20th Century Limited

20th Century Limited
Associated Press · Public domain · source
Name	20th Century Limited
Locale	United States
Start	New York City
End	Chicago
Operator	New York Central Railroad

20th Century Limited was a renowned passenger train that operated between New York City and Chicago, offering luxurious services to its passengers, including dining cars, sleeping cars, and observation cars, similar to those found on the California Zephyr and Super Chief. The train was known for its high-speed service, making it a popular choice among businessmans and travelers, such as Henry Ford and J.P. Morgan, who frequently traveled between Wall Street and LaSalle Street. The 20th Century Limited was also a favorite among Hollywood stars, including Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, who often traveled on the train to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The train's luxurious services and high-speed schedule made it a competitor to other notable trains, such as the Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's National Limited.

Introduction

The 20th Century Limited was introduced by the New York Central Railroad in 1902, with the goal of providing a high-speed, luxurious service between New York City and Chicago. The train was designed to appeal to the growing number of businessmans and travelers who needed to travel between the two cities, including those working on Wall Street and LaSalle Street. The train's introduction coincided with the completion of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route, which allowed for faster and more efficient travel between the two cities, similar to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's Santa Fe Trail. The 20th Century Limited was also known for its iconic Art Deco design, which was influenced by the works of Norman Bel Geddes and Henry Dreyfuss, and was similar to the design of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.

History

The 20th Century Limited had a long and storied history, with many notable events and celebrity passengers, including Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman, who often traveled on the train to Washington, D.C. and Kansas City. The train was also a popular choice among Hollywood stars, including Greta Garbo and Clark Gable, who often traveled on the train to Los Angeles and Palm Springs. During World War II, the 20th Century Limited played an important role in transporting troops and equipment between New York City and Chicago, similar to the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway. The train's luxurious services and high-speed schedule made it a competitor to other notable trains, such as the Union Pacific Railroad's City of San Francisco and the Southern Pacific Railroad's Daylight.

Route and Schedule

The 20th Century Limited operated on a route that took it from New York City's Grand Central Terminal to Chicago's LaSalle Street Station, with stops at Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Cleveland, similar to the route of the Erie Railroad's Erie Limited and the Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited. The train's schedule was designed to appeal to businessmans and travelers, with departures from New York City in the morning and arrivals in Chicago in the evening, allowing passengers to conduct business in both cities, including those working on Wall Street and LaSalle Street. The train's route took it through the Hudson River Valley and the Great Lakes region, offering passengers scenic views of the Catskill Mountains and Lake Erie, similar to the views offered by the Adirondack and the Maple Leaf.

Equipment and Service

The 20th Century Limited was known for its luxurious equipment and service, including dining cars, sleeping cars, and observation cars, similar to those found on the California Zephyr and Super Chief. The train's dining cars were operated by Hilton Hotels, and offered a range of cuisines, including French cuisine and American cuisine, similar to the cuisine offered on the Orient Express and the Blue Train. The train's sleeping cars were equipped with private bedrooms and public lounges, offering passengers a comfortable and relaxing journey, similar to the accommodations offered on the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the SS United States. The train's observation cars offered passengers scenic views of the countryside, and were a popular spot for socializing and entertainment, similar to the observation cars on the Rocky Mountaineer and the Glacier Express.

Decline and Discontinuation

The 20th Century Limited began to decline in the 1950s and 1960s, as air travel and highways became more popular, similar to the decline of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Broadway Limited and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's National Limited. The train's passenger numbers decreased, and the New York Central Railroad began to reduce the train's frequency and service, similar to the reductions made by the Union Pacific Railroad and the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1967, the 20th Century Limited was discontinued, and its equipment and route were taken over by the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited, which still operates today, offering passengers a similar journey between New York City and Chicago, with stops at Albany, Syracuse, and Cleveland.

Legacy

The 20th Century Limited has a lasting legacy in the world of rail transportation, and is still remembered as one of the most luxurious and iconic passenger trains in American history, similar to the Orient Express and the Blue Train. The train's Art Deco design and luxurious service have been influential in the development of modern rail transportation, and its route and schedule have been studied by transportation planners and historians, including those at the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress. The 20th Century Limited has also been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentarys, including The 20th Century Limited and The Last of the Great Train Robberies, and has been featured in various museums and exhibitions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the National Museum of American History. Today, the 20th Century Limited is remembered as a symbol of American ingenuity and luxury, and its legacy continues to inspire rail enthusiasts and historians around the world, including those at the National Railway Museum and the Canadian Railway Museum. Category:Rail transport in the United States