PASSENGER CAR PROFILE

Sleeping Cars

Sleeping cars made overnight rail travel practical by giving passengers private or semi-private accommodations while the train kept moving.

Historic Pullman sleeping car
Historic Pullman sleeping car displayed during a 1924 exhibition tour. Photo: The Pullman Company, Public Domain (U.S.), via Wikimedia Commons.

Why sleeping cars mattered

Before widespread air travel and interstate highways, sleeping cars let passengers cover long distances overnight without giving up a night's rest.

Room types

Depending on era and operator, sleeping cars could include open sections, roomettes, bedrooms and larger compartments.

Modern service

Long-distance passenger rail still uses sleeping accommodations, though modern room layouts and amenities differ substantially from classic Pullman-era cars.

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