Toast rack

nounShop talkRailroad

An open-sided passenger car with benches running entirely across the width of the vehicle.

An older style of summer passenger car or tram featuring no side walls and a series of transverse wooden benches. The layout forces conductors to collect tickets by walking along an exterior running board. The sequential, closely spaced benches give the car the appearance of a wire toast rack.

Heard on the job

They brought out the old toast rack for the summer excursion runs.