Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-10-21
NEW STEEL COACHES FOR
THE BALTIMORE & OHIO RoAI
Railroad Company is Replacing Med
ern Coaches With Those Of steel
Construction ALONG its Lines.


The steel passenger coaches ordered
by the Baltimore and Ohio several
months ago are being delivered ald
placed n service on the through trains
between New York. Philadelphia, Bal
timore. Washington, PIttsburg. Chi
cago. Cincinnati and St Louis The
orders provide for 20 smoking cars
and 80 day coaches. together with -
steel postal cars and 10 steel baggage
cars.
The row steel COACHES have seat
ing capacity Of so passengers and the.
smoking ears capacity Of "a passen-
gers. Steel passenger c aches are q
late development aad naturally each
rev output from the shops has many
Improvements and features not found
IN the earlier cars. The cars now be-
ing received by the B. & o. are con
sidered superior to any steel cars
which have yet been constructed The
Objectionable features found in the
earlier steel cars, such as suscepti
bility to heat and cold and the I'M
usual noise of the metal have been
eliminated in their construction.
The steel construction includes not
only the steel frame work and the
trucks but the outside sheathing as
we'll The trucks are made Of one
piece cast steel with steel wheels of
Inestimable strength. The floors are
constructed of steel, over which is
placed a layer Of concrete to deaden
the noise and to strengthen the on
structicn.
In all the fixtures and appliances
every consideration is given to the
comfort and health of occupants Of
the cars. The sanitary drinking water
tank is another desirable special fea-
ture. The water and ice are in sep
arate compartments, the water being
forced into the tanks through pipes
under the car, preventing employees
from coming in contact with it. The
ice is in separate compartment ais
and does not tout h the water, conse-
quently the drinking tanks are as
nearly sanitary as it is possible toI
make them.
The Interior finish OF the steel cars
Is worthy of special note. The cell
ing and paneling below the windows
are mad of ain imported firep -oof com
position which not only makes a fine
finish but renders the interior of the
car impervious to noise from the out
side. This agasote presents the same
strength and fire resistance as does
steel, being even more desirable in
that it has insulation qualities. The
upper portions of the interior of the
cars are of mahogany finish, giving
them rich and attractive appear
ance.
The cars are insulated throughout.
The outside sheathing of steel is bolt
ed to the steel frame, inside of which
is the insulation material, with the
mahogany finish above and the aga
sote below.
The smoking cars are 60 feet in
length. The seats and backs are up-i
holstered in plain heavy leather, al
most desirable finish. The day Goa
ches are 70 feet in length. The seats
and backs of these cars are uphol-
stored in plush, and the color effects
IF mahogany and light green present
a delightful harmony of colors.
All of these cars are equipped with
electric lights and fans. They are
considered the strongest, easiest rid
ing and the most cheerful cars that
have yet been built.