BUFFET CAR 449's steel panels were grooved to simulate wood to quell passengers' fears of being electrocuted in severe storms. DINING CAR 108 (Pullman 1914) was built for Boston & Albany Century connection which operated Boston-Albany 1909 to 1938. LINDLEY carried a modification of 12-1 configuration for additional private rooms: 10 sections, 2 compartments, 1 drawing room. HIGHLAND FALLS, built in 1914, sported unusual floor plan -10 compartments-designed specially for NYC's de luxe service. PAINESVILLE was ladies' car whose "maid in service... is an experienced manicurist." Included: 8 compartments, observation, lounge. The acknowledged standard "THERE are trains and trains but no train has ever received such adulation as does the Twentieth Century Limited from all New York Central men. It is their pet and pride. To them it symbolizes their railroad." Thus wrote Franklin Snow in the Christian Science Monitor for November 1, 1928. A school of enthusiasts exists which believes that the zenith of American railroading was reached with the Century circa 1929. Surely, this was a noble train - from its magnificent J-1 Hudson, down the line of shining olive Pullmans, to the twinkling blue lamps that spelled 20TH CENTURY LIMITED on the observation drumhead. Such was the beloved Century of Edward Hungerford, Christopher Morley, Lucius Beebe, and Bob Butterfield. "The 20th Century Limited" In 1926 when the New York Central transported more Pullman passengers than any other American railroad, the Twentieth Century's gross earnings were 10 million dollars. To maintain this service required a fleet of 122 de luxe cars and 24 locomotives - all assigned exclusively to the Century. Rarely did the train operate without the green flags indicating additional sections. On a record January 7, 1929, seven identical trains left Chicago for the East carrying a total of 822 revenue passengers, each of whom had paid the $10 extra-fare surcharge for the privilege of riding "The Greatest Train in the World." PRIDE of NYC were the handsome Hudsons named for river which parallels the main line. American Locomotive built 5297 in 1930. VAN TWILLER had club lounge, bath, barber who practiced his art at 50 mph. Composite car, built in 1930, was one of last such cars WILLOW TRAIL offered 7 drawing rooms for passengers who might spend the following night in a suite on the Aquitania or Leviathan. I DINER 383 and other Century diners were staffed by expert personnel. "Feeding the trains," wrote Hungerford, "was a high art." APTHORPE HOUSE was one of first bedroom sleepers (13 double bedrooms) in service, among last heavy steel Pullmans built in 1930. CENTSTAR, with 8 sections, 2 compartments, 1 drawing room, was one of series with "Cent" prefix in New York Central operation. CENTRAL PLAINS was an example of famous Central type (3 compartments, 2 drawing rooms) built in 1926 for NYC Limiteds. ELKHART VALLEY and other members of Valley series replaced cars of the Central type in Twentieth Century Limited in 1929-1930. |