Dining Car Service in Britain.

In the good old days, half a century back, when top hats and side whiskers were in favour, most railway passengers carried in addition to voluminous luggage, a packet of sandwiches and a flask. It was then the first dining-car made its appearance in Britain. An experimental car was brought over from America in sections. It had seating accommodation for nineteen persons, ten in the saloon and nine in a smaller smoking section, and there was a kitchen fitted with a coke stove and a tiny pantry. Oil lamps were employed for lighting. Since then every development has been for the greater comfort and convenience of passengers. New dining-cars recently put into traffic on the Home railways include every modern device for the betterment of rail travel and rail catering, all-electric cooking being the latest move in catering for the pampered Marco Polo of 1930.

The cost of the modern Home railway dining car is approximately £5,000. page 23 Every car is furnished with a well-stocked cellar, with a wide range of wines, liqueurs, spirits, beers, and mineral waters. In the 700 restaurant cars of the Home lines some 30,000 meals are served daily, and, on one railway, arrangements have been made that when previous notice is given special menus are served in the restaurant and Pullman cars. Under this scheme, which affords an example of really thoughtful action on the traveller's behalf, parties may suggest their own menus, and invalids, vegetarians and passengers on special diet may order their own favoured dishes.