St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-12-07
BOudOir Cars.

The following description of new
palace car-the Mann bOudoir cars
now running on two express trains be-
tween Boston and New York, will be
read with interest:
The "boudoir" cars are novelty in
this country, although they are in gen
eral use on the best railroads of Europe.
AS the name indicates, the car is divid-
ed into cosy little rooms which by day
are so many luxurious parlOr cars, and
by night are the most private of bed
rooms. The transformation of the
boudoirs from day ears to sleeper is
one of its strong points, and in either
capacity the seclusion of the com
partments is a high recommendation
Every traveller has observed the neces-
sary exposure and Inconvenience of
dressing or undressing in palace car
so Objectionable is this that many wO-
men decline to travel in them. Again,
there is great annoyance at night by
conductors, trainmen and way pas
sengers passing to and fro between the
long lines of curtains, all of which is
avoided by the fully partitioned corri-
dor of the bOudoir cars. This corridor,
two and onehalf feet wide, runs along
94e he B6a6fs B5ds 8f tbs be gar J Ard s9Hasets Ct
some planned for two persons and some
for four.
Each compartment has one or two
luxurious sofas with high, soft backs
and cushioned arm-rests. AT night
these sofas, with mattresses slowed
under them, are made into beds, longer
than the common sleeping car bed, and
the occupant lies athwart the car, thus
avoiding the rolling and tossing which
is so wearis0me while rounding curves
in the ordinary sleepers.
1t might be supposed that these
pleasant little cabins would be close
and stuffy, but they are perfectly y ven
tilated by novel system which does
away with both dangerous drafts and
smOthering dust. Abundant air is
taken in at one end of the car by fun
nels, and forced through an ingenious
filter, freeing it of all dust, after which
it is discharged into the heater-rOOm
In winter the purified air is heated
while in the summer the heater room
is converted into huge refrigerator
with ice. From this room the All
passes dloDS Il Huc IHCloSluS 1iO hO"uS
pipes down the corridor and is dis
charged through registers opposite thu
door of each compartment. Thes'
doors being provided with Stats o
louvers, admit the fresh heated o
cooled air in great quantities to the com
: partments. In each compartment ar
, three eXhausting ventilators which
while they cannot admit air from with
, out, constantly draw off the air within
r All the air III the car is changed ever
, five minutes without draughts or dust
7 The mems and womeD's dressin
rooms and closets are at opposite end
t of the car, and are fitted with ever
, convenience, including hot as well
t cold running water, while the closet
J, are real water closets, thus preventiu
;, the disagreeable odors of the old STYLE
o A smoking room and buffet connect
I with the mems vestibule. Each con
k partment is provided with an electr
5 bell to call the porter, and it's ow
= lamp. The cars are siXty-fOur fee
d long, with heavy trucks each havin
It six fOIty-two- inch paper wheels. III
l. entire interior is finished in amarant
e wood work, embossed illuminate
n leather and French tapestry. 1t is I'll
intention of the Mann car company
d keep cars to let; so to speak, in ord
N that the rich may take long journe
e with perfect independence, yet wltho
e, the expense of owning their own cal