, 2011 at 8:00 PM Eastern time.
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