Drawing room (Themiclesian railway): Difference between revisions
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| interiorimage = The story of the Pullman car (1917) (14780232083).jpg | | interiorimage = The story of the Pullman car (1917) (14780232083).jpg | ||
| interiorimagealt = | | interiorimagealt = | ||
| interiorcaption = | | interiorcaption = National Rail /2 drawing room car interior | ||
| service = | | service = | ||
| manufacturer = | | manufacturer = LTCW<br>National Rail | ||
| ordernumber = | | ordernumber = | ||
| factory = | | factory = | ||
| family = | | family = | ||
| replaced = | | replaced = | ||
| yearconstruction = | | yearconstruction = MTO: 1858 – 1910<br>NR/2: 1910 – 13<br>NR/3: 1919 – 37<br>NR/5: 1956 – 64<br>NR/6: 1992 – 94 | ||
| yearservice = | | yearservice = | ||
| refurbishment = | | refurbishment = | ||
| yearscrapped = | | yearscrapped = | ||
| numberconstruction= | | numberconstruction= | ||
| numberbuilt = | | numberbuilt = approx. 190 | ||
| numberservice = | | numberservice = | ||
| numberpreserved = | | numberpreserved = | ||
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| code = | | code = | ||
| fleetnumbers = | | fleetnumbers = | ||
| capacity = | | capacity = Early: 20 – 30 | ||
| operator = | | operator = National & Maritime<br>Themiclesian Northern | ||
| depots = | | depots = | ||
| lines = | | lines = | ||
| carbody = | | carbody = | ||
| carlength = | | carlength = 60 ft (wood-body) <br>75 ft (NR/2)<br>85 ft (NR/3, /5, /6) | ||
| width = | | width = 10 ft <br> 10 ft 6 in (NR) | ||
| height = | | height = 14 ft (NR/2, /3, /5)<br>14 ft 6 in (NR/6) | ||
| floorheight = | | floorheight = | ||
| platformheight = | | platformheight = | ||
| entrylevelorstep = | | entrylevelorstep = 2 steps (NR/2, /3, /5) <br>level (NR/6) | ||
| doors = | | doors = 2 | ||
| art-sections = | | art-sections = | ||
| wheeldiameter = | | wheeldiameter = | ||
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| powersupply = | | powersupply = | ||
| hvac = | | hvac = | ||
| bogies = | | bogies = 3-axle (NR/2, /3)<br>2-axle (NR/5, /6) | ||
| brakes = | | brakes = Air | ||
| coupling = | | coupling = Knuckle | ||
| light = | | light = | ||
| gauge = | | gauge = {{convert|4|ft|8+1/2|in|m|abbr=on}} | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
| seating = | | seating = | ||
}} | }}A '''drawing room car''' is a standard carriage type found on many [[Themiclesia|Themiclesian]] railways, commonly as part of a {{wp|first class (railway)|first class}} service. It was introduced in the mid-1800s and, under National Rail, replaced {{wp|compartment coach|compartment coaches}} in that class. It is characterized by plush seats in a 1+1 configuration along the length of the carriage and typically contained amenities like smoking rooms, air conditioning, and service. | ||
==History== | |||
While early coaches in Themiclesia up to about 1880 were typically in the compartment style, the coachmaker Lower Themiclesia Coach Works introduced and popularized what it called a "drawing room car" styled after {{wp|drawing room|drawing rooms}} in contemporary grand houses, typically used for formal reception of guests. LTCW's early works drew from saloon cars typically used by dignitaries and railway directors but came to adapt elements of the drawing room that suggested of conviviality, which the manufacturer found enclosed compartments, often awkwardly shared with strangers, lacked. | |||
The earliest drawing room cars were often used as chartered vehicles, much as saloon cars were, and not all railways distinguished between them. In the 1870s, drawing room cars became increasingly common over first-class compartment cars manufactured by other coachmakers. The layout enabled attendants to provide services for all passengers in the coach, which would be impossible with compartment-style coaches. Railway historian Martin Pik said that "the drawing room was as much travelling accommodation as a service that mimicked grand, stationary homes." | |||
National Rail in 1913 ordered 20 drawing rooms from LTCW to replace its ageing rolling stock and to fulfil its legal obligation to provide three classes of service on all its main lines. This fleet of 20, built to Series 2 specifications, became the first iteration of a standardized pattern of drawing room cars, whereas earlier examples were much more elaborate and each possessed unique artwork. In the 1920s, National Rail moved towards an all-steel fleet on its express trains, now called Series 3. As Series 4 and 4b were manufactured during wartime and the reconstruction era, drawing rooms were not manufactured. | |||
The drawing room was revived with Series 5 coaches that appeared in 1956. A total of 25 were manufactured between 1956 and 1961. However, first-class travel became increasingly unpopular over the 1960s due to competition from road and air travel. By 1963, first-class services were running at a loss, with the exception of "four or five routes" according to National Rail's reports. In 1970, the law was amended to allow National Rail to offer and price its services with fewer regulations, resulting in the withdrawal of most first-class carriages from service. Many drawing room cars were either retired to charter service or scrapped, with the view of abolishing first class. | |||
The surviving drawing rooms continued in revenue service on the few routes where they remained profitable in the 70s and 80s. They were refurbished at least twice to update their interiors, which were ageing compared to newer coaches in the Series 5b and 5c iterations. | |||
Revision as of 16:04, 27 July 2021
| Drawing room | |
|---|---|
_(14780232083).jpg) National Rail /2 drawing room car interior | |
| Manufacturer | LTCW National Rail |
| Constructed | MTO: 1858 – 1910 NR/2: 1910 – 13 NR/3: 1919 – 37 NR/5: 1956 – 64 NR/6: 1992 – 94 |
| Number built | approx. 190 |
| Capacity | Early: 20 – 30 |
| Operator(s) | National & Maritime Themiclesian Northern |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 60 ft (wood-body) 75 ft (NR/2) 85 ft (NR/3, /5, /6) |
| Width | 10 ft 10 ft 6 in (NR) |
| Height | 14 ft (NR/2, /3, /5) 14 ft 6 in (NR/6) |
| Entry | 2 steps (NR/2, /3, /5) level (NR/6) |
| Doors | 2 |
| Bogies | 3-axle (NR/2, /3) 2-axle (NR/5, /6) |
| Braking system(s) | Air |
| Coupling system | Knuckle |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1.435 m) |
A drawing room car is a standard carriage type found on many Themiclesian railways, commonly as part of a first class service. It was introduced in the mid-1800s and, under National Rail, replaced compartment coaches in that class. It is characterized by plush seats in a 1+1 configuration along the length of the carriage and typically contained amenities like smoking rooms, air conditioning, and service.
History
While early coaches in Themiclesia up to about 1880 were typically in the compartment style, the coachmaker Lower Themiclesia Coach Works introduced and popularized what it called a "drawing room car" styled after drawing rooms in contemporary grand houses, typically used for formal reception of guests. LTCW's early works drew from saloon cars typically used by dignitaries and railway directors but came to adapt elements of the drawing room that suggested of conviviality, which the manufacturer found enclosed compartments, often awkwardly shared with strangers, lacked.
The earliest drawing room cars were often used as chartered vehicles, much as saloon cars were, and not all railways distinguished between them. In the 1870s, drawing room cars became increasingly common over first-class compartment cars manufactured by other coachmakers. The layout enabled attendants to provide services for all passengers in the coach, which would be impossible with compartment-style coaches. Railway historian Martin Pik said that "the drawing room was as much travelling accommodation as a service that mimicked grand, stationary homes."
National Rail in 1913 ordered 20 drawing rooms from LTCW to replace its ageing rolling stock and to fulfil its legal obligation to provide three classes of service on all its main lines. This fleet of 20, built to Series 2 specifications, became the first iteration of a standardized pattern of drawing room cars, whereas earlier examples were much more elaborate and each possessed unique artwork. In the 1920s, National Rail moved towards an all-steel fleet on its express trains, now called Series 3. As Series 4 and 4b were manufactured during wartime and the reconstruction era, drawing rooms were not manufactured.
The drawing room was revived with Series 5 coaches that appeared in 1956. A total of 25 were manufactured between 1956 and 1961. However, first-class travel became increasingly unpopular over the 1960s due to competition from road and air travel. By 1963, first-class services were running at a loss, with the exception of "four or five routes" according to National Rail's reports. In 1970, the law was amended to allow National Rail to offer and price its services with fewer regulations, resulting in the withdrawal of most first-class carriages from service. Many drawing room cars were either retired to charter service or scrapped, with the view of abolishing first class.
The surviving drawing rooms continued in revenue service on the few routes where they remained profitable in the 70s and 80s. They were refurbished at least twice to update their interiors, which were ageing compared to newer coaches in the Series 5b and 5c iterations.