club car

plural club cars

1. datedrail transportA railroad car that serves in the manner of a club (lounge), offering drinks, snacks, background music, and sometimes meals.

   Near-synonyms: buffet car, refreshment car (broadly synonymous)

   3 more examples

   I saw Charlie last night in the club car. When we get to Chicago, he's going to telephone Mr. Brown for further instructions.

   Seats of parlor-car type have been installed in the rear car. This is used as a club car and no extra charge is made for its use. It is designed primarily to appeal to the business man traveling between the two cities and to offer him in comfort a service which will induce him to make the trip by electric railway instead of by automobile.

   1925 June 27, “"Crimson Limited" Gives Attractive Interurban Service. Northern Texas Traction Company Improves Cars for Fort Worth-Dallas Non-Stop Service with a Special View to Merchandising—Combination of Colors Used to Give Streamline Effect”, in Electric Railway Journal, volume 65, number 26, page 1015

   In a rear collision of passenger trains on the Pennsylvania at Gray, Pa., 50 miles east of Pittsburgh, on the night of June 16, about 11:45 o'clock, 14 passengers and four employees were killed and 13 passengers and one employee were injured. East bound passenger train No. 50, the Pittsburgh-Washington Express, which had been stopped because of a ruptured air hose, was run into by the following passenger train, No. 40, the Cincinnati Limited, which consisted of two locomotives, a club car and nine sleeping cars. Both locomotives of No. 40 were overturned and the club car was wrecked. All four tracks were blocked. Five passengers in the club car of No. 40 and nine in the rear sleeping car of No. 50 were killed. Both enginemen and one fireman of No. 40 were killed and the baggageman on that train was reported missing. A statement issued by the railroad company said that the flagman of No. 50 had gone back and placed torpedoes and fusees, and that when he was recalled he was passed by train No. 40 before he reached his own train; No. 40 having passed the signal [presumably an automatic block signal] as well as the burning fusees and the torpedoes.

   1926 July 29, “Fourteen Passengers Killed at Gray, Pa. General News column”, in Railway Electrical Engineer, volume 17, number 7, page 236

   Synonyms: buffet car, refreshment car

2. broadlyinformalA golf cart.

   We'll take the ferry to the island, and when we get off the ferry, we'll rent a club car and drive into town.

   1 more example

   "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I'm Diggy—that's what everyone calls me. Now, much as I'd be happy to show you around tonight, it's pretty dark, and I'm guessing you're tired and maybe you'd rather leave it till tomorrow? So why don't we get you to reception? I've got a club car here—drive you right there. No need to walk at Swallowtail if you'd rather get a ride! Tomorrow, once you're rested, give the concierge desk a call, tell them you're ready for Diggy's tour. I'll come pick you up from wherever you're staying and show you everything you need to see. How does that sound? The Diggy-mobile will be at your service!" "Brilliant. Thank you." I watch, amazed, as he picks up my luggage as if it's weightless and slings it into the back of a sort of golf buggy. It has silver wheels, white leather seats, open sides, and a kind of cream canvas awning on the top. I climb aboard. Diggy switches off his torch and leaps into the driver's seat, saying, "All aboard the Diggy-mobile!"

   2017, Sophie Hannah, Keep Her Safe: A Novel, HarperCollins, →ISBN

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see club, car; for example, one of the cars owned by a car club member.

   Several club cars were in the cruise on Sunday. Clubmembers Joe and Jane Worthington brought their Packard, and Tom Smith brought his Plymouth.

   1 more example

   On one occasion the Road Runners found themselves without a club car to race the following Sunday on Ecorse Road where the state police detoured traffic and supervised drag racing. The club had invited the Genesee Gear Grinders down from Flint already, and needed something soon. An inexpensive vehicle with a flathead motor was quickly acquired. Club associates were summoned to a member's house where the body was methodically stripped off and salvage parts designated for use. Welders fabricated a frame using industrial pipe. This formed the basic structure of their homespun race creation. Next the front steering and the rear end assemblies were added. The mill was enhanced with aluminum heads and additional carburetion before being lowered into place. After the installation of the radiator and a few minor adjustments, it was time to move the bodiless bomb to Vic and Mac's for final tuning.

   2008, Fred Thomas, Car Club Memories: Personal Stories from Three Dynamic Decades of Cruisin', Competition, and Cool Cars, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 27