Vintage luxury railroad car interiors

[jw5]

Vintage luxury railroad car interiors​

The 1920s and 1930s are regarded as the golden age for rail travel in the United States. In Great Britain too, taking the train was an exciting excursion for many. But for the lucky few with money in their pockets, a train journey was akin to staying in a luxury hotel. Customer service was first class, and passengers wined and dined in plush, opulent surroundings worthy of a gilt-edged palace. In fact, they were treated like royalty. Reflecting this epoch were railroad cars quite magnificent in their design and the amenities offered within. Indeed, it was all part of the railway experience, if you could afford it.

 

[jw5]

Traveling like royalty​

This is the furnished interior of Queen Victoria's saloon carriage onboard the royal train on display at the National Railway Museum in York, England. This of course is how royalty once journeyed by rail, in plush, opulent splendor. But anyone traveling first class by rail in the mid-19th century could expect a near-equal train ride experience.

 

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1845​

This 1845 photograph depicts an early English steam locomotive hauling a tender and three carriages adapted from horse-drawn coaches. The more discerning traveler expected to get from A to B in a style they had become accustomed to. But, very soon, remodeled horse-drawn carriages were given the hoof for something far more comfortable and desirable.

 

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Mid-1880s​

By the late 19th century, traveling first class by rail was seen as a social occasion worth dressing up for. And like these passengers at Saint Paul Union Depot in Minnesota, the event was always captured for posterity.

 

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Late 1800s​

And this is what passengers paying premium prices could expect—a railroad car of luxurious appeal, typically furnished throughout with crushed velvet seating arranged across a carpeted floor under decorative oak paneling.

 

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Late 1800s–early 1900s​

The ornamental interior of the Pullman palace car. Railroad pioneer George Pullman (1831–1897) designed and manufactured the railroad sleeping car, the Pullman sleeper or "palace car," which featured carpeting, draperies, upholstered chairs, libraries, card tables, and an unparalleled level of customer service.

 

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1909​

The refined interior of the boat train dining car of the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania at Fishguard in Wales. It was 1909, two years after her launch, and the transatlantic vessel was offering first-class passengers a railway shuttle service from various parts of the United Kingdom to the boat's home port of Liverpool. On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat which resulted in the loss of 1,198 lives.

 

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1910​

An interior perspective of the Pere Marquette Railroad parlor car no. 25, dated c. 1910. These deluxe overland limited trains traveled from Detroit to Grand Rapids in Michigan and provided all the amenities expected of a luxury hotel including a barber shop, valet service, library, and buffet meals.

 

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1926​

Passengers traveling first class on services operated by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway from the 1920s to the late '40s had access to the gourmet dining car, which was served by a dedicated restaurant kitchen carriage.

 

[LexLuthor]

Seven Stars in Kyushu with Chefs on board:

 

[jw5]

1928​

Meanwhile, British royalty still traveled by rail in considerable style and comfort. This is the Queen's Day Saloon. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth would have used this car to travel to royal appointments across the land.

 

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1930s​

By the 1930s the Canadian Pacific Railway, founded in 1881, was providing its top-tier passengers with a novel service—live radio. Note the gentleman sitting in the left-side booth. He is listening to the "wireless" using headphones.

 

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1930s​

Not to be outdone, London North Eastern railway equipped its first-class salons with radio-gramophones. Passengers could opt to spin a record, or select a music channel of their choice. Mind you, the looks on these ladies' faces suggest a degree of disinterest in what's being played.

 

[jw5]

1930s​

Also in Britain during the same period, Southern Railway experimented with a railroad car interior painted to resemble brickwork with pseudo-half timbering and stucco. The carriage incorporated a painted 'traditional' pub sign (in this case, 'White Horse'), to leave on passengers the impression of an olde worlde pub. The other half of the carriage contained a first-class dining saloon. These tavern cars were converted to conventional buffet cars in 1959.

 

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1934​

The 1920s and '30s were regarded as the golden age for rail travel in the United States. Affluent passengers still made a point of dressing for lunch or dinner, and customer service was refined and sophisticated. But the rise in automobile ownership presented the single greatest threat to railroads. This led to a downturn in the demand for short-haul rail services.

 

[jw5]

1934​

In Great Britain however, owning an automobile was a luxury out of reach to most. Taking the train, though, still provided the best option for many, and even wealthy upper class individuals preferred the convenience of a train ride over a long drive. And for those who could afford it, the buffet car was a place to gather and socialize over drinks. Pictured in 1934 is a Great Western Railway service, which linked London with many of western England's best seaside resorts.

 

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1935​

Back in the day, wealthy passengers could arrange special occasions during a rail journey, like this private Christmas party held on an overnight London, Midland and Scottish Railway service.

 

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1936​

The Green Diamond was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Illinois Central Railroad between Chicago, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. It ran from 1936 until 1968. Some of the very first passengers are pictured in the spacious lounge car. The service proved hugely popular with the traveling public, with ticket prices falling within the range of the less well off.

 

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1937​

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) company's flagship passenger train between New York City and Washington, D.C. was known as Royal Blue. Equipped with modern heating and lighting, as well as leaded glass windows, the car exteriors were painted a deep Royal Saxony blue color with gold leaf trimming. Food and service in the beautiful dining car was of the highest quality.

 

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1937​

The kitchen car of the Royal Blue streamliner operated by B&O. Menus were noted for their fresh Chesapeake Bay cuisine, served on Dresden china.