CRUISE IN RAILWAY CAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1929, Page 9

CRUISE IN RAILWAY CAR

A new departure in travel has been introduced by the Railway Department in the form of a de luxe cruising car, and this vehicle made its first appearance in Taranaki on Friday evening when it arrived in New Plymouth as part of the mail train. Tho car was designed by Mr. G. S. Lynde, Chief Mechanical Engineer to tlie Department, and .it is an elaboate piece of work. The car is both longer and wider than the ordinary railway carriage, and is fitted with every possible device to make travel comfortable for those by whom it is chartered. There are four two-berth cabins fitted with built-in wardrobes, fulllength and smaller mirrors and other modern conveniences, a compact kitchen, a tiled bathroom and a lounge. [The lounge, which takes the full width at onfe end is a roomy compartment. It is luxuriously carpeted and contains upholstered easy chairs and other chairs for use at meal time. An elaborate system of electric lighting has been installed. A central reflecting lamp is situated in the ceiling of the lounge, and over each easy chair there is a smaller lamp for reading purposes. In the sleeping compartments there are ordinary lights and shaded night lights are fitted over each bunk. All the windows of the carriage are curtained. It is in fact a miniature travelling hotel in which travellers can live for as long as the journey lasts. Meals are served by special attendants attached to the travelling party. The Railway Department, through its Commercial Branch, undertakes the supervision of such tours, even when tourists transfer from the train to motors or stay at hotels. On the present occasion the car de luxe is under charter to Mr. J. C. Goold, of England, who is travelling with a party of five other persons.