The story of the Pullman car . odeled Chicago & Alton coaches wereinstantly accepted by the public, but despite theirpopularity, and the popularity of a third car whichfollowed them, their originator considered themmerely as experiments and in 1864 plans for thefirst actual Pullman car were completed which gavepromise of a car radically different in its con-struction, appointments, and arrangement from any-thing heretofore attempted. Into this car Pullmanresolutely cast the small capital that he had accu-mulated; in its success he placed the unswervingconfidence that characterized his clear vi
The story of the Pullman car . odeled Chicago & Alton coaches wereinstantly accepted by the public, but despite theirpopularity, and the popularity of a third car whichfollowed them, their originator considered themmerely as experiments and in 1864 plans for thefirst actual Pullman car were completed which gavepromise of a car radically different in its con-struction, appointments, and arrangement from any-thing heretofore attempted. Into this car Pullmanresolutely cast the small capital that he had accu-mulated; in its success he placed the unswervingconfidence that characterized his clear vision andindomitable determination to succeed. This modelcar was built in Chicago on the site of the presentUnion Station in a shed belonging to the Chicago &Alton Railroad, at a cost of $18,, withoutits equipment, and almost a 3ear was required beforeit was ready for service. Fully equipped andready for service it represented an investment of$20, The Pioneer was the name chosen[32] Digitized by Microsoft®. J. L. Barnes, the first Pullman car conductor, whose reminiscencesof that early period are quoted in this book Digitized by Microsoft® Digitized by Microsoft® EVOLUTION OF THE SLEEPING CAR for its designation, and with the faith that othercars would soon be required the letter A wasadded, an indication that even Mr. Pullmans visionfailed to anticipate the possible demand beyond thetwenty-six letters of the alphabet. Never before had such a car been seen; never hadthe wildest flights of fancy imagined such mag-nificence. Up to the building of the Pioneer$5,000 had represented the maximum that had everbeen spent on a single railroad coach. It was unbe-lievable that this $18,000 investment could yield aremunerative return. The Pioneer had improvedtrucks with springs reinforced by blocks of solid rub-ber; it was a foot wider and two and a half feethigher than any car then in service, the additionalheight being necessary to accommodate the hingedupper berth of Mr.
Size: 1338px × 1867px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorhusbandjoseph18851938, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910
