Evening star., 1933-03-19
REVIEWS HISTORY
!. Of SLEEPING CAR
Pullman. Official Tells Trans.
portation Club Evolution
From "OId No. g."


The evolution Of the sleeping car
from the candle-lighted, stove-heated,
sheetless-bunk contraption of early rail-
road history into the sleek hotel on
wheels" Of today, was described by ]. T.
Ransom. assistant general manager Of
the Pullman Co., at the weekly meeting
of the Transportation Club, Thursday,
at the Raleigh Hotel.
Mr.. Ransom recalled that the first
Pullman, "Old No. g." was built In
1859. 1t had low, nat roof, and was
little more than half the length Of the
modern sleeper. 1t was heated with two
small wood-burning stoves; was lighted
with candles and had small wash room
at each end. just large enough for one
person. The car was fitted with board
bottom hunks, arranged in three tiers,
and these bad mattresses and blankets,
but no sheets. For added warmth, many
passengers carried their own blankets
At the time, this car was considered
a luxury in travel, and when. in 1865,
the first modern Pullman-"The Pho
neer" was put IN service, it represented
such an advance, it was considered Just
about the last word.
DAAoSVS UCtC OuAnkcOs
Because of the size of The Pioneer" :"
railroad bridges and station platforms
had to be changed to permit its passage.
It had slightly raised upper deck for
ventilation, and folding upper berths A
hot-air furnace Under the floor fur
nished the, heat. but candles still re-
mained in use for lighting. There was
a private compartment at each end; a
commodiouS <wash room, carpeted floor
and plush uplfDktering. Further sheets
had become part of the equipment
The Pioneer" was used by President
Lincoln's funeral party:
BY 1875 such further progress had
been made The length Of the Pullman
car had grown from So feet to 10 feet.
while lamps had superseded candles.
Air brakes had appeared, making for
greater speed and safety. Hot ot-water
heating systems replaced the stoves and
furnaces. Overhead tanks. in a gravity
supply scystem. provided water. replac-
ing hand pumps in the wash basins.
Carving. inlaying and lacquer work for
the interior finish was characteristic of
that period. Seat backs had been ex-
tended SO that passengers could rest
their heads. adding greater comfort.
In 1887 the open platforms of Pull
man cars were enclosed with vestibule
doors so that passengers could pass
through from one car to another with
out danger of being thrown, or falling
on. This was considered a historic adj.
vance-strictly Pullman invention.
Origin of Smoking Room.
A little later separate rooms for
smoking were built in the cars, and
the richest carpets and upholstering
that could be obtained from Europe
were used. Gas had been developed
by which cars were then lighted.
In 1889 celebration of the Tooth
anniversary Of the Inauguration of
George Washington as President was
held in New York and President Ben
jamin Harrison with his cabinet, ius-
tices Of the Supreme Court and others.
made the trip In special train of
Pullman cars. Electricity from dy-
namos placed In the end of baggage
smoking cars had been developed by
that time, This train was considered
one OF the finest that had ever been
put on rails, and much publicity was
created. President Harrison wrote a
letter dated May 3, 1889. to Frank
Thomson, then vice president of the
Pennsylvania Railroad at PHILADELPHIA.
in which he said: 'The train was Ger
tainly a marvel Of beauty and luxury"
1t was this year, too, that the YES
tibule platforms had been widened to
the full width OF the cars. This was