Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-09-06
ARoLlsHlNo oAR STEPS.
It Has Been Done by n Leading Railroad
with Complete Success.

II Has Been Done by Leading Railroad
with Complete Success.
The cars used on the Illinois Central
railroad for carrying passengers be-
tween the worlds fair and Chicago
had side exits and no steps, the depot
platforms being built on level with
the car floors. After the close of the
fair IL was decided TO inaugurate a
through express suburban service on
the tracks over which the worlds fair
trains were run, and to use the regu-
lar suburban cars for the purpose.
Before these cars could be used, how
ever, either the car or depot platforms
had 10 be changed, and II was decided
TO remove the steps from the cars and
extend the end platforms, without
making any changes in the depot plat
forms The cars so changed have
been running in the service mentioned
all winter, and give such excellent sat
isfaction that Il has been dete rmined
to make similar change in all the
cars used in the regular suburban ser
vice.
There are some excellent reasons for
abolishing steps from suburban cars
Probably the most important is the
time saved. Suburban passengers are
always in hurry, and an unnecessary
delay to suburban train of one min
ute will always call forth impatient
exclamations from the passengers. In
heavy suburban traffic the greatest
cause OF delay to trains is in loading
and unloading, and 1t Is surprising
how much quicker a crowd will pass
into or out of a car having no steps
than one so equipped.
70 certain extent these remarks
apply 20 all passenger cars as well as
20 suburban cars. but there Is another
reason which applies equally to all
cars. based on the question OF expense.
Platform and steps, as used at present,
are expensive both in construction and
maintenance, being merely attach
ments tackled 10 and not a part of the
car body. II is difficult TO make this
attachment with sufficient strength to
stand up to the work 1t must do. II
must carry a part at least Of tho weight
of the coupling and bufing apparatus,
and Is bound 20 receive many racking
strains. In fact, there Is no part of
| passengerAcar exposed 10 more severe
]
usage than the platforms. A compar-
atively light blow from a collision will
usually result in the platform being
I knocked of and completely wrecked.
II the steps weis done away with, all
the sills of the car could be extended
TO form the platform, and allowing
that platform Is a necessary append
age, II would be as strong as any por-
tion of the car These timbers would
have ample strength for carrying all
the weight ever placed on them, and
there would not be so many sagRing
platforms as at present. With such a
framing the end sills would be in the
proper place for receiving the draft
appliances and buffing arrangements,
and these attachments could be much
lighter, more simple and consequently
cheaper.
In designing the modern vestibules
the opening in the platform tor the
step has been one Of the most annoying
obstacles in the way Of making a salts
factory construction, and the designs
Of all OF them could be greatly improved
by the removal OF the steps The latest
design OF Pullman vcstibule, which is
the best-looldng one yet brought out,
IS marred by the presence Of a trap
door on the inside, which must be lift
ed in order 10 gain access 20 the steps
OF course, this trap-door does not mar
the appearance Of the vestibule, but II
Is an unmechanical arrangement, and
reminds one too much OF an outside
cellar door 20 be part Of a sleeping
car with all its elaborate finishings.
One OF the most serious features, how
ever, Of the steps where vestibules are
used, Is the manner in which they
weaken construction. The platforms
are In themselves usually too weak 10
carry their own weights, and when the
weight Of yestibule IS added this
weakness is even more apparent II
the side sills could be extended for the
full length OF the platform they would
furnish an ample and firm footing for
the vestibule and give sufficient
strength for carrying IT,
The convenience Of passengers must
always be considered in all matters of
passenger ear construction. and In this
one II IS safe to say that the great ma
jority would unquestionably prefer 70
have the steps abolished. Philadelphia
Record.