A drawing room on a train, particularly in the North American context, was a type of private sleeping accommodation.
Understanding the Train Drawing Room
Based on traditional railway nomenclature in North America, a drawing room on a train was defined by specific features:
- Capacity: It was designed to sleep a minimum of three or more persons. This made it suitable for small groups or families traveling together.
- Amenities: A key feature distinguishing it was the inclusion of a private washroom within the room. This offered a higher level of privacy and convenience compared to other sleeping berths or rooms that might share facilities.
Historically, this type of room was a standard offering on some North American passenger trains. However, the terminology has become dated.
Modern Usage and Nomenclature
The term "drawing room" is now considered archaic in the railway industry.
- While Amtrak in the United States has retired its sleeping cars that were built with drawing rooms, this style of accommodation still exists.
- Via Rail Canada continues to utilize sleeping cars featuring this type of room. To reflect modern terminology and make it more understandable to passengers, Via Rail markets these rooms as "triple bedrooms". This clearly indicates the sleeping capacity and function without using the historical term.
In essence, a drawing room was a spacious private compartment on a train, typically for three or more passengers, featuring its own private washroom.
