| 词条 | Parlor car |
| 释义 |
A parlor car (or parlour car outside the United States of America) is a type of passenger coach that provides superior comforts and amenities when compared to a standard coach. History{{see also|Travel class|First class travel}}Parlor cars came about on United States railroads to address the absence of separate class accommodations. In the United Kingdom and Europe, passenger trains carried first-, second- and third-class coaches, with the first-class coaches offering the best seating and costing the most money. In contrast, American trains offered a flat rate and standard accommodations. For nineteenth century writers this represented a difference between class-bound Europe and the democratic United States.[1]{{rp|224}}[2]{{rp|331}} Parlor accommodations were appreciated by those who used them because of their exclusivity. H. L. Mencken called the parlor car "the best investment open to an American": {{quote|He not only has a certain seat of his own, free from intrusion and reasonably roomy; he also rides in a car in which all of the people are clean and do not smell badly. The stinks in a day-coach, even under the best of circumstances, are revolting. The imbecile conversation that goes on in parlor-car smoke-rooms is sometimes hard to bear, but there is escape from it in one's seat; the gabble in day-coaches is worse, and it is often accompanied by all sorts of other noises.[3]{{rp|130}}}}Most parlor cars were found on daytime trains in the Northeast United States. In comparison to a standard coach, a parlor car offered more comfortable seating and surroundings, as well as food and beverages, but it was far inferior to a sleeping car for an overnight trip.[4]{{rp|287}} TodayUnited StatesElevated service survives on Amtrak although the term "parlor car" has fallen into disuse. One recently discontinued example was the "Pacific Parlour Car" on the Coast Starlight, converted Hi-Level lounges which featured a mixture of 1x1 swivel-chair seating and cafe-style seating. In contrast to past usage this car was provided as a sleeping car passenger-only lounge and was not itself bookable. Amtrak discontinued the Pacific Parlour in February 2018. The Acela Express offers First Class service, including at-seat service and improved seating.[5] Other Amtrak trains offer a "Business Class", which includes roomier seating and, on some routes, a complimentary beverage and newspaper. Notes1. ^1 {{cite web | title=First Class Seat | author=Amtrak | accessdate=2009-12-29 | url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Accommodation_C&pagename=am/Layout&cid=1241210575965}} [1][2][3][4][5]2. ^1 {{cite book | first=H. L. | last=Mencken | authorlink=H. L. Mencken | title=Minority Report | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2pUAccFzl-8C | publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press | year=2006 | origyear=1956 | isbn=0801885337 | oclc=76892903}} 3. ^1 {{cite book | last=Muirhead | first=James Fullarton | title=The land of contrasts: a Briton's view of his American kin | year=1898 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aJILAAAAIAAJ | publisher=John Lane: The Bodley Head}} 4. ^1 {{cite book | last=Wells | first=H. G. | authorlink=H. G. Wells | title=Social forces in England and America | year=1914 | publisher=Harper & Brothers | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gk8-AAAAIAAJ | oclc=1512217}} 5. ^1 {{White-Passenger-1985|volume=1}} }} References
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