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Circa 1905. "Pere Marquette Railroad parlor car No. 25, interior view." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
I am imagining this in color: Maple or mahogany woodwork with inlays in a lighter colored wood. The seats would be covered in a royal blue or burgundy fabric, maybe even a forest green. Brass coat-hooks where the riders can hang their coats. The upholstery tacks on the chairs would, of course, be brass as well.
Comparing this photo to the one of the Amtrak train, I would rather ride in the older car where I could feel and hear the clickety-clack of the rails passing beneath the car. There was a certain class to Rail travel in those days.
It's difficult for us to appreciate what life must have been like in the Coal Age prior to the advent of air conditioning.
Those open windows in the clerestory don't have screens. Imagine trying to keep that ornate interior clean when there was a constant intrusion of smoke, soot and cinders.
And, I don't know whether vacuum cleaners had yet been perfected, either.
[Actually, the clerestories do have screens. - Dave]
I just want to spend a day aboard and soak up the luxurious surroundings and take in the views.
Cigar anyone?
now you know why they used the term. And what a great name for a railroad.
This is exactly why the top of the line passenger cars were referred to as "high varnish." Don't you wish you could see the colors!
I see the photographer behind his camera in the reflection in the mirror over the bench. Behind that partition might be some nice sleeping rooms. Looks like the parlor part might take up only half of this car.
[We do have a nice self-portrait of the camera. This parlor car had compartments for observation chairs and a cafe. - Dave]
As a 40-flight-per-year business traveler I can only dream of such luxury. Limitless leg room, pillows for your feet, ample headroom, and big comfy chairs -- ahhh. I'll bet the parlor car passengers didn't settle for tiny bags of peanuts, either!
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