Before There Were Airlines...

Temporary suspension of rail service from New York City to Chicago prompts an engaging column, particularly for train buffs, on a bygone era when travel by rail was glamorous.

2 minute read

June 11, 2018, 6:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Chicago Union Station

Loco Steve / Wikimedia Commons

"The temporary suspension of the storied route is the result of repair work by Amtrak to a bridge and a tunnel that are part of the rail connection between Pennsylvania Station and upstate New York," reports Sarah Maslin Nir for The New York Times on June 8.

From the end of May until Sept. 3, the Lake Shore Limited, the most famous of the New York-to-Chicago trains, will run only between Boston and Chicago. A second link, the Cardinal, which travels between New York and Chicago along a southern route, is also temporarily suspended because of the same repairs. It will only run from Washington to Chicago.

The stoppage of the service, even if it is brief, marks a precipitous fall from what was once the most advanced and glamorous way to get around — in the middle of the last century two train companies, the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad, were in a race to provide ever more luxurious travel on fancier trains at faster speeds. The lines they operated carried renowned trains like the Broadway Limited and the 20th Century Limited.

The 20th Century Limited, "known as the world's greatest train" during the 65 years it operated between Chicago and New York, according to this archived New York Times article [pdf], published on the last day of its service on Dec. 3, 1967. 

“The 20th Century was probably the most famous train in the country — it had what we would call today ‘star-power,’” said Robert Holzweiss, the president of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. “Before airlines, the famous people would travel by train and they would travel very glamorously,” he said.

Train service between America's two great cities is still available but requires a transfer.

By the end of the summer when the repair work is scheduled to be completed, Marc Magliari, a Chicago-based spokesman for Amtrak, said he hoped that customers would believe that the improvements were worth the disruption of the historic rail path.

“We are doing what we said we were going to do,” Mr. Magliari said. “We promised to make improvements at New York Penn Station — and we’re doing it.”

    Click on the source article to view the historic photos.

    For train travel between New York City and Albany on the Empire Service, the Manhattan terminal will be Grand Central Station through the summer until the Penn Station repairs are completed. According to Amtrak, service to/from Penn station will resume on Sept. 4.

    Friday, June 8, 2018 in The New York Times

    portrait of professional woman

    I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

    I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

    Mary G., Urban Planner

    Get top-rated, practical training

    U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

    Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

    Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

    March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

    Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

    Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

    Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

    March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

    People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

    Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

    How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

    March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

    Small, brightly lit bedroom with flowery sheets on single bed in supportive housing or nursing home.

    A Year-Long Investigation On Permanent Supportive Housing

    The New York Times reveals what’s working and what’s not in the cornerstone of Housing First.

    30 minutes ago - The New York Times

    Paved path with artesian fountain at end and tall trees arching over walkway with joggers and walkers in Savannah, Georgia.

    Survey: US Public Spaces Not Meeting Community Needs

    A lack of funding prevents many U.S. parks and public spaces from playing a more significant role in helping residents meet daily needs.

    2 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

    Orange and white vintage-look streetcar on Market Street in San Francisco, CA.

    San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024

    The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.

    April 4 - San Francisco Chronicle