THE AMERICAN RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 85, 1 May 1901, Page 2

THE AMERICAN RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

One of the first-clasi carnages is al reuly compVed and left on a trial run over the \Voiliogton-Napier-New Plymouth section, Thsobj-ct of trip is to o l setve tha clearance of the tunnels and p'a forms. The carriage is of the corridor type. In addition to end plat forms, there is a central entrance or platform. All three platfcrms are provided wuh gates for tho protection cf piPSiDgeiv, The central platform facilitates tbe loading or util.aling of the carriage. On one side of it are three compartments and on tho other side two. Each compartment will sit s'x pacplp, to tbat the capacity of the vehicle is thirty passengers. The seats ate divided by srm and head rests in such a way that over-crowding is guarded agnast. Ooe eeti of compartments is placjd on one side of the carriage hed the other set on the opposite side, in order that the weight may be distiibuted as equally as possible, At the extremities of the carriages there are lavatoii.s. These are roomy, and they are fitted up in a very complete manner. Tney contain tanks for drinking wat9r, tbe tap for which is on the adjacent platform. The corridors are completely enclosed. In place of steel net-work, it lias walls of wood, with larga windows. Glazed doors give access to and f«o the p'atforms. The corridors ara rather narrow, but that could not well b« avoided. When the compaitment do)rs are opened, some of them do not clear the outer walls by very much. Th"fe doors are held open, when desired, by aa automatic spring cMch. There are spriog blinds, which may ba fastocec) at any heig.bt by clips, simple rnof ventilatory operated by a lever, and automatic catches for holding tha wiifc-iog-tables firmly against tbe wall when thay are uot rais.id. For lighting, the carriage his Pintsch gas fitting*. The uphol&tu ing is done in dark green leather of excellent quality. The body of the carriage is placed on four-whee'ed bogeys. The- vehicle runs with an easy, steady mol ion. One of the second-class cariiagfs is aimost ready. It ia of tbe same design and capacity as that just desciibed. The seats are cushioned, and have perforated willow backs. They are a little lower than the seats in the first-class cirri ige, and in that refpect may by siiue passai.g.rs be considered mora comfortable.

The first-clasß carriage is marked, not by the wcrd " First" but by a figure " I." On the sides of the second-cl»ss carriage tbe figure " 2 " is placed, also on a 1 irge bra c s plate.