Cruising The Past Cruise News Pullman and American Passenger Trains – Social History – Photos – 1940s and 1950s – The Golden Age of American Passenger Trains…
New York Central’s streamlined Mercury
One of New York Central’s two class K-5a Pacifics (Nos. 4915 and 4917) that the road streamlined in 1936 for the Chicago–Detroit Mercury appears to have the train well in hand. Famed industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss created the “upside-down bathtub” styling.
Mixed Rio Grande diesels on the California Zephyr
Two Denver & Rio Grande Western Alco PA’s and an EMD F3B twist through South Boulder Canyon east of Pinecliff, Colo., with the California Zephyr in mid-1951. The Alcos wear a short-lived silver-and-orange paint scheme.W. H. Mitchell photo
1937 Hiawatha parlor car
The Milwaukee Road’s 1937 Hiawatha parlor cars featured fully rotating and reclining seats as well as small drop-leaf tables below the windows. MILW phot
Texas Chief ready to leave Chicago
In October 1951, Santa Fe’s Kansas Cityan (left) stands ready to depart the dreary trainshed of Dearborn Station, Chicago, as inbound passengers, probably just arrived on the Texas Chief (right), stream past. Meanwhile, two F7’s arrive with a Chicago & Eastern Illinois train. Linn Westcott photo
Boarding the Texas Chief
Inaugurated in 1948, Santa Fe’s Texas Chief provided attractive, well-patronized service for decades. Here it boards passengers at Chicago’s Dearborn Station while Monon’s streamlined Hoosier waits to the left. Bill Wight photo
Chief and Super Chief at Albuquerque
At Albuquerque, N.Mex., Santa Fe No. 17, the Super Chief (at left behind E units) has caught up to a late-running train 19, the Chief, at 4:20 p.m. on a spring day in 1946. The Super left Chicago 7 hours after No. 19 and was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles 1 hour 15 minutes earlier. Fred N. Houser photo
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