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Could have sworn a couple of years ago I was able to find the schedules for the 20th Century Ltd and Broadway Ltd on the net. I've been unable to do it again. Any suggestions? Rodger
Posts: 83 | From: MERRIMAC,MA | Registered: Feb 2005
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Although there were variations in the schedules over the years in the 1960s the Century generally departed GCT westbound at 600PM daily and arrived Chicago at 900AM the next morning. Eastbound Chicago departure was 430PM, for a 930AM GCT/New York arrival--16 hours each way. All Pullman status ended in 1956, but the train typially was very heavy sleeper, with an observation-lounge, 5-8 all room sleepers, a twin-unit diner/lounge mid-train, 1-2 slumbercoavhes (sleeper coaches in NYC parlance), a grill diner and 1-2 reclining seat coaches. The last run was December 2, 1967.
The BWAY westbound schedule was generally the same, but EB the BWAY had a 15 1/2 hour schedule, leaving Chicago at 500PM and arriving New York at 930AM. Given all the mountains on the PRR this was a truly remarkable accomplishment. The BWAY stayed all-Pullman until it was combined with the GENERAL in late 1967. Before the combining the 1960s BWAY typically carried 6-8 all-room Pullmans, a superb observation-lounge sleeper with a Master Room with shower, a full diner and a mid-train lounge- sleeper. This "real" BWAY outlived the 20th Century Limited by ten days, ending Dec 12, 1967.
The BROADWAY LIMITED name lived on long into the Amtrak era, but was basically the mixed coach/sleeper GENERAL under the BWAY's name after December 12, 1967. Iroically both the BROADWAY LIMITED and the GENERAL ran at a profit right through their last year, but despite that the ICC allowed the combination of the two trains. Losses, however, would probably have really arrived in 1968 with the nationwide loss of all mail contracts.
The last vestige of the BWAY was Amtrak's THREE RIVERS, which just made its last runs from Pittsburgh to Chicago (and return) on March 7. However the THREE RIVERS schedule bore virtually no relationship to the BWAY and was closer to PRR secvondary services like the GOTHAM LIMITED eastbound and the MANHATTAN LIMITED westbound in recent years.
The lovely observation cars from both trains survive. One CENTURY car is now the American Orient Express observation-lounge car "New York" (the former Sandy Creek, although all original decor has been replaced). The other is beautifully restored in full NYC interior colors/decor and generally is stored in New Jersey, but ocassionally appears on charter moves. One BWAY car is at the RR Museum of Pennsylvania, in poor exterior condition, but with much of the interior intact, the other is also in private charter car service, and when last I heard was in New Jersey.
Both trains tended to run very faithfully to schedule.
Carl Fowler Rail Travel Center
Posts: 10 | From: Putney, Vermont USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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