New York Central 20th Century Limited
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- New York Central Flight of the Century. The 20th Century Limited was an express passenger train operated by the New York Central Railroad from 1902 to 1967, during which time it would become known as a "National Institution" and the "Most Famous Train in the World". In the year of its last run, The New York Times said that it "...was known to railroad buffs for 65 years as the world's greatest train".[1] The train traveled between Grand Central Terminal in New York City and LaSalle Street Station in Chicago, Illinois along the railroad's famed "Water Level Route". The NYC inaugurated this train as direct competition to the Pennsylvania Railroad, aimed at upper class as well as business travelers between the two cities. It made few station stops along the way and used track pans enroute to take water at speed; after 1938 it made the 960-mile journey in 16 hours, departing New York City westbound at 6:00 P.M. Eastern Time and arriving at Chicago's LaSalle St. Station the following morning at 9:00 A.M. Central Time., averaging 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).[2] For a brief period after World War II, the eastward schedule was shortened to 15½ hours.
In a world where "good enough" is the order of the day, it is nice to see a conveyance where good enough was NOT good enough!
My dad was Exec. VP of the New York Central in the early to mid 60's. As a teenager, I rode the Century perhaps 20 times. It was still a superbly run train at that time. In fact they renovated the two observation cars in 1962, I believe. Usual consist was 1 or 2 coaches, 1or 2 sleeper coaches, a diner lounge, then 7 sleeping cars, including the observation car plus a two car diner/kitchen lounge car mid train.
Then 1967 came and it all came crashing down.
A fantastic company documentary of the 20th Century Limited. Only a railroad the caliber of the New York central can ever produce such a fine film of it's era.
Or could ever produce such a fine train as The Century.
This was one classy train. I travelled aboard it in 1963 and recall the trip with fondness.
You were lucky, it was dropped about 4 years later.
Really? How was it?
TrainMan 555 TrainMan 555 I’m not asking Tommy. I’m aware of the train being dropped by ‘67, a year before the merger. I’m asking js.
I took it in early 1964 from NY to Chicago when I first left home for college. I was still 16.
What a great video. I am so fortunate to have had a father who worked for the railroad (Wabash) and as a youngster in the early 40's we took many, many trips by train and I have so many wonderful memories that I can relate to from this video. It is very sad that most young people today will never be able to have those kinds of memories. Thank you for posting this great film. The Century has been my favorite train for 7 decades (but I have a number of other favorites too).
I would have loved to have been able to have ridden the Century.
My actor cousin Pat 'O Brien used to to take the Super Chief to Chicago &Broadway Limited to New York.
Never road this train, but it’s mentioned in one of my favorite movies, “The Sting” from 1973. Set in the 1930s, PaulNewman rides the Century from NY to Chicago to “hook” the bad guy in a card game. Great movie, BTW
Also in Hitchcock's North by Northwest.
It was also the title and setting of the Broadway hit comedy.
Newman announces he took a big shit then shakes the guy's hand
@@chuckbadagliacca9321 The telephone poles you see out the window when Cary Grant is having dinner with Eva Marie Saint are still there as you travel up the Hudson. I doubt they would have had dinner that early in the trip though in reality. My experience with dinner on the Lakeshore Limited was that they didn't serve it until you left Albany going west.
@@paulnicholson1906I agree with you! I think they served dinner just as you said as the Boston section was added to the consist. I feel like going on the train right now!
awesome vid bro! the railroads sure knew how to run luxury trains!
Peter Duchin, later a famous piano player and society band director, rode this line on his way to Palm Springs California in late 1938. He was a year old baby and very sick. He and his nurse had a special car, courtesy Averell Harriman.
This train is mentioned frequently in the fictional 1900 period detective series from Clive Cussler in his Isaac Bell novels. Lots of train travel mentioned with plenty of historical reference. I would suggest The Chase and The Wrecker if you like trains, detective fiction, and period novels. Thank you for posting this film!
this fits well with my study on trains. key events in my trains book, 1902 the new york central railroad launches the 20th century limited express passenger train. i was surprised to find any utube videos regarding key events.
In that era, the words. "ON TIME" were taken very seriously! The Central actually refunded certain passengers a dollar for every minute the train arrived late!
Notice the extent of cleaning. Something we can appreciate during this pandemic we are enduring. New head rest liners, wiping of grab irons, employees wearing masks
What a great piece of history on film to being held. Any way of getting a copy?
I have the DVD which is readily available on line. Its probably being streamed somewhere all the time.
Too cool, Thanks!
There were 5 "crack" New York Central passenger trains. The "Twentieth Century Limited" was the best of the best. My grandfather was the chief conductor on the "Fifth Avenue Special". There was also the "Broadway Limited" and a couple others.
The Broadway Limited, which also ran between Chicago and New York on a different route, was the flagship train of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Awesome video Heath! Thanks for sharing my friend!
like train
Beautiful train &a lot of jobs during the great depression.
another cool video! Thanks Heath!o
Sorta have this crazy idea that will probably never happen, but I would like too see an ultra luxurious passenger train that goes all around the USA, basically a cruise ship on rails.
I regret never having ridden this train. Lakeshore Limited isn't bad.
Grand daddy was chief dispatcher of the Carolina Clinchfield and OHio RR and we had use of Car 1 for private trips when convenient. Spoiled rotten.
I would like to know the costs involved for a trip from Chicago to NYC from the most economical to the most luxurious. I presume that the other ammenities like food, hair cuts and clothes pressing was all paid out of the individual travelers pocket.
Trackside, the engineer's don't wave from the trains anymore, not like they did back in 1954 even though you see a few CHRIS.
8:22 Why the third rail, in the center? It looks like a Lionel track.
Good question. Possibly a guard rail to prevent a derailed car from intruding into the clearance envelope of adjacent tracks. Englewood-Elkhart once was a 4-track main and bridges, embankments, and cuts still give evidence to this. Bracket signal masts are long-gone now, before PTC Vader signals were installed.
Ironically, Lionel made a Hudson model.
Unfortunately... train travel in the US isn't taken as seriously as it is in Europe. Average Amtrak speed Chicago-NYC is 31.6 MPH! Average Acela speed Boston to NYC is 70.3 MPH! Our rail system is a third World embarrassment!
New York Central Railroad 4-6-4 Hudson Locomotive
9:29 [train chugging]
Sometime in the 1950s. I wish they showed more of what is today Metro-North's Hudson Line but alas it was a very entertaining film.
That movie is way before the 1950's.
Cool
what year is the film? Prior to the GG1?
The GG1 was not used on the NY Central.
@@tommytruth7595 It was when it became Conrail & Amtrak
New York Central never used GG1s. Those were Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives. NYC used electric locomotives from Grand Central station in New York for a few miles then steam locomotives took over.
@@RenaissancePeopleNYC but not in the New York Central days. The NYC used electric locomotives to move their trains out of the city and then switched to steam locomotives.
Sometime in he 1950's? No, 1935 actually.
coldwar1952 Back then before it was rebuilt in 1938 and again in 1948, the Century was THE finest train in the world! I would love to give my eyeteeth to see that world famous train even though I might not afford to get aboard it.
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13:31 Could you, would you on a train?
Most famous train in the world? Someone hasn't heard of the Orient Express.
The what?
Most famous train in the "civilized" world would be more accurate.
Why are all those folks walking to the train...haven't they ever heard of red caps?
Red caps just handled the luggage. You can see them there carrying the luggage.
M8trucks
liva
Old and "Corny"