The R.W. & O Parlor Cars
The Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad was noted for its top-of-the-line passenger service in the mid to late 19th century. It had a fleet of parlor and sleeping cars and coaches built at its Rome shops second to none in the country with through service to all points on the compass.
It also had several parlor cars. Pictured here is the parlor car “St. Lawrence.” This and its twin, the “Ontario” were built at the Rome shops in 1870. They were numbered 30 and 31 respectively. The R.W. & O. also built many of its own coaches and other rolling stock.
The passenger fleet was created under the supervision of noted master car builder Henry H. Sessions. The parlor cars were known by their distinctive plate-glass windows - nine on each side - that afforded passengers an excellent view of the countryside.
The interiors were of black walnut. The grand drawing room in the center was at the center featured a very decorative and expensive chandelier hanging from the ceiling. At one end of the cars was a sitting area for ladies and at the other end one for men.
In 1876, after the R.W. & O. absorbed the Lake Ontario Shore railroad, it built three parlor cars for that run, the “Genesee,” “Niagara” and “City of Oswego." These each featured heavy French plate glass windows measuring 50 inches in width and 28 inches high.
