20th Century Limited

The 20th Century Limited was a 1902 to 1967 by the New York Central Railroad ( NYC) powered luxurious overnight passenger train between New York ( Grand Central Terminal) and Chicago ( LaSalle Street Station ).

In the self -conscious naming the high quality standards of NYC reflects that their train would be considered with regard to travel time and comfort as THE " fast of the 20th century". In fact, the 20th Century Limited developed after its commissioning on June 17, 1902 in an at least 65 - year operating history as " the most famous train in the world" and was considered a " national institution ", as the New York Times on the occasion of his last voyage, a few months the end of the New York Central Railroad, on December 2, 1967 summed up.

The westbound Century has always led the train number 25, leaving New York daily at 18 clock, during the launching in Chicago return already started by 16 clock due to time zone crossing and was run as train No. 26. The Century took advantage of the gradient poor " Water Level Route" ( German: Water level line) from New York by the broad valley of the Hudson River to Albany, along the Mohawk River toward Buffalo and south of the Erieseeufers. At intervals of about 65 km, the steam locomotives were able to " track pans " between the rails while driving record new water.

In contrast to the always competing Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR ), which had to lead on the difficult trassierte route over the Allegheny Mountains ( Appalachian Mountains ) their "Broadway Limited", propagated the New York Central for their night train offer the advertising slogan " The Water Level Route: you Can sleep! " ( German: The water level line: you can sleep ). Met shortly before Chicago between Elkhart and Englewood, the two multi-track main lines of NYC and PRR on each other where sometimes on the running side by side stretch yielded spectacular parallel journeys between 20th Century Limited and Broadway Limited.

The built and operated by the Pullman sleeping cars offered their affluent passengers first-class amenities. As a special service of the Century already included in his introduction an onboard hair salon and a Zugsekretariat for the business traveler. Before deployment of the train at New York's Grand Central Station on track 27 (later 34) was always a red carpet rolled out. Many celebrities, actors, politicians and business people to use the train.

As of June 15, 1938, the 20th Century Limited was operated as a streamlined train, which covered the 1542 km long route between the two cities, including several intermediate stops with an average speed of 97 km / h in 16 hours, which over long sections of the locomotive speeds in the range of 160 km / h and more demanded. Both the streamlining of the further developed for the demanding Century- use Super Hudsons NYC Class J -3a and the design of modern rolling stock went back to designs of industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss. The distinctive silhouette of streamlined locomotives became a popular motif in many contemporary advertisements, posters and publications and made the Century to a style icon of the Art Deco era and the J -3a to one of the most famous locomotives in America.

Shortly after World War II diesel-electric locomotives replaced the E series of the EMD Hudson steam locomotives, whose entire fleet was completely scrapped. In September 1948, General Dwight D. Eisenhower inaugurated the fully formed from new car 20th Century Limited - streamlined train of the second generation. As with Vorgängerzug 1938 turn -based, the entire interior as the exterior design on designs by Henry Dreyfuss.

Gallery

Since 1913, the 20th Century Limited sailed as all trains, the first 57 km from New York City to Harmon under electric traction.

By 1920 the New York Central 20th Century Limited to covered usually with Pacific locomotives.

In 1928 the Hudson locomotives developed by the New York Central promoted the 20th Century Limited.

1938 begins with the " Super Hudson " steam locomotives for the 20th Century Limited its new era as streamlined train.

The " Bullet " design by Henry Dreyfuss makes the assembled Streamlined J -3a locomotives unmistakable.

A disguise for the 20th Century Limited Streamlined locomotive 1939 guest at the New York World's Fair.

100 years after the first voyage of the 20th Century Limited, the 1948 -built circuit car Hickory Creek ...

Issued ... along with a piece of the historic red carpet at New York's Grand Central Terminal.