- Baggage car
A baggage car (US terminology) or luggage van (UK terminology) is a type of
rail transport passenger car. Its purpose is to carry the checked baggage of thepassenger s as well asparcel s ("express") in apassenger train , and is typically coupled at the front of the train close to thelocomotive . Because this type of car is usually hauled at the front of a passenger train, it is sometimes classified as "head-end equipment." Passengers aboard a passenger train are not normally allowed access to a baggage car while a train is in motion.A special type of baggage car came equipped with doors on one end to facilitate transport of large pieces of equipment and scenery for
Broadway show s and other productions. These "theatrical" baggage cars were assigned theatrical names (i.e. "Romeo" and "Juliet"), and were similar to the "horse cars" that were used to transport racehorses.References
*"The American Railroad Passenger Car" by John H. White, Jr. Two Volumes (1978) by Johns Hopkins University Press.
*ISBN 0-8018-2743-4 (pbk.: set: alk. paper)
*ISBN 0-8018-2722-1 (pbk.: v.1: alk. paper)
*ISBN 0-8018-2747-7 (pbk.: v.2: alk. paper)
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