NIGHT TRAIN TRAVELLING

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 13

NIGHT TRAIN TRAVELLING

CHANGES ON THE LIMITED.

AN "ALL-SLEEPER" EXPRESS.

MANY MODERN FACILITIES,

In the very near future the composition of the Main Trunk Limited express, will undergo a complete change. It is the intention of the Railway Department to make the Limited a fullsleeper train, with no ordinary carriages. This announcement will be received with satisfaction by those travellers who have had to make the night journey between Auckland' and Wellington when there has been no sleeping accommodation available. According to the description of the new sleepers of which the Limited will be composed, the travelling public will be well catered for. Description of New Cars. The new car which is being built at the Hillside Workshops for the Dunedin Exhibition, and which is the forerunner of those which will compose the Limited, will be 56 feet over all, or 6 feet longer than the existing Main Trunk sleeping cars. The constructional framing will be made of seasoned kauri well stayed and braced, with diagonal struts to prevent any creaking and reducing as much as possible any noise when the car is in motion. * Sleeping cabins and berths are of the .transverse type, and ample room has been allowed for dressing. Berths are being especially sprung to act as a seat for day and a bed for night travelling, the back portion of the seat being raised into a horizontal position to form the top berth. The cabins will be equipped with up-to-date washing and shaving cabinets, with lavatory conveniences and suitable mirrors, a folding table and a good supply of bat and coat hooks. Ventilation a Feature. The ventilation has been well attended to. An air extractor is placed in each compartment which will always be in use removing the foul air; a patent louvre ventilator is being fitted to the windows which can be operated by the tpasenger; the compartment door will be provided with an adjustable window which can be fixed to suit the conditions. An electric fan is also being placed over the doors which can also be used as required. % Electric Light to be Used. Electric light will be used throughout each car. A ceiling electrolier will be fitted in each cabin and a berth .light for each passenger. This berth light is a lamp which can be used for reading purposes by one person, when in bed, without disturbing his fellow passenger, the switches being placed in handy positions to the occupants of the berths. A long well-lighted corridor will extend from end to ( end of each car, recessed doors leading off into the cabins. The lavatory accomodation will consist of ■two separate lavatories at each end, one for ladies and orie for gentlemen. Hot and cold water will be supplied to all cabins and lavatories under pressure, which will ensure a rapid flow of water from the /respective taps. Some New Features. All walls will be panelled in a suitable design with polished mahognay, and ceilings enamelled white and picked out with a marginal moulding. Six doors will be provided in the carriage for access and exit—two end and four side doors, which will enable passengers to gain admission and leave each car promptly at stations where the train is only standing for a The outside of the cars which will be painted with Midland Lake red and then varnished, will be much the same in appearance as the existing stock, with the exception of the increased size of windows and the elliptical lights at each end. Every attention has been given to the easy running of the cars; special bogies are being designed with disc wheels and balanced to minimise as far as possible all vibrations, rattle and swaying in fast travelling. The under frame will be of steel girders, stayed and braced. The cars will give accommodation for 18 sleeping passengers, and weigh about 28 tons each.