On September 15, 1948, actress Beatrice Lillie and General Dwight D. Eisenhower (then president of Columbia University) were the guests of honor at christening ceremonies for an all-new train, which was held at New York’s Grand Central Terminal. The Hickory Creek was built in 1948 by the Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company for the re-equipping of the 20th Century Limited (started in 1902). The car was part of the largest order by the New York Central in an effort to provide it's riders with the latest up-to-date technology. Some of these advancements included florescent lighting throughout, ice cold water and separate climate controls in every bedroom, electrically controlled braking, and magic doors that operated pneumatically. With a pull or push of the door handle, the door would swing effortlessly granting entry to the car. If required, the door could be held open, allowing the easy boarding of guests and accompanying baggage. The Hickory Creek was configured as a five double bedroom, buffet, lookout lounge car. The unique design, credited to Henry Dreyfuss (famed industrial designer of the time), included a raised lookout lounge that was 12 inches above the rest of the room, with oversized windows and furniture configured in such a way that ensured a view of the scenery from any position. These Creek cars were truly unusual in appearance. A characteristic that set them apart from their 1938 Dreyfuss-designed predecessors, and most other lightweight observation cars, was the deep windows in the gracefully rounded tail-end that gave the cars the name “Lookout Lounges.” Two days after the christening the new 20th Century Limited entered revenue service. The Hickory Creek operated in service on the 20th Century Limited from 1948 to 1967, at which time it was retired.
See also: ; Pullman Train Cars; Rail Travel - Other
Item Data
| Title | The 20th Century Limited, 1948 |
| Description | On September 15, 1948, actress Beatrice Lillie and General Dwight D. Eisenhower (then president of Columbia University) were the guests of honor at christening ceremonies for an all-new train, which was held at New York’s Grand Central Terminal. The Hickory Creek was built in 1948 by the Pullman Standard Car Manufacturing Company for the re-equipping of the 20th Century Limited (started in 1902). The car was part of the largest order by the New York Central in an effort to provide it's riders with the latest up-to-date technology. Some of these advancements included florescent lighting throughout, ice cold water and separate climate controls in every bedroom, electrically controlled braking, and magic doors that operated pneumatically. With a pull or push of the door handle, the door would swing effortlessly granting entry to the car. If required, the door could be held open, allowing the easy boarding of guests and accompanying baggage. The Hickory Creek was configured as a five double bedroom, buffet, lookout lounge car. The unique design, credited to Henry Dreyfuss (famed industrial designer of the time), included a raised lookout lounge that was 12 inches above the rest of the room, with oversized windows and furniture configured in such a way that ensured a view of the scenery from any position. These Creek cars were truly unusual in appearance. A characteristic that set them apart from their 1938 Dreyfuss-designed predecessors, and most other lightweight observation cars, was the deep windows in the gracefully rounded tail-end that gave the cars the name “Lookout Lounges.” Two days after the christening the new 20th Century Limited entered revenue service. The Hickory Creek operated in service on the 20th Century Limited from 1948 to 1967, at which time it was retired. |
| Subjects | ; Pullman_Train_Cars; Rail_Travel_-_Other; |
| Creator | |
| Date | 1948-09-15 |
| Format | Photograph (all forms) |
| Identifier | 10814: prg479: File |
| Rights | The Pullman State Historic Site provides reproductions of items from its collections for personal or research use. If an image is to be reproduced in any type of publication or on the web, written permission is required and use fees may be assessed. Digitization of some of the items in this collection was developed pursuant to a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, an Office of the Secretary of State using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.; The Pullman State Historic Site provides reproductions of items from its collections for personal or research use. If an image is to be reproduced in any type of publication or on the web, written permission is required and use fees may be assessed. Digitization of some of the items in this collection was developed pursuant to a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, an Office of the Secretary of State using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. |
| Collection | Pullman State Historic Site |
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