Question about passenger train travel in 1880
... I am writing a piece of fiction set in 1880. Part of the story involves characters riding a passenger train from Denver to Kansas City. I am looking for information about what that would have been like (as a passenger) to provide atmosphere for the story. Most of the information I have been able to find online discuss the history of building railways without much in the way of what the passenger experience would have been like. Any information you can provide or can point me to would be greatly appreciated.
My specific questions include:
How long would the journey have taken? How many stops would it have made?
How many cars were on a typical train? What was the typcial composition (i.e., number of passenger / sleeping / dining / cargo / other cars and in what order would they have been strung together?).
What kind of food would have been available on the train (or did people get off at certain stops to eat instead)?
Were there bathrooms on the train? What were they like?
How big were the different kinds of cars and how were they laid out?
What kinds of security precautions were taken (were there security guards on trains)?
Assuming that passenger trains also had cargo cars, what were the typical types of cargo that were carried? ...
—Vandi Williams
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 9:07 PM
3 Comments:
See,
Travel
Guides
Book
Official Guide
Kansas Pacific Railroad
From: "Kyle Wyatt" kylekwyatt@gmail.com
The questions above assume a level and type of standardization among railroads that did not exist.
For coach travel, see the attached from Leslie's Illustrated in 1878. Also pick up a copy of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Amateur Immigrant – he describes a train ride across country in 1879 – lots of color. Mostly by coach, but also Emigrant Train from Omaha to San Francisco.
Length of journey and number of stops depends on what type of train you were on. Check copies of an 1880 edition of Official Guides of Railways for examples of schedules.
"Typical" consists depends on the individual railroad, what train it was, time of year and many other variables. Emigrant cars often, but not always attached to freight trains. Otherwise probably several coaches with baggage and mail cars up front. And perhaps sleeping (Pullman) cars, either in front of or behind the coaches. Cars typically 45 to 70 feet depending on type.
Trains stopped at eating stations for food – served family style, and of varying qualities.
No "security guards." Conductor is in charge of the train, along with brakemen to assist him.
—Kyle
From: "Vandi Williams" vw6704404@yahoo.com
Thank you for your help!
—Vandi
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