Quarter-scale working model of a Pullman sleeping car berth, c. 1930. Made by the Pullman Company. Chicago History Museum In 1865, George M. Pullman revolutionized rail travel with the introduction of the Palace Car. It made luxurious dining and sleeper cars available to the middle class for a modest fee. Previously, rail travel was uncomfortable at best. Passengers rode on hard, bench-backed seats in poorly ventilated cars, left the train for meals, and took their chances with the local hotels on overnight trips. In contrast, Pullman cars featured plush upholstery, stained glass windows, and gourmet meals served on fine china. Their sleeping berths, described by one traveler, were outfitted with "soft mattresses, snowy sheets and warm, gaily striped blankets." Pullman made a fortune on the cars, leasing to railway companies and collecting the premium charged to Pullman's passengers. By 1893, with more than 2,000 cars in service, his company was worth $62 million.