The morning call., 1894-06-29
AWAY WITH CARSTEPS.
The Illinois Central Railroad Has
Abolished Them.

The cars used on the Illinois Central Railroad
Tor carrying passengers between the Worlds
+ air and Chicago had side exits and no steps,
the depot platforms being built on level with
the carfoors. After the close OF the fair il was
decided TO inaugurae through express sub
urban service on the tracks over which the
Worlds Fair trains were run and TO use the
regular suburban cars for the pupose. Before
these cars could be used however, either the
car or depot platforms had TO be changed, and
it was decided 10 remove the steps from the
cars ana extend the end platforms without
making any changes In the depot platforms.
The ears so changed have been running in the
service mentioned all winter and give such eX-
cellent sa lsfaction that II has been determined
to make similar change in all the cars used in
the regular suburban service.
There are some excellent reasons Tor abolish
ing steps from suburban cars. Probably the
most important is the time saved. Suburban
passengers are always in hurry, and an un.
necessary delay 10 suburban train of one
minute Will always call forth impatient eX-
CARNATIONS from the passengers. In a heavy
suburban traffic the greatest delay TO trains is
III 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.
To certain extent these remarks apply to
all passengeT-caTs as well as 10 suburban cars,
but there IL another reason which applies
equally TO all cars, based on the question OF
expense. Platforms and steps, as used al pres
ent, are expensive both IN construction aud
maintenance, being merely attachments tackled
TO and not a part OF the car body. 1t is diff
cult 10 make this attachment with sufficient
strength to stand up TO the work II must do. 1t
must carry p'rJ at last Of the weight of the
coupling and oufing apparatus. and is bound
10 receive many racklng strains.
In fact, there Is no part OF a passenger car
exposed 10 more S we're service and liable 10
receive harder usage than the platforms. a
comparatively light blow from a collision will
usually result in the platforms being knocked
off and completely wrecked. II the steps were
done away with all the sills OF the car could b.
extended 10 the platform, and allowing that a
platform is necessary appendage, II would be
as strong as any portion Of the car. These tim
beTs would have ample strength for carrying
all the weight ever placed on them, and there
would not be so many sagging platforms as at
present. With such a framing lhe end sllls
would be In the proper place for receiving the
draft appliances and buttng arrangem nts. and
these attachments could be much lighter, more
simple and, consequently, cheaper
In designing the modern VestlouleS the open
ing In the pia form Tor The step has been one OF
the most annoying obstacles IN the way OF max
ing satisfactory construction. and the designs
OF all OF them could be greatly improved by the
removal OF lhe steps. The latest design of
Pullman vestlbue, which is The best-lOOklng
one yet brought out, is marr5d by the presence
of trapdOOr on he inside, which must be
lifted in order to gain access 10 tie steps. OF
course this trapdoOr does not mar the appear
ance of the veStibule, but IL is an unmechanical
arran cement and reminds one 100 much OF an
outside cellar door to be part of sleeping-car
with all its elaborate finiShlngs.
One OF the most serious features, however, OF
the steps where veStibues are used is the man-
ner IL which they weaken the construction.
The platforms are IN themselves usually too
weak TO carry their own weights and when the
weight of vestibue Is added this weakness is
even more apparent. IL 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 car
construction and in this one it is safe to say
thai the great majority would unquestiOnably
prefer to have Inc Steps abOllshed.-PhlIa.
dhlnhia recOrd.