Norway's Scenic Railways

Unique among the scenic railways of the world, the Norwegian State Railways this season report record handlings of tourist traffic. Travel over the Norwegian lines has been materially improved of late by the introduction of many new types of passenger carriage embodying numerous refinements aiming at increased passenger comfort and convenience.

Day coaches in Norway are of both the saloon and compartment type. All are fitted with heavily upholstered seats and sofas. The windows are of plate glass in the latest type of coach, and under each window is an adjustable table. New dining cars are built on English lines, and half an hour before meals the steward passes through the train handing out numbered seat tickets for the first or second sitting. A small service charge added to the bill happily solves the often perplexing problem of tips. The sleeping cars employed on the Norwegian mainlines are divided into compartments, each accommodating two passengers. In addition to the lower and the upper berth, there is provided a chair, a wash-stand with hot and cold running water, drinking water, and roomy racks for hand luggage. The compartment may be locked from the inside, thus ensuring absolute privacy and safety. On the principal mainline trains, the Norwegian train-attendants usually speak excellent English, and in every direction the railway authorities go out of their way to make the lot of the tourist an exceedingly pleasant one.—(From Our London Correspondent.)