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1942 Quiz Book on Railroads and Railroading

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Page 7 of 1942 Quiz Book on Railroads and Railroading

PASSENGER SERVICE

162. What country leads the world in high speed passenger trains?

The United States has the largest number of high-speed passenger trains of any country in the world.

163. Have passenger-train speeds been increased in recent years?

In 1930 there were only a few passenger-train runs in the United States with schedules calling for a mile-a-minute or faster, start to stop. These runs covered 1,100 route-miles. In 1936, there were 644 passenger-train runs of a mile-a-minute or faster, covering 40,205 route-miles, of which 29,301 route-miles were on a daily schedule basis. By 1942, the number of mile-a-minute runs had increased to 1,529, with 85,872 route-miles, of which 77,045 were on a daily schedule basis.

164. What is the longest non-stop passenger run in the United States?

The Union Pacific Diesel-powered streamliner "City of Los Angeles", which runs non-stop for 324.5 miles between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Caliente, Nevada.

165. What is the fastest scheduled passenger-train run in the United States?

The country's fastest scheduled run is made by the Diesel-powered Streamliner "Morning Zephyr" (No. 21) of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, which covers 94.6 miles from East Dubuque, III., to Prairie du Chien, Wis., at an average speed of 84 miles an hour, start to stop.

166. What is the common unit of measurement for passenger transportation?

The passenger-mile, which represents the movement of one passenger one mile.

167. How much do the railroads charge for carrying a passenger a mile?

Charges vary according to the character of service. Standard one-way coach fares range from 1.65 to 2.2 cents a mile; generally speaking, one-way fares for travel in standard Pullman cars are 3.3 cents a mile, plus the cost of reserved space. To the foregoing fares should be added the applicable Federal travel tax. Fares for travel in Pullman tourist sleeping cars (operated on Western roads) are lower than standard sleeping car fares. Many round trip and excursion fares are less per mile than standard one-way fares. The average amount collected by the railroads for all classes of service in 1941 was 1.75 cents per passenger mile.

168. How does the cost of railway travel compare with that of former years?

In 1941, the railroads carried passengers one mile for an average, as stated above, of 1.75 cents, compared with 2.81 cents in 1929, 2.54 cents in 1919, 1.93 cents in 1909, and 1.98 cents in 1899. Since 1935 the average revenue per passenger-mile has been lower than in any previous period in railway history.

169. What is the Travel Credit Plan?

On May 20, 1940, sixty-six railroads in the United States, in cooperation with the Travelers' Credit Corporation, began selling railroad tickets, Pullman accommodations and all-expense tours on an installment basis, known as the Travel Credit Plan. Under this plan, the purchase must amount to $50 or more. Applications for travel credit may be made at any ticket office or to any authorized travel agent of one of the cooperating railroads. No co-signers are required. Upon acceptance, the applicant is notified that his transportation is ready. All inquiries are completed within twenty-four hours. A nominal service charge is made. No down payment is required. Payments are made in monthly installments.

170. How much passenger service did the railways provide for $1.00 in various years?

In 1921, the railroads carried the average passenger 32 miles for his dollar; in 1925 they carried him 34 miles; in 1930 they carried him 37 miles; in 1935 they carried him 52 miles; in 1941 they carried him 57 miles.

171. Why are railway fares less per mile for travel in coaches than in sleeping cars?

Due to dissimilarities in weight and passenger-carrying capacity of coaches and sleeping cars, each year millions of discriminating Americans enjoy the luxury and comforts of Pullman travel. there is a wide difference in the cost of providing and handling the two types of equipment. The average gross weight of a coach is 61 tons, while that of a sleeping car is 82 tons. The greater weight of a sleeping car, as compared with that of a coach, is due to the special equipment and facilities required for sleeping car accommodations. The average coach is designed to accommodate three times as many passengers as a sleeping car.

172. What are the costs of different kinds of Pullman accommodations on a 300-mile journey?

On an average 300-mile overnight railway journey, Pullman accommodations cost, about $2.95 for a lower berth; $2.20 for an upper berth; $3.95 for a single occupancy section; $4.10 for a roomette for one; $4.65 for a duplex room for one; $5.25 for a bedroom for one or $5.80 for a bedroom for two; $7.30 for a drawing room for one, or $10.40 for a drawing room for two or more. To these costs should be added the applicable Federal travel tax.

173. What are tourist sleeping cars, and how do they differ from standard sleeping cars?

On many Western passenger trains, Pullman tourist sleeping cars are provided for travelers who wish to economize. Tourist sleeping cars are of the same general design as open-section standard Pullman sleeping cars, except that the furnishings are plainer. There are no rooms in tourist sleeping cars. The capacity of these cars ranges from 12 to 16 sections. Most tourist sleeping cars are air-conditioned.

174. What are the comparative costs of reserved space in standard and tourist sleeping cars?

The rates for berths in tourist sleeping cars are approximately two-thirds the rates for berths in a standard car. For instance, where the cost of a standard lower berth is $5.25, the cost of a tourist lower berth is $3.50, to which should be added the applicable Federal tax.

175. What is the average journey of a Pullman passenger?

In 1941, Pullman passengers traveled an average of 596 miles each.

176. How many miles does a Pullman car travel in a year?

In 1941, cars operated by the Pullman Company traveled an average distance of 165,577 miles each - equal to more than fifty trips between New York and San Francisco.

177. What is a year's supply of linen for the Pullman Company?

In 1941, the Pullman Company purchased 331,734 sheets, 366,203 pillow slips, 847,192 hand towels, 35,794 head rest covers, 34,788 tidies, 7,277 table cloths, 41,602 napkins, 11,983 dish towels, and 22,632 glass towels.

178. How much linen stock does a Pullman car carry?

For a round trip of one night in each direction, the usual linen stock for a standard Pullman sleeping car consists of about 500 pieces, made up of 160 sheets, 120 pillow slips, 200 towels, five porter's coats and six laundry bags. In addition, there are two pillows and two blankets for each berth.

179. How many meals are annually served in railway dining cars?

Railway dining cars prepare and serve about 25,000,000 meals a year.

180. How much linen, china and other equipment is required to outfit a dining car?

A dining car, fully equipped, carries approximately the following stock, not including food and provisions: 600 table cloths, 2,000 napkins, 1,000 towels, 650 pieces of chinaware, 700 pieces of silverware, 240 pieces of glassware, 300 items of pantry and kitchenware, 200 aprons and 150 waiters' coats.

181. What is the size of a dining car kitchen?

Dining car kitchens range from 131/2 to 17 feet in length and from 6 to 7 feet in width.

182. What is a limited train?

A limited train has been defined as a passenger train meeting one or more of the following specifications:

bearing a distinctive trade name
operating at an overall speed of 40 miles per hour or more for distances of over 200 miles
operated for distances over 300 miles with scheduled stops at intervals averaging not less than 50

183. What is suburban or commuter traffic?

In the larger cities railroads provide frequent train service to and from outlying residential districts or suburban communities. This is called suburban or commuter traffic, and those who use the trains regularly are known as commuters. Suburban trains carry large numbers of commuters to and from the downtown business and shopping districts. They also carry many passengers for short distances in the outlying districts. Special suburban or commuter tickets are sold for ten rides or more; some railroads sell monthly suburban tickets. In such cities as New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco, suburban traffic is very large.

184. What proportion of railway passenger traffic is commuter business?

In 1941, commuter passenger traffic represented 47.8 per cent of all passengers carried, 13.9 per cent of total passenger-miles of service and 8.0 per cent of total passenger revenues of Class I railroads.

185. What is the average distance traveled by railway passengers in the United States?

The average journey per passenger on the railroads of this country in 1941 was 60.3 miles. For suburban and commuter travel in metropolitan districts the average trip was 17.6 miles. For other travel, it was 99.4 miles.

186. How do the big-league baseball players travel between cities? During the baseball season and on training tours, players in the big leagues and their' substitutes make the long and frequent trips between cities in extra Pullman sleeping cars attached to regular passenger trains. An entire sleeping car is usually required to accommodate each team, and during the World Series special trains are sometimes required to accommodate the league officers, players, newspaper correspondents and guests.

187. How safe is railway travel?

The railway passenger train provides the safest form of travel known to man. In the ten-year period 1932-1941, the railroads performed 214,720,053,000 passenger-miles of service and had 196 passenger fatalities in train accidents. For each passenger fatality during this period the railroads performed 1,096,000,000 passenger-miles of service. On this basis, the danger of being fatally injured while traveling on a railway passenger train is so remote that if one were to take an average journey of 60 miles each day, his expectancy of life-if it rested solely upon passenger train accidents - would be 50,000 years, or 52 times the age attained by Methuselah.

188. How many timetables are issued by the railroads in the course of a year?

It is estimated that the railroads of the United States issue and distribute 80,000,000 timetables annually to keep the traveling public informed concerning passenger train schedules.

189. From what cities can one travel to all parts of the United States without changing trains?

Through passenger trains or through sleeping cars are operated from Chicago and St. Louis to all parts of the country. Through sleeper service is also provided from Chicago or St. Louis to important cities in Canada and Mexico.

190. What is known as "The White House on Wheels"?

This name is applied to the special passenger train used by the President of the United States and his entourage.

191. Why do Presidents of the United States always make land journeys of any distance by rail?

Since the days of Zachary Taylor, every President of the United States has made all land journeys of any considerable distance by rail. This is because the railway passenger train is by far the safest and most reliable mode of travel. Moreover, it affords an opportunity to rest and sleep in comfort and without unnecessary fatigue. With its spaciousness and cleanliness, with its dining car, sleeping compartments, and with facilities for holding conferences, dictating speeches, entertaining guests and so on, the railway passenger train provides comforts and conveniences which no other mode of transportation offers.

192. What did Channing Pollock say about railway passenger travel?

The noted author, playwright and lecturer recently said: "At the conclusion of my fifteenth consecutive year as a lecturer, I am moved to write you of a remarkable record for which you are largely responsible. Traveling entirely by rail, I have delivered more than 2,000 lectures, each in a different place, without missing or being late for one. During this time I have 'pinch-hit' for at least two dozen other men who had taken the chance of journeying by motor car, motor bus, or airplane. In addition, I should hesitate to put a value on the work I have done in railway trains that could not possibly have been accomplished in any other conveyance."

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