Chesapeake and Ohio Coach Car No. 725
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Built by Pullman Car & Mfg. Co., 1930
Called by one historian, "the most luxurious coach-type cars ever operated in American railroading," C&O's "Imperial Salon" coaches were indeed the finest anywhere before the streamliner era. Built on the eve of the Depression as part of an aggressive new C&O passenger program, they were closer to first-class parlor cars than to ordinary day coaches of the time.
Where conventional coaches seated up to 80 people, only 45 passengers stretched out in the roomy, swivelling bucket seats of the "Imperial Salons." A unique row of single seats lined one side of the car, with doubles on the other.
These superb coaches formed the backbone of C&O's main line passenger runs until after World War II--but by 1950, new streamlined equipment made them surplus and most were sold. The 725, however, survived in baseball game excursion service until 1969, although its distinctive two-and-one seating arrangement was replaced by conventional reclining seats in 1949.