During the three years 1933-36 there were some spectacular developments in new railway passenger car equipment by the railroads and car builders, one of the most important being high speed light-weight streamlined trains with every possible passen ger convenience. Some of these trains have been of the articu lated type and others of the individual car type. Several rail roads have modernized and streamlined some of their existing passenger car equipment. The new light-weight trains have been constructed of stainless steel and aluminium alloys, and the rail roads and car builders are striving to reduce weight throughout their passenger equipment. These new high-speed trains have reached speeds as high as 120 miles an hour at times and have made non-stop test runs of over 1,000 miles.
The construction, finish and equipment of passenger train cars have been steadily modified. In 1929 few passenger cars were built which were not of all-steel construction. The substitution of steel for wood has meant the replacement of wood trimming and cabinet work by sheet steel doors, windows and interior finish. Plainness, neatness and sanitary conditions are now sought, while much has also been done to add to convenience and comfort. A typical modern passenger coach is about 7o ft. long, over the body, seats from 6o to 84 passengers, weighs from i oo,000 to 140,000 lb., is of steel construction, has vestibuled platforms, is carried on 4 or 6 wheel roller-bearing trucks, and is lighted by electricity, heated by steam and air-conditioned. The future will doubtless see better insulation and weight ratio. Practically all sleeping cars now in use on the railroads of the United States are owned and operated by the Pullman company. For the operation of the Pullman-owned cars over 2,800 conductors and iz,000 porters are required. Annually the cars have a car mileage of 1,140,476,000 m. to carry over 31,000,000 passengers, which means that every night more than 55,00o people sleep in the Pullman berths. There are various types of Pullman sleeping cars, among
those in most common use being the following : 16 section car, each with an upper and a lower berth; 12 section car, with drawing room and compartment ; 1 o section car, with two drawing rooms ; 8 section car, with four compartments ; 1 o section car, with an observation parlor ; io section car, with drawing room and two compartments; 1 o section car, with three compartments; drawing room and compartment cars containing three drawing rooms and six compartments, and cars with various other combinations of drawing rooms and compartments, and cars containing compart ments only. The latest Pullman car, known as the "overnight car," contains 14 rooms, each equipped with a bed and complete toilet and lavatory facilities. The Pullman Company is now put ting new light-weight cars in service.
Observation cars are a distinctive feature of American railroad ing. They are of various types. Some contain a number of rooms, others a few sections, others smoking rooms, ladies' lounges, refreshment stands, baths for men and women, but in each case the rear of the car is a commodious lounge room with seats, sofas, radios, telephones for use at terminals, writing tables, and other conveniences, with a commodious rear platform equipped with chairs. Smoking cars are used on practically all passenger trains and may be devoted entirely to passenger service or be built with an express or baggage compartment. Club smoking cars on limited trains usually have card tables, writing desk, reading matter and an attendant.
Buffet or cafe cars are provided with facilities for serving a simpler class of meal than that afforded in dining cars. The busi ness or private car is provided with sleeping and dining accommo dations and also desks, tables and stationery. Business cars are used to a great extent by railroad officials in transacting railroad business on the lines. Private cars are sometimes used by persons of prominence and wealth. Baggage, mail and express cars are designed to carry the commodities indicated by the classification of the cars themselves. Special postal cars for carrying mail are designed and equipped for operation in passenger trains. These cars are provided with interior fittings especially arranged to facili tate the handling of mail. Some cars are provided with facilities for sorting mail en route ; other cars are designed only for the transporting of mail and express in bulk. Various other special types of passenger train cars are used.