Baggage car

A baggage car (US terminology, abbreviated Bg, also known as a luggage van or brake van (UK terminology) is a type of railway car often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels ("express") and (historically) mail. It typically contains one or more luggage compartments with large loading doors (such as sliding doors, folding doors, or roller shutters) and usually includes a conductor's compartment for train staff. In North America, being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described as "head-end equipment". Passengers are not normally allowed access to baggage cars while trains are in motion, except to care for animals travelling as checked baggage. In Europe, many baggage cars are built as corridor coaches with a side gangway next to the baggage area, so that they can be marshalled anywhere in the train without interrupting through passage. In North America, a special type of baggage car came equipped with doors on one end to facilitate transport of large pieces of equipment and scenery for Broadway shows and other productions. These "theatrical" baggage cars were assigned theatrical names (i.e. Romeo and Juliet), and were similar to the "horse cars" that were used to transport racehorses. Traditionally, passengers could hand in their luggage at the baggage counter of a railway station, where it was loaded into the baggage car and collected at the destination station. This service has largely been discontinued, although it still exists in Switzerland. After the end of this service, many baggage cars were adapted for bicycle transportation.