Although 42 types of electric cars were distinguished ones from other cars of the JNR, they were still a little inferior to those of other competing private railway companies in some respects, they had wooden backs for third-class car seats.
42系電車は当時の省電としては破格の車両であったが、並行するライバル私鉄の車両から比べると、普通車_(鉄道車両)の背ずりが板張りであったりしたことが、やや遜色があったといえる。