New-York tribune., 1900-03-04
RUSSIAN RAILROAD1NG.
LUXURIOUS APPOINTMENTS ON THE
TRANS SIBERIAN LINE.

An album containing views of the new trains
on the Trans Siberian Railroad received
recently by George II. Daniels as a gift from
Prince Michel Hilkoff, Imperial Minister of
Ways and Communication Of Russia. Mr.. Dan
iels had acted as the Princes guide and host
on a trip up the Hudson River and throughout
the State of New York to Niagara Falls several
years ago and made every effort to show the
perfection Of the American railroads. especially
the New York Central The pictures which have
been sent to this country show that the Russian
railroad man was not satisfied with a simple
imitation of what he saw here, but must do bet
ter in many respects than those railroad people
from whom he learned many things about the
business.
The Empire State Express train, with its COM
Portable coaches luxurious drawing room and
dining cars. is eclipsed by the trains which are
now run daily the Trans-Siberian road
which when completed will extend from Mos
COW to VladiVOstok.
The trans consist of first class and two
second class coaches, a dining and a bag
gage car. The entrance to the cars is from the
ends and not from the sides. like the old style
cars in Europe; the engines are American, and
the trains look as though they might have been
transported from the United States. There are
sleeping cars, because the compartments are
so arranged that the sofa seats may be readily
converted into cOuches, where one may rest
comfortably. The cars are all lighted inside ana
at the ends outside by electricity, and for each
compartment there is. besides the fixed mean
descent lamps a movable lamp which may be
placed on the table brackets which are
provided for the purpose. The first class coach
contains a bath room, with gymnasium appara-
tus library in several languages, perfectly
appointed kitchen. luxurious dining compart-
ments, and appliances for ventilatng and neat
ing that have never been equaed in European
railway coaches.
The dining room is probably the main feat
ure of the new train. The furniture is massive
and highly polished and the table appointments
are Of a superior quality At one end OF the car
is a piano and at the other is the well filled
bookcase Chessboards, writing tables and
other small tables where coffee may be served
or where games may be played scattered
about the car. giving it the appearance of a
club on wheels. There is "A refrigerator or ice
cellar in the car for keeping and transporting
perishabe decacies. and there is also an ar
rangement by which boiling water may be had
within three minutes
All the windows are projected from dust and
wind 10y external plate glass guards, and on
the last car there is an observation platform
arranged so that it may be incoscd with glass
in stormy weather.
Among other points to the train which the
Russian railroad people mention are: station
airy bicycle. with arrangements for measuring in
minutes and Kilometres the amount of work
done a barber. who IS also qualified to give
medical assistance, and superintendent. who
speaks Russian, French, German and English
4 laVatory has been fitted in the second class
car. so a. t. he available for the enthusiastic
photographer TO change plates and develop his
work while the journey. The kitchen is
arranged and provided to furnish hot dinner
for sixty people Paper and envelopes are sup
piled free the buffet where hot and cold drinks
OF ali kinds may hc mad. one OF the strange
features is that the services of the barber are
free, but a bath costs two ruhlcS. and the pas
senger who wishes indulge in the luxury must
give three hours notice
The ruld which these has a
hve foot gauge uniform with ali the roads In
European Russia; the bridges al! of iron.
and the stations artistic and picturesque,
comfortable, substantial and equal to the
average station on the Pennsylvania or New
York Central roads.
traveller who made the trip recently, after
speaking of the comforts on the train and how