AMERICA'S STREAMLINERS

The history of streamliners can generally be divided into three eras.

Pre War - The first streamliners were introduced between the mid 1930's and early 1940's. This modernization of America's passenger trains would have continued, but World War II intervened. And all manufacturing capabilities were directed towards the war effort. And any passenger train modernization programs would have to wait.

Post War - With World War II over, the manufacture of new passenger cars could continue. And many new streamlined trains trains entered service in the late 1940's and early 1950's.

Dome Era - The Burlington Route developed the dome car in the late 1940's. And by the mid 1950's, several other railroads had enhanced their streamliners with new dome cars of their own.

Schedule and consist information for the pre war streamliners is from "The Official Guide of the Railways" dated June 1942, during the war and a time when deliveries of new cars had halted. And whatever modernization efforts had already been achieved by the railroads, would remain at that level for a few years longer.

Schedule and consist information for the post war streamliners is generally from the individual railroad timetables, usually shortly after receiving significant orders of new cars. These timetables basically reflect completion of the post war modernization programs.

Schedule and consist information for the dome era trains is from "The Official Guide of the Railways" dated May 1956. 1956 was probably the peak year for the streamlined passenger train in America. This was the last year of significant acquisitions of new passenger equipment by the private railroads. After then, it was all downhill for the American passenger train, as trains were subsequently discontinued, shortened, and consolidated. The trend would not reverse until after 1971, with the creation of Amtrak.

For many railroads, pages covering certain eras of streamliners may be omitted. Some railroads did not modernize at all before the war. And for some railroads, the "dome era" better reflects the completion of modernization programs for those railroads. And while most railroads never did acquire any dome cars, most of those railroads did nevertheless acquire a few additional cars during the mid 1950's or later, either new or second hand. But the intercity passenger train was soon on its way to great declines.

Streamlined Passenger Trains - A Brief History
Milestones in the modernization of the intercity passenger train in America.

Streamlined Passenger Cars (Further Explained)
Comprehending the variety of passenger cars in use prior to Amtrak.

SANTA FE

ATLANTIC COAST LINE/FLORIDA EAST COAST

BALTIMORE & OHIO

BANGOR AND AROOSTOOK

BOSTON & MAINE/MAINE CENTRAL

CENTRAL OF GEORGIA

CHESAPEAKE & OHIO

BURLINGTON ROUTE

CHICAGO & EASTERN ILLINOIS

MONON

MILWAUKEE ROAD

CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN

ROCK ISLAND

RIO GRANDE

GREAT NORTHERN

GULF MOBILE & OHIO (ALTON)

ILLINOIS CENTRAL

KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN

LEHIGH VALLEY

LOUISVILLE & NASHVILLE

MISSOURI PACIFIC

NEW HAVEN

NEW YORK CENTRAL

NICKEL PLATE ROAD

NORFOLK & WESTERN

NORTHERN PACIFIC

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD

READING

RICHMOND FREDERICKSBURG & POTOMAC

ST. LOUIS SAN FRANCISCO/MISSOURI KANSAS TEXAS

SEABOARD AIR LINE

SOUTHERN PACIFIC

SOUTHERN RAILWAY

UNION PACIFIC

WABASH RAILROAD

Railroads not operating their own streamliners included the Atlanta & West Point/Western Railway of Alabama, which participated in operation of the Crescent with Southern Railway, and Western Pacific, which participated in operation of the California Zephyr with the Burlington Route.

Chronology of the decline of the intercity passenger train, and the discontinuing of various streamliners. This decline lasted mainly from 1956, until the creation of Amtrak in 1971.

Nearly all of America's most important passenger trains were streamlined, and are covered through the above links. But to provide a more complete picture of the passenger rail network in America, this list covers the most significant trains which never became streamliners.