▁than ▁, ▁these ▁regularly ▁ran ▁at ▁ ▁in ▁regular ▁passenger ▁service . ▁ ▁These ▁stream lined ▁electric ▁multiple - unit ▁passenger ▁cars ▁were ▁the ▁world ' s ▁first - ever ▁high - speed ▁" B ul let " ▁trains , ▁and ▁their ▁design ▁influenced ▁later ▁stream lined ▁trains ▁built ▁in ▁the ▁U . S ., ▁Belg ium , ▁Germany , ▁and ▁Japan . ▁ ▁Bu ilt ▁during ▁the ▁Great ▁De pression , ▁they ▁were ▁the ▁first ▁rail road ▁equipment ▁ever ▁designed ▁in ▁a ▁wind ▁tunnel ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁less en ▁power ▁consumption ▁while ▁quick ening ▁schedule ▁tim ings . ▁ ▁And ▁they ▁did ▁just ▁that , ▁cutting ▁Nor rist own ▁Express ▁sched ules ▁by ▁up ▁to ▁a ▁third , ▁from ▁ 2 4 ▁to ▁only ▁ 1 6 ▁minutes ▁while ▁cons uming ▁some ▁ 4 0 % ▁less ▁electric ▁power ▁than ▁the ▁M U ▁equipment ▁they ▁replaced . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁Bul let ▁( inter urban ). ▁ ▁A ▁third ▁and ▁older ▁type ▁was ▁the ▁" St ra ff ord ▁Car ," ▁built ▁between ▁ 1 9 2 4 ▁and ▁ 1 9 2 9 . ▁The ▁last ▁Stra ff ord ▁Car ▁was ▁retired ▁on ▁March ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 1 9 9 0 . ▁ ▁These ▁M U ' s ▁originally ▁had ▁bulk head ▁doors ▁to ▁permit ▁passengers ▁to ▁walk ▁from ▁car ▁to ▁car , ▁high - mount ed ▁head light s , ▁t rol ley ▁pol es , ▁and ▁vest ib ule ▁steps . ▁ ▁The ▁bulk head ▁doors ,