Richly illustrated with over 200 photos, this book tells the story of railroad streamliners, from their early days as short little articulated speedsters to their halcyon years as 20-car "cities on wheels"--Places that were going somewhere. And it also tells a story of a time of individuality, when streamliners reflected the personality of the regions they served.
See the streamlined trains of the 1930s in all of their sleek glory. In the 1930s, streamlined styling was applied to everything from kitchen appliances to farm tractors as it captured the American imagination. Keen to regain passenger traffic lost to automobiles and expanding roadways, railroads hired industrial-design giants like Raymond Loewy, Otto Kuhler, Henry Dreyfuss, and Brooks Stevens to produce sleek, futuristic shrouds for locomotives. These streamlined locomotives and trains became the most iconic in American history. Even today, classic designs like stainless-steel Zephyrs, shrouded Hudsons, and EMD E-units remain the popular conception of what a locomotive "looks like." Streamliners : Locomotives and Trains in the Age of Speed and Style explores the historical and scientific context for the development of streamlined locomotives and trains, the designs that became standard-bearers of North American speed and luxury, and the contemporary popularity of the streamlined look in popular culture. Illustrated with rare historical photographs in both black and white and color, as well as period advertising, route maps, and patent design drawings, Streamliners elucidates the story of this fascinating design trend by following the various technologies and styling trends and how they changed the look of American railroading. Profiles of prominent designers and preserved streamliners in use today round out and complete this picture every railfan will want. Streamlining was the product of the last great era of American passenger trains, when elegantly styled, named trains connected cities across the continent on fast schedules. Streamliners thoroughly explores the connections between style, speed, and the rails.
An authoritative, lavishly illustrated history of Union Pacific's revolutionary passenger services from 1934 to the end of the railroad's passenger operations in 1971.
"Streamliners tells the steamliner story and takes you aboard a wide range of steamliners, from UP's historic M-10000 to America's most talked about train, the California Zephyr, whose descendant was still making tracks across the continent as late as the 1990s"--Back cover.
When World War II came to an end in 1945, America was on the verge of an unprecedented economic boom that carried over to its vast rail transportation system. Railroads placed orders for new streamlined passenger trains. Passengers wanted new, fashionable trains with sleek cars and locomotives. In addition, steam was out, diesels were in. Railroads saw good times coming and they prepared well for them. This 200-page color book features 335 photographs in a 10 x 10” hardbound volume. Covers numerous name trains.
Chronicles the new lightweight passenger trains introduced by the Illinois Central to attract the riders it lost during the Great Depression.Includes the pioneer Green Diamond, the City of Miami which ran from Chicago to Miami with the help of seven other railroads and the Panama Limited, Illinois Central's premier train.
