Snowpiercer

Snowpiercer is a large, one-thousand-one carriage train manufactured and run by Wilford Industries. It continually circles the globe with the remains of human civilisation following the global freezing extinction event seven years prior.^[1]

The train is comprised of "classes" towards the front of the train, with those without tickets at the back of the train — these are known as "Tailies". Snowpiercer comprises in total of 1,001 cars.

History

Social structure

Snowpiercer is, by design, a heterogeneous environment with well delimited social classes and several formal and informal professions.

The most significant classification is based on both physical placement on Snowpiercer and social status, and consists of four distinct groups with significantly divergent levels of influence and expectations.

Firsts are the elite group, either out of buying that place from Wilford Industries before Snowpiercer was inaugurated or by virtue of being a crew member with a certain level of authority.
Seconds have no significant authority over Snowpiercer, but have higher privileges than the Thirdies and Tailies.
Thirdies are passengers with a well defined social role but not much privilege or authority. They do not have legal rights comparable to those of Firsts or Seconds, but have space, food and reproductive rights that the Tailies lack.^[1] Janitors and Ag-Sec workers are Thirds.^[2]
- However, Janitors are often joined by a limited number of Tailies, who are still required to sleep and live in the Tail Section. They are scouted by Jackboots while in transit between train sections.^[3]
- Thirdies who live in The Chains seem to be unusually friendly towards Tailies.^[1]
Tailies are apparently not an intentional part of Snowpiercer's society. They inhabit the tail section of the train, on what were originally cargo cars, have no permission to visit other cars except in rare occasions and when specifically given that permission. Group commitment among tailies is strong, yet they are often tempted to find some way of entering a higher status group. The original tailies were the survivors of a desperate group of unauthorized passengers who entered Snowpiercer by force of numbers after a violent conflict with the authorized passengers (mainly jackboots). At some point an uneasy understanding was reached, and currently the Tail Section has very limited rights and survives on rations given unilaterally by Snorpiercer's management, to considerable distress of all involved.

It is strongly implied that Firsts inhabit the train cars closer to the locomotive and that Seconds and Thirds come in order, with Tailies at the Tail Section.

Social traits, trends and perceptions of Snowpiercer

Firsts are allowed travel to the Third Class, but many choose not to, in part out of a belief that it is a more violent environment.^[1] That belief is sometimes dismissed by Hospitality as "track talk",^[1] but seems to be justified.^[2]
Many Firsts attempt to live as if there was no significant change in the world's environment, to the point of talking about Scandinavian Royals as a part of present reality.^[1]
- A feature of that alienated lifestyle is the tendency to make complaints and demands to Hospitality, arguably in outright denial of how autocratic the governance of Snowpiercer ultimately is.^[1]
Tailies are easily the most tighly knit of all four social classes abord Snowpiercer, to the point of often decreeing their commitment to the tail as a whole and feeling duty-bound to the group even after years of distance and sparse contact.^[3]
There is a small measure of social mobility in Snowpiercer. While the Tail Section is apparently given compulsory contraceptives, what few children exist among the Tailies are sometimes recruited for apprenticeship, which is implied to open access to at least Third Class. Thirdies can apply to regular Fightnights which, while brutal, are nonetheless a means of progressing from Third to Second Class.

Snowpiercer Crew

Snowpiercier is manned by a diverse crew, consisting in several departments and a strict hierarchy.

The (hypothetical) role of the Conductor might originally have been held by "Mr Wilford" himself.
Engineers took part in designing Snowpiercer, and assist Mr Wilford in keeping its Engine Eternal working. They maintain the life support and energy systems aboard the train. On a daily basis, they monitor the weather conditions, seismic activity and state of the tracks the train circulates on. They are seen to be also responsible for conducting the train. Their living quarters are located within the Engine Car (C0001). Members of Engineering most likely enjoy unlimited and privileged access to the train, the Engine Car access being insecure. Bennett Knox and Javier "Avi" De La Torre are the only known Engineers.
Members of Hospitality enjoy a very important position within the Crew and Ticketed Passengers hierarchy. Melanie Cavill is the Head of Hospitality and seems to be "Mr Wilford" second-in-command. As such, her duty is to maintain smooth relations between the Crew and Ticketed Passengers, and between the Ticketed Passengers of the different Classes. This mostly imply making sure First Class passengers enjoy their trip. She is seen addressing a staff including Concierges, Stewards, Chambermaids, Janitors, Chefs, the Notary, and Commander Grey. As Head of Hospitality, she is also the Voice of the Train and is responsible for making public announcements twice a day (the first at 8:00 AM and the second in the evening), synchronizing time for the all train. She is seconded in her duties by Concierge Ruth Wardell who is in charge of organising day-to-day life and activities for the First Class Passengers, as well as announcements to the Tail section inhabitants. Along the Head of Hospitaly, she takes part to the First Class Committee. A Second Class Committee and a Third Class Comittee might also exist. Other known members of Hospitality include Tristan. The Radio Room and Hospitality Office is located within the first cars of the train between (within?) the Engine Car (C0001) and First Class Quarters. It is unclear yet where their living quarters are located. Members of Hospitality most likely enjoy unlimited and privileged access to the train, except for the Engine Car.
The Notary seems to held a unique power and status within the train, as any official action taken by a member of the Crew requires forms bearing Wilford Industries logo to be signed and notarized, as seen when Dr Klimt was ordered to release Nikki Genêt from the Drawers. Among various clerical duties, she is most certainly responsible for the Removal Request for Andre Layton, and Apprenticeship Offers.

Jackboots are the armed enforcement branch and security force of Snorpiercer, operating under the orders of Commander Grey. Firearms are prohibited inside the train to prevent any breach or damage to the hull. As such, they are usually armed with small handaxes, which they tend to use with savage bloodlust even when it is clear that there is no danger to themselves or others.^[3] They guard the boundaries between each Class and between the Tail section (C0999, C1000, C1001), patrol the train and maintain order during events such as Fight Night. Before Snowpiercer left the station, they were responsible for securing the boarding process and later fight against the people without tickets who boarded the Tail. Their Garrison is most likely located at the rear of the train, between the Tail section and the Sanitation section. Other known members of the Jackboots Department include Jackboot Tyson, Jackboot Kaffey, Jackboot Clifford, Jackboot Donaldson, Jackboot Jefferson, Jackboot Stroud, Jackboot Mansfield, Jackboot Trotter, Jackboot Alvarez and Jackboot Rogers.
Brakemen perform various police duties within the train (Tail Section included), such as law enforcement, lower management, patrols and status reporting, under the orders of Lead Brakeman Roche. They have jurisdiction over all Ticketed Passengers and Crew members to detect, arrest and interrogate a suspect should a crime be committed amongst Ticketed Passengers and Crew members alike. Many are former Wilford Industries Security, but there are many exceptions.^[1] Their Garrison is most likely located at the rear of the train, within Third Class Quarters and close to Sanitation Section. Other known members of the Brakemen Department include Brakewoman Bess Till, her partner Brakeman John "Oz" Ozweiler, Brakeman Ames and Brakeman Fuller.
Breachmen are responsible for repairing any breach made to the hull of Snowpiercer. As such, their task is the most dangerous aboard, as they are exposed to both the deadly cold and the speed of the train. Breachman Bojan Boscovic is the only known member of the Breach Team.
Ag-Sec is the Agricultural and livestock sector, and a subgroup of the Thirdies.^[1]
Tunnelmen maintain the tram system that connects most of Snowpiercer from below.^[1]
Janitors, Maintenance, Laudry...

Train structure

Based on the blueprint of the Brakeman's Garrison in the title credits, a typical car is about 40 feet long and 13 feet 6 inches wide (12.2m long and 4.1m wide).

From external images of the train, the height of cars seems to vary between about 1.5 and 2 times the width (20-26 feet, or 6-8m tall) and would fit about two stories and a half.

Snowpiercer circles the globe 2.7 times a year, or once every 133 days. Its track length is 318,000 km, much more than the circumference of the Earth, as it travels across every continent, originally conceived as a tourist train which would visit hundreds of cities around the world.

Snowpiercer is powered by a perpetual-motion engine referred to as the Engine Eternal. It is not clear how this works, but it appears to draw more power when travelling at greater speeds.

Carriages

Snowpiercer canon 1,001 cars include :

C0001. Front section / Engine Car
CXXX. The Hospitality Office and Radio Room Car
C0011. First Class / Dining Car
C0012. First Class / Aquarium and Sushi Bar Car
CXXX. First Class Quarters, including the Folgers' Carriage, the Sharma's Carriage, the Danish Royal Family Carriage(s)...
CXXX. Second Class Quarters, including Jinju Seong's Quarters, Dr Henry Klimt Quarters...
CXXX. Second Class / The Night Car, between Third and Second Class
CXXX. The Classroom Car
CXXX. Third Class Quarters
CXXX. Third Class / Hospital Car
CXXX. Third Class / Mess Hall Car
CXXX. Agriculture section (AGSEC), at least 131 Greenhouse Cars
CXXX. Third Class / Market Car
CXXX. Third Class / Chains Car
CXXX. Sanitation section (SANSEC)
CXXX. Third Class / Drawers Car (more than one car ?)
CXXX. Third Class / Brakemen Garrison Car
CXXX. Third Class / Jackboots Garrison Car
CXXX. Storage and Cargo Cars
C0996. Tail section / Electricity junction and Utility Car (with access hatch to the Sub-train)
C0997. Tail section / Utility Car
C0998. Tail section / Bio-security Car
C0999. Tail section / Cargo Car 1
C1000. Tail section / Cargo Car 2
C1001. Tail section / Cargo Car 3

The Agriculture section (AGSEC) include about 131 cars. It is unclear if that number refers only to Greenhouse Cars, or to the whole AGSEC cars (including Cattle Cars for cows and goats, an old Apiary Car). It is also unclear if the Food Processing section is included within the AGSEC cars and if all the AGSEC cars are located at the end of the train, between the Tail section and Third Class, or if the different cars are dispatched all along the train to secure the food provisions. The section might also include a Water Reservoir Car. The First Class Aquarium and Sushi Bar Car might be part of AGSEC as it is operated by Agriculture Officer and scientist Jinju Seong.

The Third Class Chains Car and Market Car, the Night Car and the Classroom Car are shown to be preceded by Utility Cars. It can be supposed that those cars are necessary to maintain life support (water, electricity, temperature, air quality...) all along the train. They might also house power banks and auxiliary engines to help maintain the speed of the 10 miles-long train. We might also suppose that the Sub-train transportation system is only accessible from those intermediary cars, which act as "subway stations" within the train. Due to the borders between Third, Second and First Class, the Sub-train might actually be divided into three close-loop subsystems for operating reasons (it is faster to operate small distance trips).

One can also wonder from which cars the Ticketed Passengers boarded Snowpiercer before she left the station.

The carriages presented below should not be considered canon so far, as they are part of the WilfordIndustries.com experience that invite people to create their own design for the cars :

0001. The Engines
0002. The Control Room
0003. Cybernetic Implant Workshop
0004. The Sky Lounge
0005. Theather Car
0025. 1st Class Quarters
0165. 1st Class Dining
0166. Botanical Café
0167. The Chimney Bar
0168. Train No.
0187. The Aquarium/Sushi Bar
0188. The Gallery
0189. The Thermae
0190. 1st Class Gymnasium
0191. The Aviary
0192. Stargazing
0193. Lantern Room
0194. Beach
0195. Ice Rink
0196. Lena Hall
0197. Train No.
0198. Train No.
0199. Train No.
0217. 2nd Class Quarters
0218. Cyber-Dream Skyview Car
0408. 2nd Class Media Car

0409. Library
0410. Spa Car
0411. Petting Zoo
0412. The Cat Cafe
0413. Dojo
0414. Train No.
0415. Train No.
0416. Train No.
0429. Classroom
0430. The Play Pen
0440. Japanese Temple Car
0445. Steampunk Room
0465. Train No.
0475. Mess Hall
0491. Night Car
0668. Wilford Marketplace
0722. The Caboose Diner
0723. Diner Bar
0727. The Greenhouse
0838. Livestock Car
0980. The Market
0981. The Chains
0982. Arena Car
0983. Terrarium Car
0992. Soundcar
0993. Spook House

Trivia

There are 3,000+ passengers aboard.^[4]
Third Class and Tail make 70% of passengers in Snowpiercer.
Third Class has noodles.^[1]
Snowpiercer has its own black market, one of the most common drugs exchanged is Kronole.
Snowpiercer is ran by the elite, comprised of Melanie Cavill, Bennett Knox and Jinju Seong — it is also hinted that Ruth Wardell is privy to Snowpiercer's management.
Most of Snowpiercer can be transversed by a tram system that runs below the cars themselves and is not accessible to the Tail Section.^[1]
Snowpiercer's crew can close the boundaries between the classes ("borders") during the night without any special measures or announcements, although they usually do not. This border closing temporarily cancels the otherwise free transit of Firsts among the various Train Sections. The tram system can be blocked as well.^[5]
Its mentioned that other people attempted to survive by going into bunkers or uploading their consciousness, presumably into computer systems, while "Mr. Wilford dusted off his train set."^[5]