The 20th Century Limited - Did you ride it?

[Anonymous]

Here and there in the forums are the personal experiences of those who travelled on this grand conveyance. If you rode it or worked on it, how about if you describe your experiences here. The more detail the better. I imagine a very rich history of the train could be recorded for future readers to enjoy.

Perhaps a topic could be created for each of many grand trains.

[Anonymous]

I wish.
I'd sure like to hear from anyone who has though.

[passengerfan]

Rode the Twentieth Century Limited Months before it was discontinued. Train had already been downgraded with coaches and sleepercoaches forward. Traveled from Chicago to New York. Service in the Observation was superb the attendant still mixed drinks the old fashioned way had a really excellent Manhattan or two before retiring after dinner. Sleep came more easily that way. Woke in time to see many miles of the Hudson from the raised observation the next AM. Before I realized the time to late for breakfast so waited arrival in the Big Apple.
Returned to Chicago three days later on rival PRR Broadway Limited and found the PRR train was much superior still all Pullman and had a Steak dinner that was really excellent as I made a note to that effect. Only disappointment on the return trip was the car attendant in the Broadway Limited observation was anxious to retire or so it seemed service left much to be desired. Crew still seemed to care on the NYC train, not the impression I got on the PRR train. Oh one further note on the 20TH Century Limited the windows were awfully dirty as the train travelled down the Hudson. The other note was passenger load on the Century that day was nearly full while the Broadway probably had no more that maybe fifty passengers. Both trains were beginning to show signs of age carpets looked worn and the upholstery in the two observations was beginning to show age as well. I only wish I had ridden the Century before the coaches were added. I did have the pleasure of riding the New England States the Christmas of 1962 from Boston to Chicago when the train operated in two sections one all Pullman the other coach. The train was on time and the Pullman Section ran first all the way to Toledo. From Toledo to Chicago the Coach section passed us and arrived in the Windy City not more than three or four minutes ahead of us. My notes on this trip are rather spartan but food was excellent and crews great. Got a great nights sleep in the Roomette. My only regret is that I never rode the Century in the late 1950's when it was still the train of legend. Rode the nameless replacement of the Century in February 1968 and my notes on that trip said the only thing missing from the previous trip was the mid-train lounge. Will have to do some further digging in my journals to get the exact consists of the trains when I travelled on them.The time is 12:30 AM and I have a job to go to in about 6-1/2 hours. Good night.

[daveklepper]

I rode the 20th Century twice. In 1959 I made a round-trip business trip from New York to Chicago going on the Century and returning on the Broadway . I paid the porter on the way out to have my pants pressed, and he did. Pickled watermellon rhine was still a free gift with dinner and was delicious. Everything was terrific, and a regretted the time away from the observation to have dinner, and when I returned the rear-facing seats were already occupied. The Boradway coming back did not of course have the ride up the Hudson, but Mountain View or Tower View at the rear was a fine place for the speed run to Vaslpariso. In my non-vgetarian days I enjoyed steak dinners on boht trains and found them excellent.

Then, in 1962 (I think!), after coaches and the slumbercoach had been added, I again rode the Century, in the slumbercoach. I was not permitted to use the observation car, and the conductor was quite specific, only the mid-train lounge. This was the real dissapointment, but at the price I should not have complained . And of course no pants pressed or shoes shined. And no gratis pickled watermelon rhind. Other than that, everything was up to snuff. I came back on the Broadway first class, becase I had to stop off at Princeton, and there was very little change from the earlier trip, just worn carpets and scratched roomette paint, getting off at North Philadelphia for a clocker connection to Trenton and an mu to Princeton Junction and the dinky to Princeton. I knew enough to excesize stop-over privileges and the free transportation Princeton Jc. - Princeton and back. Try that with SEPTA and NJT today!

During the Penn Central era I rode what we called "The Steel Fleet" the combined train that replaced the 20th Century, the Woverine, the Southwestern Limited, and the New England States. I was happy with what I got even if there was no round end observation and service sliped somewhat. The Broadway was still all-Pullman and became the favorite train. Steak dinners were sitll excellent. Then, after riding the very last eastbound City of Los Angeles, I rode possibly the second Amtrak Broad way that had coaches and a slumbercoach added. Not quite the Broadway of old, but sitll a good train. When Amtrak's Lake Shore was running, I rode it several times before and after the hiatus. Including the Boston connection. The last time I rode the Broadway was after a business trip from New York to Lancaster and return on a regular round-trip coach ticket! I expected to be turned away at Lancaster station and forced to take a Keystone to Philadelphia 30th Street and change . (I'd tried to board the Broadway without a reservation before.) But the Broadway stopped, I approached the conductor. He said 'Mr klepper, since this is the next to last Eastbound run, I'll let you ride, but don't mention it to anyone for a few years. You have some friend on board and I'll bring you to their sleeper." Four railfan friends were returning from Chicago and had to adjacent bedrooms with the partition folded back, so we had a nice party all the way to New York. The meal service was restored to being first class on that run. Dave

[JoeKoh]

No i didnt but did ride Amtrak from Toledo to NYC on a band trip in 1986.
stay safe
Joe

[Modelcar]

...The above report from passengerfan and Dave really brings alive railroading of the past....Almost feels like I was sitting on the train observing all that was mentioned. Longest rides for me were on the Pennsy [not B L], and including into Penn Station, NYC and enjoyed them much....even with coal dirt piling up on window sills from the K4's on the point before changing to GG-1's at Harrisburg.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a lot of fun. It's really to bad that kind of thing doesn't happen anymore.

I remember watching a movie (I think it was on the last run of the 20th century limited) on PBS or something, it was really quite sad.

On that particular run the train was as empty as can be, and all the staff were sorry to see the train going for it's last run.

Was the 20th century really really packed or quiet on it's last run?

[daveklepper]

I did not bring the Lucious Beebe book with me to my present abode, but it certainly is recommended reading. After the last run of the 20th Century, "Frimbo" reported in the NEW YORKER magzine on the last westbound run. (Frimbo was the pen name of Rogers Whittiker sp?) It was packed, lots of cross table conversation in the diner, but service sas excellent, and the train was some two hours late into Chicgo, but nobody minded. Dave

[UPTRAIN]

Does Amtrak operate over it's former route? If so what is the name of the current train?

[UPTRAIN]

Oh yeah...I never did get to ride the 20th Century. [:(]

[jchnhtfd]

UPTrain -- Amtrak does operate over most of the 20th Century's route; there are minor changes in New York City and in Ohio and Indiana... it's the Lakeshore Limited and, even if it's on-time performance isn't that great, it's a wonderful ride and a terrific way to get between Chicago and New York, even for business. I've ridden it a number of times.

And, yes, I did ride the 20th Century, but I was quite young -- it was about 1948, and I was really too young to pay that much attention. Sorry... also the Twin Cities Zephyr and the Morning Hiawatha, around the same time. My grandmother, though -- long since passed away -- travelled every year from our home in Connecticut to her sister's home in California, and use the 20th Century and City of San Francisco. She was one of the real old-fashioned kind (never did learn to drive). I recall that she had one particular porter on the 20th Century who knew her, and she him, and she always made sure he was serving her Pullman -- and he did, for several decades.

[eastside]

When they were outfitting the latest (and last, unbeknowst to them) top-of-line streamliners in the late ‘40s and ‘50s the railroads all bought from the same car builders and used the same company (Pullman) to man them. What really distinguished the trains was people, scenery, and details such as the food service.

Scenery

The 20th Century Limited went through the heart of American heavy industry, which was still in its heyday. Near Gary, Indiana, you’d pass mile after mile of refineries belching flame and smoke (and smell them). Approaching Cleveland the NYC passed innumerable foundries and forges. As the train slowly went past the factories, you could glimpse hellish vignettes of dimly lit figures (the 20th Century Limited arrived in Cleveland at night) handling red-hot pieces of metal in giant forges. In addition, it was terrifically noisy. What made it scary for me as a kid was that all this was taking place only a few feet away. Funny, I never remember noticing the B’way Limited at Englewood. I learned of that aspect much later.

People

Of course most of the adults who rode the 20th Century Limited were utterly indifferent to the scenery outside, except maybe when the train was alongside the Hudson River. Many of the people who rode the Century were from a stratum of society that many people today would find difficult to relate to. Many spoke in American RP, something I rarely heard afterwards, not too different sounding from the British RP. People on that train dressed far more formally--men, always at least business suits; women, always wore dresses.

Food

I had one of the best prime ribs of roast beef I’ve ever had. Another time I had an excellent Lobster Newburg. Of course, to have served such meals without a full silver service would have been an affront to many of the train’s patrons. (As kid, I couldn’t have cared less.) How many restaurants have you eaten at in the past year included finger bowls with their service? Even the 20th Century, however, could not escape the American custom of having the diners writing their own orders in pencil.

These are selective memories of kid riding the 20th Century Limited. I heard that the train really went downhill fast in the ‘60s. I think if I were to ride it today, I’d find it an uncomfortable and alien environment. Although I personally find Lucius Beebe to be a bit pompous and extravagent, I highly recommend to those interested in this train to read “20th Century,” Howell-North Books, 1962.

[gbrewer]

Things certainly were more formal back then. Men nearly always wore suits not just on the Century, but even on the commuter trains -- I remember that a Chicago surburban neighbor, who worked in a factory, always wore a suit to the train to go to work. He put on his coveralls when he got there.

[daveklepper]

Note that Beebe discusses the club that would meet regularly for a dinner in the 20th Century diner up the Hudson to Albany and then return to NY on the night sleeper. Incidentally, right after WWII, the NYC began operating its own sleepers independent of Pullman . I don't know how long this lasted. It was the second time, because earlier in the 20th Centruy the Vanderbilts were aligned with the Wagners who built the Wagner sleeping cars in competition with Pullman until Pullman bought them out. Also, for many, many years, the 20th Century, and for a while the New England States and Commodore Vanderbilt (handling coaches) did not make a passenger stop in Cleveland. Instead of running through Cleveland Terminal (not a Terminal but a through station) which involved electric locomotive haulage during the steam era, they operated on the lake front, the present Amtrak route, with only a crew change stop.
Similarly, the Broadway and most other Pennsylvania trains to the west, made only a North Philadelphia and a Paoli stop in the Philadelphia area, and did not operate into either Broad Street or 30th Street Stations. They used the "New York - Pittrsburgh Subway (as the track is still called) at Zoo interlocking. Dave

[Anonymous]

i wish i rode it.

[Anonymous]

Never rode it. Wrong part of the country. But I think I got a little taste of it a number of years ago on the WB Lake Shore. Booked into a bedroom on the sleeper out of Springfield. Train pulls in-first thing I notice on the car is the shades all at exactly half mast. Porter gets off--much older African American fellow who knew exactly how to do his job and obviously was extremely proud of it. Got the by-the-book Pullman treatment--this guy was a master. He treated everybody on that car like they were royalty. The car was spotless, and he kept it that way, got the complete tour and demonstration, he was always asking what I needed, and the next morning the shoes were like mirrors. He was absolutely by-the-book, and I know that because Ihave a copy of the book! He made us all feel like we really were on the Boston section of the Century. I think I tipped him a 20, which in those days was still sizeable.

The only other guy who I ever saw exceed that level of service on ATK was the late, great Gus Dixon of 15/16 and 21/22 fame (God rest his soul--hope where he is now he gets the same kind of outstanding treatment he gave all his life! And the same for the gentleman on the Lake Shore, if he has since passed) Both of those guys could make you forget in 10 seconds that the rest of the train was only ATK. They were two of the best salesmen for rail service I ever met in my life.

If only airlines were even half that good![^]