For local TV personality John Tyson, she's a dream come true. It isn't a new horse or a pet. Instead, she's an 81-year-old, 106-ton executive business car named the Métis (pronounced MAY-tee) now based at the Sparks railroad yard.

“This has been a dream of mine for 20 years and I started looking in earnest about 5 years ago,” he said. “My original plan was I was going to buy a car to live in as I had just gotten divorced and was looking for a non-Amtrak compliant car.”

Originally, he was going to have it parked at Virginia City at the Virginia and Truckee yard. This all changed when he met his current wife, Patty.

“Then instead of being an embittered old hermit, I started thinking outside the box,” he said. “Well, I can have a home but can I have my cake and eat it, too. So I started looking for an Amtrak compliant business car.”

One of Tyson's passions is railroads and railroading.

“I've worked for three railroads: the Dakota and Iowa in South Dakota, a short line affiliated with Burlington Northern and I worked for the Virginia & Truckee, of course, where I was a locomotive engineer for a long time and the Nevada Northern as an engineer,” he said.

As a result, Tyson knew exactly what he was looking for.

“I wanted a business car, didn't want a sleeper, didn't want a lounge; I wanted an executive business car,” he said. “They're first class, luxurious and they're attention-getters.”

After checking with various brokers, Web sites and individuals, Tyson found the Métis.

“Finally the opportunity presented itself. I found an investor and we went out to look at this car in Kansas City, Miss.,” he said. “Within 10 minutes we had a deal.”

The car itself has a history.

“This is the oldest Canadian National business car still in operation,” he said. “It was built during the golden age of railroads in 1928 by Canadian Car and Foundry for the St. Lawrence Special and ran until 1953 as a lounge, buffet and Library car.”

In 1953, the railroad converted it to its present configuration as an executive business car, then retired it in 1985.

“You could actually say this was the private jet of the 1920s and 30s,” Tyson said. “This car saw a lot of history and I would suspect the president of Canadian National probably used it. On occasion celebrities have ridden on this car and John Edwards, during the campaign of 2004, used this car.”

Its name is also historical.

“The Métis was named for an Indian tribe in the northern provinces of Canada that intermarried with French trappers,” he said. “So they were called the Métis Indians and it's also the name of a stop on the St. Lawrence Special.

“This wasn't a famous car but it was a luxury car, used by the top executives of the railroad,” he continued. “When I got the car it was in excellent condition. I bought it in August of '07 and it's been all over the country.”

The broker was Tyson's friend Phil Sheridan. He has about 50 cars and the Métis used to be part of his charter fleet based in St. Louis.

Fortunately, the car was already Amtrak-compliant as upgrades are expensive.

“A car has to be totally modernized to Amtrak's mechanical standards,” Tyson said. “You have to carry $5 million in liability insurance, and that's expensive, and there are almost as many inspections for one of these as there are for an airline.”

The upgrades include a conversion to a 480-volt, three-phase electrical system along with a backup generator. The three-wheel trucks are no longer made but the wheels are and have to be hub-stamped, have roller bearings and are properly aligned for smooth tracking.

The car also has to be equipped with a retention tank as well as Amtrak-compatible air and braking systems.

“You can buy a decent car that's not Amtrak-compliant for maybe $75,000 to $100,000,” he said. “By the time you've made that car compliant, you'll have close to half a million dollars invested, so they're expensive.”

Tyson added that if at any time Amtrak thinks a car isn't safe, officials would put it on a siding and leave it there.

“According to the American Association of Private Railcar Owners, there are about 75 of us but even less that have business cars like this,” he said. “Mine isn't the oldest business car in operation. I think that one was built in 1914, but it's the oldest one built specifically for the Canadian National Railway.”

Right now he’s negotiating with Union Pacific for a private siding in the Sparks yard. Tyson feels the 24-hour security, available power and ease of access are benefits of basing the Métis here.

The car is used for both Tyson’s personal trips and charters. When the Métis goes out on a trip, a five-star chef and car attendant provide first-class service for any passengers.

He said that rail has some advantages for those that want to travel this way.

First of all, passengers don’t have to go through the Transportation Security Administration and aren’t packed like sardines in an airliner. They can actually see the scenery or just sit, read a book or watch their favorite sporting events on the entertainment center.

“People ride these cars because it offers them an opportunity to see, to feel, to taste and touch things they’d never dream possible in the 21st century,” he said. “You sleep on this car, you’re catered on this car, everything you desire comes with it and that’s what makes this a high-end car.”

Asked about what the Métis means to him, Tyson said, “I love this car. Every day when I come down here to make sure the power is on, I just wish I could get my arms around and hug it. It’s been good to me and for me. On a warm summer day, when you’re going down the track, standing on the back deck with a cup of coffee in your hand, and your passengers are having the time of their lives, well, it all comes together.”