Vintage photos from decades ago show how traveling by train used to be a lot fancier.
First-class cabins were furnished like living rooms and included radio gramophones.
Passengers dined on fine china and played cards to pass the time.
Traveling by train was pretty swanky in the early to mid-1900s, and it hasn't gone out of style. Today, Japan's bullet trains can make the trip from Tokyo to Osaka in just 2 1/2 hours, and in the US, Amtrak is working on high-speed trains to launch in 2024.
Still, the lavish furnishings and fine dining of the past hold a special place in the railroad's rich history. These vintage photos show how glamorous train travel used to be.
People used to dress up for train travel.
Passengers wore fascinators and white gloves — no sweats or hoodies here.
Traveling was an event.
Railway carriages were spacious and well-lit.
First-class cars in particular were tastefully decorated.
Furnished like living rooms, they came complete with armchairs, drapes, and carpeting.
This first-class car evokes the ancient Momoyama style of Japanese art.
Celebrities like Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger enjoyed the comforts of first-class cars.
Second class wasn't quite as glamorous, but it still ensured a cushy ride.
Restaurant cars hosted guests with elegant table settings.
Passengers dined on fine china.
Some trains offered food buffet-style.
Others employed dapper servers to pour drinks.
In cars equipped with radio gramophones, passengers could enjoy music and radio programs while draped in fur.
Playing cards was also a popular pastime.
As was reading the newspaper.
Sleeper cars featured upholstered beds with plenty of room to spread out.
Sleeper-car attendants would bring passengers morning cups of tea on trays.
Traveling back then still involved the same crowded rush as it does now.
But there was also a special thrill to riding the railroad that's hard to come by these days.
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