The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-13
Railroad News of Week
BY V. E. BUNDY.


One of the few things the railroads
are not worrying about just at the
present time, is Pullman cars. With
the freight car situation gradually
clearing, and coal cars beginning to
cope with the situation, car shortage"
is not holding for railroad officials,
the fearsome possibilities which it
once had.
Plenty of PulImans.
There are plenty of Pullmans to take
care of the heaviest tourist traffic to
the Pacific coast, which has ever been
handled by the railroads, and the SO
per cent surcharge which is made for
Pullman berths doesn't seem to slack
UP the demand for these accommoda-
tons.
Many of the Pullmans which are
now in use are brand new, having been
built since the war. They embody sew
eraI new features Of construction,
which tend to make the transconti-
mental tour a matter of more luxury
than staying at home.
Two of the features which have been
noted on new Pullmans which are car
ried on thru trains thru Topeka in
clude new lighting and ventilating sys-
TENS.
1t will no longer be necessary for the
sleepy occupant of a berth in a Pull
man to ring, and ring, and ring again,
for a porter to come and open sash
so that he or she may get a little fresh
air in a crowded overheated car. In
the lower sash of each window there
has been installed a small ventilator,
operated by a handle inside the win
dow, which will let in all the fresh
air that the most ardent fresh air dis
ciple may desire. screened to prevent
cinde1s and dust from entering the car
with the air.
Plenty of Fresh Air.
The venilator won't jam, as the
Pullman window sash always does,
and require the services of the por-
ter, the conductor, and the irritated
supervision of the passenger. By the
we'll known twist of the wrist the
fresh air supply in each berth can be
adjusted exactly to the individual taste
of the occupant of that berth, and
kept at any stage.
And there is no more excuse for
the man who gets into a dimly-lit
Pullman in the middle of the night,
stumbling and falling over half seen
| baggage shoes and other impedimenta
| left in the aisle by the sleepers who
are already at their repose in the car.
The lights in the top of the car,
| known to the railroad jargon as deck
| lights will no more cast their prying
| rays into the eyes of the occupants
| of upper berths and drive away sleep
| which is coy enough, goodness knows,
with all the other distractions which
| come to the average occupant of a
| Pullman for a night.
There have been installed in the
| new cars, small lights under the seats,
| so placed as to illuminate, perfectly,
| the floor of the car, while leaving the
upper portion in darkness.
| At night all the lights except the
| floor lights, are eXtinguished. The
late passenger may find his or her
way to the allotted section in perfect
| safety, with no lights in the top of the
| car to blind the eyes of the sleepers
And if there should be a quarter
| dropped on the floor of the car. the
| porter can locate it instantly for re-
Il turn to its owner, without having tC
turn on all the deck light and arouse
all his passengers.
A Year-Round-Ticket
The year-round ticket, passenger
men say, is becoming more and more
Il popular It is for sale at any timt
during the year, and is good for nint
months. It's particular advantage ovel
the one-way fare is that it permits {
stopover at any point along the line
Armed with one of these, the folk:
may stop over in western Kansas anG
visit Uncle Henry's folks; tarry il
Colorado for brief call on Aunt Min
ME; drop in on COUSIN Jim and his
winter in California with Wills father.
folks there, and return any time within
nine months of the time they started
There is very considerable saving
over the purchase price of a one-way