Evening star., 1937-03-14

kJuilAilSA 0AoFS
season.
From North, East, South and WeSt
come reports of expenditures for new
ears, new engines, new trains, new
conveniences, calling for outlay of mil.
hons-and promising equally rich
returns.
The past few months have demon
strated that the American people arr
as travel-minded as ever; they have
money to spend, and the railroads are
going after their share.
There may have been a time wher
the attitude of the carriers was
summed up in the famous public be-
damned sentiment credited to the
head of vast rail empire, but that
era is no more.
Equipment that makes old-time roy
atty of the rails as out-moded as
bustleS now flashes across the Con-
tinent at speed that a few years age
offers passenger accommodations not
surpassed by the finest hostelries.
nv bdI kdh
Nor is this luxury Of travel avail
able only to those who pay top prices
The railroads have gone to the bar
gain counters for their lesson, and
that part of the public riding coaches
at 2 cents mile gets as much in
proportion to its cash outlay as does
that patronizing PullmanS at cost
of twice as much. Even more, per-
haps, for while the de luxe trimmings
may be missing, the prime elements
of safety, speed and comfort are very
much in evidence.
Lack of vision, motor competition
and the depression came dangerously
near putting the railroads on the
shelf; did, in fact, injure them seri-
ously. Recovery and progressive poll
cies are giving them back their place
in the sun.
Not only is determined bid being
made to lure traffic from the high.
ways, but also from the airways.
survey just made by the ASso-
citation OF American Railroads gives
an idea Of what the railroads are
doing, and it does not purport to be
more than an incomplete picture OF
what Is taking place.
For starter for 1887, 20 lines in
the United States and Canada are air.
conditioning 800 cars-driving another
nail in the coffin of le archaic con-
veyances that were noted principally
for cinders, dust. red plush, roller
towels and banana -peel-streWn floors.
The Union Pacific, Chicago g. North
Western and Southern Pacific are COL
laborating in building 17-car stream
lined Diesel train that will run be-
tween Chicago and San Francisco.
The Milwaukee Is adding two "Hia-
wathaS" to the stainless-steel fleet it
has operated for several years north
OF Chicago.
The Rock Island is building six
Rockets" that also will be of this
lightweight, streamlined, articulated
units type.
The New York Central is reported
going in for more of the famous "Mer-
curys," with which it dips down into
the Middle West.
And so it goes.
Cafeteria Car Cuts Prices.
A spreading innovation in rail trans
portation that is appealing to patrons
Is the cafeteria car offering the same
food that is served in the regular din
ing cars, but with less cut glass and
silver, and consequent reduction in
price, Tray service also is being made
available to coach passengers, and, in
consequence, the catch-as-catch-can
''eating houses of the wayside sta
tions that were good for anything from
acute indigestion up no longer are
ports of call.
The repeal of th~ noble expert
ment" has been productive of another
innovation-progressive or not, accord
ing to individual opinion-the taproom
on wheels. Recreation rooms with
hostesses in charge, and special ac-
commoda tons for mothers travelling
with small children are still other
developments of modernized rail
travel. And the Baltimore g. Ohio
is making a play for the distaff pat
Sonage with special smoking rooms.
A few years back, lounges, secre-
tarlal service, BARRIERS, Wallets, mani
curists and baths were available on
but few trains. Today they are as
accepted part of the picture as the
train crews.
And the same goes for radios, which
make passengers feel entirely at home
by giving them change to argue
over the programs to be tuned in, or
out, as the case may be.
The equipment coming out this wear
gives promise Of embodying features
OF interior design, decoration and ar
rangement that are entirely new. In
the forefront of this development are
lounge, sleeping and observation cars
that the New York Central and Penn
sylvania are getting together on for
their New York-Chicago business, and
while construction details have not
been made public as yet decided inno-
V2tlons are promised when the cars
finally emerge from the Pullman shops
"AieAS olACy are Uti1lS DullG.
Everywhere air-conditioning is being
stressed by the railroads, as they add
or renovate their rolling stock.
Up in New England, the Boston g.
Maine, and its affiliate, the Maine
Central, are adding SIS air. r-conditioned
de luxe passenger coaches; the New
Haven is spending s2,225,OO0 for so
aforementioned passenger cars and five
cafeteria cars. The Central Vermont
= adding buffet club coaches.
South Joins Parade.
The Central Of Georgia is air-con-
ditioning all of its local and through
trains, spending s1,4o0,000.
The Louisville 81 Nashville is going
IN for million-dollar passenger
equipment improvement splurge, while
in the Southwest the Kansas City
Southern is devoting s5,oO0,00o to the
same purpose, while the Missouri, Kan
sas e. Texas is adding % new cars.
In the Middle West and Far West
the Nickel Plate and Northern Pa
cific are joining the procession, both