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The Pullman Company, founded by George M. Pullman, built, operated, and maintained a fleet of first class passenger rail cars by contract on most railroads across the United States. George Pullman is credited with the creation of the first modern, comfortable, sleeping car for railroad travel in 1858. From a small beginning, Mr. Pullman created an empire, which during its peak in the 1930's was responsible for the construction, ownership, and operation of a fleet of over eight-thousand sleeper, parlor, club, and cafe cars. Pullman's well deserved slogan was "Travel and Sleep in Pullman Safety and Comfort." The Pullman Company was renowned world-wide for the excellent quality of service passengers received from the Company's porters and stewards. At that time, a person would purchase their rail ricket for carriage over a railroad, and also purchase a separate Pullman accommodation ticket to upgrade to first class sleeping car space. The range, size, and types of sleeping car accommodations in the 1930's included the most basic -- the open section (upper or lower berth enclosed by curtains), to the bedroom (as on DOVER HARBOR), the compartment, and the drawing room. Indeed, the Pullman Company was said to have operated the largest hotel in the world, with upwards of 100,000 beds occupied on a given night. The Pullman Company itself ceased operating sleeping cars on December 31, 1968. Pullman Incorporated, its successor, continued to construct freight and passenger cars until it was sold to Bombardier Corporation of Canada in the 1970's.

The picture above is from the cover of a 17 page 1950's Pullman Company color brochure explaining Pullman services, conveniences, and and saftey to the traveling public.

*Pullman Company history courtesy of Washington, D.C. Chapter NRHS and their classic 1923 Pullman DOVER HARBOR, which still roams the main lines of America today, in part due to a grant from the NRHS Railway Heritage Grants program.