Evening star., 1935-11-17
YENTURING to travel by rail
again after the lethargy of the
v depression, recreational Rip

" QepTeSSlOH, TeCTedClOIldl rip
Van Wrinkles are awakening
to the fact that railroads have
changed. While he slept, travel costs
have been slashed, streamlined speed
has been unleashed, travel CRIME and
heat have been washed away by air
conditioning, and, like luxury liners,
car interiors have been decorated to
appease his artistic sense, removing
the harsh surface of steel that re-
minded him that he lives in a pel-
nell machine age.
Aside from gratifying the habit of
hurry, speed has shrunk the map of
the United States. In the vacations
practical terms, this means that in
the brief respite from his labors, he
can see more of the country, add a
day or two to his stay at a sunny
beach resort, distant city, or, to his
rambles amid towering mountains.
Air conditioning became a demo-
cratic institution under the railroads.
1t is not confined to premium travel,
for tourist coaches as we'll as the i'm
proved day coaches and Pullmans
offer the traveller relief from Summer
travel heat. Air conditioning in Pull
mans has been perfected in the last
year. Circulation in berths has been
improved by introducing separate air
ducts, or by fans which gently throw
fresh air into the curtained parti-
tionS.
Although there is still a battle be-
tween smokers and non-smokers, some
roads, with the advent of scientific
circulation of air. decided to permit
the convenience of smoking in ones
coach seat, which, by the way, now
reclines or revolves to suit the travellers
whim. The traditional smoking car
thus may pass away, and in its stead
may come a special car for those
whose nostrils continue to be offended.
WHEN the Western railroads last
week established the so-called
two-cent fare on a permanent basis
"a rate that has been in effect as a
trial since late in 1889, they wrote
another chapter in lower cost trans
portation. Two types of accommoda-
tons for two cents mile are avail
able on lines west from Chicago and
the Mississippi River: Coaches and
tourist sleepers ON transcontinentai
trains First class accommodation
including sleeping cars and lounges,
are three cents a mile. Transconti-
mental trip coaches cost one and one
half cents mile.
While fares comprise the bulk of The
expense of rail travel, the roads nave
not stopped there in reducing travel
costs. In tavern and buffet cars, they
have, in the matter of serving food,
compromised between the expensive
hotel and the highways hot dog stand.
Sandwich and drink counters have
been introduced while the travel Rip
Van Wrinkle slept. and snacks are sold
at drug store prices. On several lines,
diners which formerly charged a little
under first class hotels. offer breakfast
for 25 cents, luncheon for 35 and din
ner for so, all substantial meals. Tray
service has become general for light
refreshments. The general trend in
diner prices has been downward and
toward a limited menu, for wide
variety and epicurean masterpieces
are expensive to produce.
COME Of the modern pullmans have
taken on hotellike accommoda-
tons in the choice of rooms. Single
and double bed rooms are available.
1nclosed sections Gin effect compart-
ments) have their own ventilating
systems which can be controlled at
will. Cars that combine bed rooms,
sections and berths are not un-
common.
Special lounge cars for women and
children have been introduced, with
trained nurses in charge The night
club car, with a hostess and an
orchestra, has become a standard
feature of some of the specials.
Shower and valet service are among
the luxuries the modern traveller can
find.
THE vacation range of the habitual
motorist has been widened since
the depression set in, as the railroads
several years ago granted him the
privilege of shipping his car to a dis
tant objective for the price of
ticket, letting him drive the highways
and byways to the characteristic
nearby scenes he wants to discover.
Car shipment service picked up tre-
mendously last Summer.
HERE we have sketched briefly some
of the utilitarian aspects of trains