Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-05-31
Luxury on the Rail.

aWhat is the difference between
railroad dining car and Pullman
Hotel car ?" That there is vast diff
errnce is well known by those who
have had occasion TO use either; butt
5he uutrageled; public are not fully
advised as to the points Of difference.
The oil d-fashioned railroad eating
house is, alas! too we'll known its
peculiar, hastil y-eaten meals have been
partaken of by too many thousands to
be forgotten. The dining car, then.
is this well-known eating house placed
on wheels, attached to the train at the
usual meal hours, and hauled along
for thirty, forty or sixty miles, until
the meal has been served, when it is
set off. on a. side-track, and is by the
next train hauled back to its starting
point, and so it runs few miles for
each meal j To get meals in this car
the passenger has to work his way
through the train vhlle 1t IS qmder full
mOtion-pass from car to car, running
the risks of falling between the plat
forms. and finally finding the car at
the rear Of the train Then comes
the meal, which must be hurried
through with to give chance for other
hungry passengers to take your place,
and you must force your way back to
your seat, aad again. run. the, risks, of
your platform passage while the train
is at full speed. In such cars you pay
seventy-fve cents for each meal, even
If you take or need only cup Of coffee
and cracker. Bear in mind, in no
case do these dining cars accompany
the train from starting point to desti-
nation. They are always "cut off,
and taken on as we have described.
With the Pullman: Hotel car the case
is different in every respect. These
cars are sixty to sixty-six feet long,
have sixteen wheels under each, are
built strong, so as to insure steady,
quite running, without the usual un-
pleasant side motion. Each. Hotel
car contains. in the order named, the
following compartments.
lst. A cosy, neat and clean little
kitchen, fitted up with a range, an ice
and meat box, rows Of shelves covered
with bright silver and brighter glass
ware, and all the appliances needed
fer preparing a sumptuous meal.
2nd. A compact China. and glass
closet, in which. is kept the table ware.
and table linen, cutlery, etc:
3rd. A passage way. cutting off
the kitchen and China closet from the
rest Of the car, and forming an air
chamber to prevent the smell Of the
cooking yictuals from reaching the
saloon portion Of the car.
4th. The grand saloon. This is
fitted up with twelve, fourteen or six
teen sections, with space for tables be-
tween each, and in these the meals
are served. You, while on this car.
own the space you occupy as much as
you do your room at home, and no
one can hurry you while at meals,
nor are you forced to give it up to
allow any other person to occupy it.
At night, as if by magic. this saloon
is changed into boudoir, and here
your couch is prepared, and here you
rest yourself isolated, and as seuara-
ted from your fellow-travelers as you
would be in your own bed-chamber..
9Th. An elegant drawing-rooIn for
six or eight persons. This is found
in these magnificent cars. In it you
and your family or party of friends
may be as secluded as you please, or
you can slide open the end and have
the company of those in the grand
saloon.
9th. Charmingly-arranged lava
tories are partitioned off, and arranged
in two distinct compartments for the
separate use of ladies and gentlemen.
These lavatorles are supplied with
pure water, clean. towels, combs,
brushes, and, in fact, everything the
most dainty may desire for the per-
feet performance of al. elaborate toi-
let.
7th. Then follow conductors and
porsers' rooms. linen closets, etc., etc.
1t will thus be seen that this car is
as its name implies. perfect modern
hotel With all Of its appliances and
comforts complete. This car is taken
en- at the commencement OF the jour
ney, and IS part of the train, to its
destination. In it you gat your Sleep
ing compartments and your meal &C
cemmodationss while neither encreach
upon the other. Envious dining-car
employees, who are paid to decry this