No other train fired the imagination of the American public like New York Central's 20th Century Limited. Its exclusive clientele and blistering schedule between New York and Chicago made it the stuff of legends for 65 years. A favorite with business and industry leaders, its luxurious accommodations - including a red carpet on the platform at New York - also attracted stars of stage and screen, further fueling the train's celebrity status and romantic image.
No other train fired the imagination of the American public like New York Central's 20th Century Limited. Its exclusive clientele and blistering schedule between New York and Chicago made it the stuff of legends for 65 years. A favorite with business and industry leaders, its luxurious accommodations - including a red carpet on the platform at New York - also attracted stars of stage and screen, further fueling the train's celebrity status and romantic image.
New equipment finally arrived from Pullman in 1948, supplemented by refurbished 4-4-2 sleepers and RPOs from the 1938 trains. Painted in a new version of the two-tone gray scheme, sleepers and observations were named for various bodies of water in salute to the "Water Level Route" slogan. Up front, matched sets of EMD E7s provided 4000 horsepower to meet the 16-hour westbound, 15-1/2 hour eastward schedule.
Here's What the Experts are Saying!
"Walthers should be congratulated for finally getting the NYC two-tone grays right!" - Rich Stoving, Director, New York Central System Historical Society
"Based on actual paint samples in possession of NYCSHS members, the color of these new Walthers 1948 20th Century cars are nearly dead-on." - Terry Link, Owner, canadasouthern.com NYC modeling Web site
• Based on 1948 Train
• 9 Completely New Cars
• Authentic Paint & Lettering
• Superbly Detailed Inside & Out
• PROTO-Max™ Die Cast Metal Knuckle Couplers
• Matching PROTO 2000® E7 Diesels
Like the prototype, Walthers 20th Century is "Completely New from Diesels to Lookout Lounge!" And best of all, you can build a complete and affordable Century fleet, from the Phase II EMD E7 diesels to the train's signature "…Creek" series observation-lounge.
A typical consist in the late 1940s would include the following (the actual number of sleepers would change daily to meet demand, and the train usually ran in two sections):
E7 A-B Diesel Set (used for entire trip)
One RPO/Baggage
Five 4-4-2 Sleepers
Three 10-6 Sleepers
One Lounge
One Dorm/Kitchen
One Full Diner
Three 13 Double-Bedroom Sleepers
ATSF 10-6 or 4-4-2 Sleeper
One Observation/Lounge
Starting in 1946, ATSF and NYC offered run-through service so coast-to-coast passengers wouldn't need to change trains at Chicago; Santa Fe cars went east on the "20th Century," while New York Central 4-4-2 Bridge and 10-6 River sleepers went west on the "Chief."
Our consist includes: 932-9317 Railway Post Office - Baggage #5017-20 w/60' Postal Apartment 932-9311 "…Bridge" Series 4-4-2 Sleeper 932-9315 "…Bay" Series 22-Roomette Sleeper 932-9313 "…River" Series 10-6 Sleeper 932-9314 "Port…" Series 12 Double-Bedroom Sleeper 932-9316 68-Seat Full-Length Dining Car #400-03 932-9318 Kitchen-Dormitory #474-75 932-9310 "…Shore" Series Club-Lounge 932-9312 "…Creek" Series 5 Double Bedroom Buffet-Lounge-Observation
