Laurel outlook., 1945-10-31
Luxury Ahead
For Travellers
Railroads Planning Radical
Changes; Speed, Comfort
And Safety Sought.

ahead for today's weary rail travel
er, according to a recent survey O.
20 leading American railroads
Here's what one top railway mar
predicts:
Faster passenger and freight serv.
ice; lower fares in some classes Of
travel; increased safety; smoother
riding qualities; courteous and
friendly employees.
1t seems certain you'll ride in lux
ury in tomorrow's coach trains. All
new passenger cars in regular use
will be air-conditioned, probably at
about "a degrees. In addition, you
may be riding in a pendulum-type
chair car, spring-suspended, that
banks on curves instead of leaning
outward. Greatly increased use of
roller bearings on wheel axles will
provide greater riding smoothness
and speed.
Ever ride in a "blister?" Not yet,
of course, but you will. "Blister" is
the railroaders' term for the new
glass = and = plastic dome many
coaches will have. It's a glorified
observation section, from which you
can comfortably view the sky and
the horizon on all sides.
There'll be no hundred yard
dashes for seats in tomorrow's
trains. Many roads will reserve
coach seats in advance at no extra
price, and chances are ticket sales
will be limited to actual seating
capacity.
Most roads will install newly-de-
signed Mushrooms and lounges and
individual reclining seats with leg
rests. Perhaps there'll be a spot
light for each seat. If you're a pas
senger on one of the lines planning
this innovation, you'll control the
spotlight yourself - and it won't an
noy your neighbor.
Radio, Eats n Everything.
For a slight charge, some roads
will furnish you an individual fire.
quency meditation radio, inaudible
to your fellow passengers. Public
address systems, to brighten your
trip by a%cquainting you with points
Of interest along the way, r also
being considered.
If you've ever been dissatisfied
with present dining car facilities,
consider these changes: low cost
tray service at coach seats, in
dividual box lunches, less expensive
menus. Another pleasant possibility
the "smorgasbord" car, in which
you may serve yourself hot or cold
ready-made dishes from a buffet
type counter.
The new sleeping a you will use
has three-high berths, running
across the car. From AZ to as per-
sons can be accommodated in each
EAR. Because of this increased
capacity, you will pay less for a
than ever before. Private
looms and duplex roomettes, be-
cause of improved designs, will cost
you little more than the present
over berth.
Tomorrow's train will get you
where you're going - but faster.
use of diesel engines and
lew geared-turbine steam locomo-
ives will be partly responsible, as
veil as right-of-way Improvements
and better operating methods.
There1l be fewer snail's pace,
turns, picturesque but
ipeed-cutting. Many roads, especial
y those west of the Mississippi, are
low Strengthening %tortuous track,
aid in the days when primitive dirt
moving equipment did not permit
direct routes.
Newer methods of freight handling
Illus careful scheduling of lubrica-
ion, maintenance, and coal and wa
er servicing have already proved
invaluable time-savers. d,
Centralized traffic control - CTC
gives dispatchers fingertip control
yer many miles of track and :
Eliminates costly, annoying delays !
I switching and in transmitting :
orders to moving trains. It
said to make single-track roads
v Pei SCiI dS GllI(lCllL DIS uOQDle-
rack.
etc means fewer accident haz- y
rds, too. With it, dispatchers can 7
lstantly locate all trains in their
reas, and can notify train crews o
{ any untoWard events. {
Greater Safety Assured. e
Your travel safety - and the rail-
Dads operating efficiency and speed
will be further increased by ra- Z
io-train communication. Induction n
ado, in which the rails carry the G
lessages, has proved practicable y
nd is already in use. g
Comfort is being built into the -
cars of the future. Those =
riches and bumps so familiar to to- a
avs traveller will be only mem ~
les when the new equipment is -
aced in operation. Virtually all To- e,
motives and passenger cars will =,
equipped with roller bearings. y
r smoother and easier starting q
I'd stopping. -