the New York Central's 20th Century Limited

On 15 June 1938 the Dreyfuss Hudson was introduced to pull the new, streamlined 20th Century Limited.

 

Artwork with different colours for one of the great name trains in US history. The intercity market for travel between New York and Chicago was the most important for US Eastern railroads and the New York Central’s 20th Century Limited competed with rival Pennsylvania Railroad and its Broadway Limited.  Based on traffic figures the 20th Century Limited did have an edge over the Broadway.  While it can be argued which train was the more successful, what cannot be disputed is their distinctive different styles with the 20th Century Limited catering to business travelers and “new money” with its modernistic cool, sleek designs and colours while the Broadway Limited featured light, airy, cheery accents and accommodated more an older clientele.  The train lasted from 1902 to 1967, from the late 1940s with more efficient but less exciting diesel power up front, pulling new cars.