St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-02-23
A Gorgeous Travelling Arrangement.


On Thursday last about o'clock p. m.
quite large crowd gathered at and near
the Southern Pacific depot, the attraction
being the passing of vestibuled train
which was due at 5:21 p. M, and which
arrived on time. 1t was direct from Pull
man, Illinois, had been built for the South
ern Pacific and Mexican National Railway
and is to run between New Orleans and
the City of Mexico. With the exception
of the platform it presented very much
the appearance of the Pullman Palace
cars. The first car was a baggage and
smoking car and named "Aztlan;" the
second, "Ponce de Leon" third "Trini
dad" and the fourth "Calmar" The train
only remained few minutes and conse-
quently we did not have the opportunity
of going through and examining the in
ward parts. AS large number of the
citizens were present they will doubtless
be interested in reading the description,
which we give below, as seen by repre-
sentative of the New Orleans Picayune,
before it left the city.
On invitation of Mr.. A. C. Hutchinson,
the enterprising general manager OF the
Southern Pacific Railway, to whom is due
the introduction of this magnificent mode
of travelling in the south, Picayune repre-
sentative visited the train yesterday noon:
Mr.. Tristram acted the part of guide and
Of bo
train.
The first car entered was the Aztlan
The forward part of this car is devoted to
the storage of baggage and is so arranged
that passengers can have access to their
trunks while travelling, and this compart-
ment is very roomy, In one corner IS the
dynamo machine which is driven by steam
from the locomotive and supplies the in
candescent lights for the entire train.
Back of this are the lockers and then two
sections for the porters. The smoking
room comes next and this is fitted up with
libraries of choice literature and furnished
with comfortable easy chairs and lounges
upholstered in old gold plush and can be
rolled to any portion of the car as the de-
sire of the passenger may dictate. The
bathroom and barber shop occupies two
compartments back of the smoking room,
and are fitted up with all the appurten-
ances the most luxurious taste could sug-
gest. Hot and cold water are supplied by
means of air pressure from the engine, and
the washstands, ETC., are finished in the
finest Egyptian marble with silver plated
fittings. Incandescent electric lights and
elegant oil lamps supply light when re.
quired, and small plug switches are fitted
in the sides of the cars SO that any passen-
ger desiring to read at night can switch in
q detachable electric lamp and hang it up
on the side so that the ght can be thrown
to suit his convenience. All the cars are
thus fitted with lights.
The second car was Ponce de Leon, q
hotel and dining car At the forward end
of this car is located the kitchen and pan
tries. The former is large, roomy one,
end contains a fine, large range, with a
liberal supply CT bright new cooking
utensils. The pantries are stocked with
the finest the markets afford in the shape
of game, fish, meats, fruits, etc. In the
saloon or dining hall are ten tables, each
large enough to seat party of four quite
comfortably. The front seats folding, so
that the party whose seat may be nearest
the side of the Car can pass through quite
readily. Forty persons can thus be seated
at table at one time. The seats, etc, are
upholstered in green plush, and at the
rear end of the car are arranged the lock-
ers and pantries for linen, glassware, etc,
and also washroom or lavatory fitted up
elegantly.
Passing through the two doors on each
end of the vestibu1e the third car is
reached. This is the Trinidad, a sleeping
coach. At the forward end is the lavatory,
in which are three basins of red polished
granite fitted with silver fawcets, taps,
and in which hot or cold water can be
drawn. The smoking room is upholstered
in brown plush. Behind this is library
and buffet, and then comes the sleeping
apartment. This is divided into twelve
sections and one drawing room, and is
finished in light blue plush. In this car
the switches for the electric lights are SO
arranged that they can be used by the
passengers to read in bed. At the rear
end are the toilets and closets.
The last car of this combination of
palaces on wheels is the Calmar, which is
identically the same as the Trinidad. The
coaches are all finished In mahogany, with
ceilings worked in bas relief.
The running gear of the coach is then
regulation No. Pullman car truck, with
42-inch paper wheels, whilst the hot and
cold water pipe fittings and slip joints,
socket coupling joints, air brake joints,
water trunks, ETC., are the same under
each coach. In addition to the electrical
appliances, storage battery is carried
under each coach, so that in case the loco
motive is not running the lights can be
supplied with current therefrom.
There are no stoves in any of the cars
except in the kitchen, the temperature
being reduced when required by steam
from the engine.
That this train will become popular
there is not the least doubt. Any one de-
signing trip to Mexico and having the
means-comparatively trife when the
great elegance and comfort is considered
will certainly wait for this train if they
can possibly spare the time.