Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-08-21


The first impression which an American
who is experienced in railroad travelling
in his own country derives from the eX-
terror aspect of an English train is unfa-
vorable. The cars, as he must necessari
" call them, seem to be small they lack,
apparently, the weight and solidity of the
American passenger-coach the compart-
ments are narrow, the ceilings are low,
the ventilation apparently doubtful. They
stand upon two, three, or more pairs of
gaunt high wheels, to the aXles of which
their springs are directly gearpd. He
misses the little Independent vehicle, the
truck, or bogie, with its four or six small,
compact, solid-looking, wide Hanged
wheels, which sustains each end of the
American car-that rolling gear which
looks 50 strong, so adapted to inequality
of rail or curve, so resourceful against
disaster, and so complete in its equipment.
The cars are smaller-there Is no doubt of
ii. They are narrower and they are short
er and to the American eye they look
even shorter than they really are, because
they have no projecting platform at the
ends, no overhanging roof or hood, but
are buCkled close up to each other, and
their contact controlled by small metal
buffers, the springs of which allow play
of from eighteen inches to two feet and Il
half between car and car. The Miller
platform, I he Janney compiler, the link and
pin-of all the familiar devices of the
United States there is not one to be seen
The brakes None visible Nor for the
matter of that a brakeman. This influ-
entail and numerous person has no exist
ence in England. There is not even Il ru-
dimentary type of him. That you do not
find him is the first stern intimation you
receive that III English railroading there
are no autocrats. The wheels are fitted
with brakes, however, and the trained eye
notes a rubber hose connection between
the carriages, quite different in its appl-
cation to that known at home. but which
nevertheless betokenS the air-brake. lie
takes account of the distinctions of class,
and reflects upon his cOuntrys yelled pro-
gress in that regard in the matter of par
Tor cars and limited express trains. Then
he finds that there is no baggage master
to watt the volatile Saratoga to its doom,
rs his own newspapers would express it,
There Is perhaps luggage van or two. or
there are in the carriages themselves lug
gage compartments according to the way
in which the train is male up, the length
of journey it is to take, or the custom OF
the particular line under observation. His
final contemplation is perhaps devoted to
the engine, and if he has ever gwen any
of his attention to the AuIDr lcdu l,cumu
tive, it fills him with deep co.,. "a. ii
recalls the imposing sp,rul"r, lot
oei i Us , WHY , ,.ap1e H''' l''A I"
soul stirring whistle he .b.l.
and the cOw-destrOying pilot, the grea
L I nilg '"ch ("iie9S It
ee a in"i ~ III '''" o. 'h"
tta'ulu emf,iIh9 ~ i.',,eI,''u
tis ~, lt'd u'inri9 anu t,.IP'' gym
WIZ r. 'r,e '"t,I' an
polished steel or FURNISHED brass, or deck
eu WIN aappiIpita ~. NeilillllI or t''G ,ru
FL -, a., ~ ,'leSe vac
M n, "!'n !, l,uO a.
iaM y, &C. upv9 Mi1n NrM ,9i llIt-
enSliie' l., Is d Hu,iioit' AVN M4Iu ErGt"
vi @ I ii,ac,ig ~ mas
ti e. poidnn h ioi ueoulaI,on "n3''t IT, nt'e