20th Century Limited-Book

In the history of American railroading, no train stands taller than the 20th Century Limited, New York Central’s famous flagship that piled the “Water Level Route” between Chicago and New York from 1902 until 1967.

This book tells the complete story of this extraordinary train, from it’s illustrious beginning in the days of opulent wooden cars through its demise in the era of passenger-train cutbacks. Along the way, this chronicle recounts the Century’s operation in multiple sections (as many as seven in one direction) in the 1920s and 30s, when it ran with heavyweight Pullmans, as well the streamline era, ushered in with industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss’ elegant train of 1938.

More then 200 photographs and illustration, including dozens of black-and-white archival images, and period color photographs, as well as dinnerware, menus, advertisements, route maps, and interior views provide a dramatic visual account of the most famous of all passenger trains.