Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-22

enough for three men to squeeze In. While
these coaches are crowded and what an
American woman would call "stufYy,.
they are Of splendid workmanship and the
bedding and many Of the other appoint
| ments are O. superior quality. There are
plenty OF racks in which to put luggage,
and a device which might be initiated in
this country with advantage to the travel
ing public i, neat, clean box underneath
each berth which one may use as a bureau
for his linen and other articles. Not many
sleeping cars are used In England, in COM
parison to the traffic. This is due largely
to the fact that the runs there are
short, the longest journey Of . through
train being from London to Iverness, nine
teen hours.
The other coach of this train Il q fine
specimen Of the typical English railway
carriage. 1t is divided into five compart-
ments, two being first class, one second
and the other two third class. There Il
not great deal Of difference between the
fittings of the various classes, though there
is considerable difference in the fare
charged. First class fares run about 8
cents mile, second class 8 and third class
cents. The charge for a sleeping car
berth is only $1.25, no matter what the
distance, but sleeping car passenger must
hold a f1rst-class ticket. In the compart-
ments the seats are heavily upholstered.
with high backs, and extend across the
car. A lavatory is attached to each of the
compartments except the second and third
class compartments, which is designed for
passengers making short trips All the
compartments are handsomely lighted
with gas carried In cylinders underneath
the coaches, and the sleeping and first
class quarters are heated by gas stoves,
In the third class compartments travellers
may in cold weather have the use of the
ancient hot water bottles.
Travellers by English railways give up
their tickets before entering the train, as
there are no conductors. The ordinary
cars are without attendants, except that
there is guard on the forward carriage
and one on the rear carriage. The young
men in charge Of this train show you how
easily one may stop the train or call the
guard in case Of trouble in his compart
ment They point out that contrary to
the general belief passengers are not locked
within their Compartments. By lowering
the sash in the door cord may be pulled.
and this throws on the air-brakes and
rings bell which warns both the forward
and rear guard that something is wrong.
When the train stops the guards rush
along to find out what the disturbance Is.
1t strikes the average American visitor
that this is a clumsy way Of protecting
women travelling alone, and that he should
feel little timid about letting his wife or
daughter go roaming about tho kingdom
in one of these compartments.
They have dining cars in England. ton.
fhnnph al
they are run in pairs, and vestibuled to-
gether. In one is the kitchen and a small
dining saloon, while the other has no
kitchen but larger saloon. These
saloons are occupied by passengers Just as
other carriages are, and generally speak
ing the occupants of the dining cars are
the only travellers who enjoy the luxury of
meals en- route. AT the stations passen-
gers from other carriages may be able to
get into the dining cars, but 1t depends
upon whether or not there Is room. There
are also luncheon cars, or buffet cars. The
charge for full dinner on the dining car
is only 50 cents.
Everyone has heard of the crudity and
annoyance of the English baggage hand
ling arrangement Ordinarily, a passenger
must see that his luggage is marked with
the name Of the station at which It is to
be put off. Then he must see that it is
put in the luggage van and that the name
of the station at which he is to alight Ia
written on the slate which hangs on the
door of the van. When the train arrives
vt this station the guard, II he does not for
let, will open the door and get the luggage
out, where the passenger must claim his
property. The American system of checks
has been introduced on some of the Eng
lish roads, particularly for through travel.
but the Britishers do not seem to care
much for it. They prefer their good old
way.
Visitors to the Transportation building
will find this English railway train worthy
study. Neither in beauty nor in comfort
does it compare with the Royal Blue Balti-
more and Ohio fast-hying train which
stands on an ad joining track, nor with the
luxurious "limited" train shown by the
Pennsylvania company. BUTT is interest
ing, and in mechanical execution it is, il
possible, superior to the American cars.
WALTER WELLMAN