The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-18
RAILROAD NEWS.
Santa Fe Doing Away With All
Highly Polished Brass.
Bronze Finish Substituted in
Passenger Equipment.
I'M NTIE HADEK OHADO
IN THE TOPEKA SHOPS.
Transformation Made With
Local Labor Altogether.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad Circles.

1t is but a question of time until
every piece of passenger equipment
on the lines of the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe railway will be brought
highly polished brass work used in
side of these cars transformed into a
statuary bronze finish.
The work of making this mammoth
transformation has commenced and
in the silver plating department of
the shops men are at work with the
brass fixtures. sand blasting their
bright color and applying the neces-
sary chemicals to change them into
the new modern finish.
This is a new move on the part OF
this progressive railroad system. The
gaudy brass work used by practically
all of the other railroads in the coun-
tryN and still being used by the Santa
Fe, has proved a failure when COM
pared to the new finish which is be-
Ing applied by the Santa Fee at this
time.
1t has been found after years of use
that the brass work used on the hat
racks, the lamps, the electric light fix
lures and other accessories inside the
coaches, becomes furnished and dirty
Furthermore, it is a most difficult
proposition to keep them in good
shiny condition and the touch of
time. When the brass work of the
bright variety becomes dirty and
rusty looking it is an eye sore in the
car and sDoils the whole appearance
of the woodwork and carved decora-
tons.
1t has been found through ex-
periments that the new statuary
bronze finish does away with all of
these troubles. 1t does not have to
be shined. 1t does not tarnish. 1t
does not get the dirty looking ap
pearance that soon appears on the
bright brass work. 1t is cleaned by
simply washing or rubbing with a
cloth 1t is sanitary.
Not only is the new bronze
finish easy to keep clean and easy to
keep in good condition but it is much
better for decorative purposes and
gives the inside of the cars much
neater and classfer appearance. The
dull colored bronze blends finely with
the inside wood work of the cars and
gives it a darker, cleaner and nom
gingerbread face. The bronze finish
to the passenger car is like the mis-
sion fixtures and furniture to the
modern house.
The Santa Fe is equipping their
cars with this new style brass for the
good of the public as wei: as for the
betterment of their equipment. The
old style bright brass costs much less
than the new finish and it would be a
saving for the company 10 allow the
old fixtures to remain and allow the
employees to continue in the rubbing,
polishing and cleaning. 1t costs
thousands of dollars to transform the
old fixtures into the new bronze cast.
The chair cars, dining cars. buffet
cars, sleepers and coaches are all
given the same treatment. As fast as
the equipment can be spared and
rushed into the shops in Topeka the
work is being done and the men at
the shops are turning out from fifteen
to twenty cars every month. 1t will
take some time to complete this work
but every car on the system will be
given the new finish eventually.