New and luxurious passenger stock is constantly being put into traffic on the Home railways. In these days of keen competition, attractive and comfortable passenger carriages play a big part in retaining business to the rail, and on the four group railways of Britain there is found to-day some of the finest passenger rolling-stock in the whole world.

The London, Midland and Scottish line—the largest of the four British consolidations—has just introduced into the fast Anglo-Scottish services a batch of new composite (first and third-class) passenger carriages of exceptionally interesting design. The carriages are 60 ft. 1 in. long over body, and 8 ft. 11¼ in. wide. Distance between centres of bogies is 43 ft. 6 in., and bogie wheel base 9 ft. The underframe is of rolled steel channels, and the body framing is of teak with steel panelling arranged to give a flush finish. Two first-class and four third-class compartments are reached from a side corridor running the full length of the coach, and entrance to the vehicle is gained by two doors on each side, one door being placed at either end of the car.

Because of the luxurious nature of the interior fittings, each first-class compartment seats four passengers only. Upholstery is in blue and gold moquette, and arm-rests give the seats an arm-chair character. The floor is covered with a hand-woven carpet, and the windows are fitted with curtains and blinds of blue and gold silk. The interior woodwork is of walnut. In the third-class section, six passengers are accommodated in each compartment. Grey velvet upholstery is here employed. A tasteful rubber mat covers the floor, and mahogany is the interior woodwork favoured. The lavatory at the end of the carriage has walls of duck-eggshell blue Rexine, and the floor is laid with terrazzo. Heating, ventilation and lighting, have been given special attention, and all things considered it would be hard to find a more comfortable and attractive passenger carriage than this, excluding, of course, the special Pullman and similar vehicles for the use of which an additional fare has to be paid.

The view has more than once been expressed that the British railways are inclined to unduly pamper the modern traveller in the matter of luxurious rolling-stock. Whatever truth there may be in this, it is certainly striking how the railways have put themselves out in recent years to add to the pleasure and comfort of passenger travel. Luxurious interior fittings to carriages have been page 22

On the “footplate” of a London-Brighton electric train.

supplemented by such innovations as travelling cinema shows and radio entertainments, gramophones and libraries. On the group railways of Britain, there are in daily service travelling cocktail bars, hairdressing saloons, quick-lunch buffets, shower-baths, and a score of other amenities undreamt of a decade or two ago.