Railroads: Toward the End of The Twentieth Century

In its prime, nothing better epitomized travel in the age for which it was named than the Twentieth Century Limited. A 1902 passenger once declared that it made New York and Chicago practically suburbs of each other. It did so with an all-Pullman splendor that offered both fresh-and saltwater baths, barbers and a library. Soprano Nellie Melba, the Armours, the Swifts and Teddy Roosevelt rode the train, and oldtime waiters recall that early-rising Herbert Hoover was invariably first up for breakfast. But in recent years, ordinary coaches had to be added to...