The below was posted to the EarlyRail Yahoo group - I thought it might be of interest to a wider audience.
Found the following in a microfilm of The Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov.
1875."The change in sleeping and drawing-room cars over the Michigan Central Road and its connections was inaugurated yesterday, the morning express to Chicago being equipped with the drawing-room car "Hermia" and the evening express having the sleeper "Montcalm". These cars are of the Wagner patent and are capable of accommodating from forty to fifty persons. The drawing-room cars have smoking parlors at either end, and their interiors finished in rosewood. The sleeping cars are finished in black walnut with German walnut panels and inlaid scrolls, monograms and crests of handsome mosaic woodwork. The seat arms, racks, hinges, window fastenings, door knobs, and in fact all iron work, is heavily plated with nickel silver, while the ornamentations by the fresco artist are of modern style, excellently put on. The berths in the Wagner sleeper are somewhat wider than those of the Pullman pattern, and are fitted with spring and hair mattresses, fine linen and rich coverlets. Carpets of the finest texture and handsome designs are upon the floors, and every appointment for comfort has apparently been made. The cars rest upon six wheel trucks, the wheels being of paper with steel tyres. The trains which left Grand Rapids and Bay City each had sleepers attached of the above description, and the express train for Chicago which leaves this evening will contain the new sleeping coach "Kalamazoo"."
Black walnut and silver plated ironwork? How the mighty have fallen :-).