Timetables from the 1930's and 1940's...

[HARHBG]

Any clue as to where to even begin to look for timetables from the '30's and '40's? CHI to East Coast,... New York, Boston, Washington and CHI, West Coast to LAX would be the primary interest but any timetable from that period will work for this research project.

THANKS in advance for any and all info posted.

 

[Chaz]

Well you found the right place at the forum to ask the question (Museum of Amtrak Timetables Discussion)!

Several links

Emphasis is the 50's but 'streamliners' began several decades earlier.

Covers named trains with a sample timetable, equip list etc

"mid-1930s and the late 1960s when fast trains and fine service comprised the gold standard of intercity passenger travel."

http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/

Download pdf's:

1921 Official Railway Guide (200+ mb pdf) via CPRR Museum http://cprr.org

http://cprr.org/Museum/Books/I_ACCEPT_the_User_Agreement/Official_Rail_Guide_1921.pdf

1910

http://cprr.org/Museum/Books/I_ACCEPT_the_User_Agreement/Official_Rail_Guide_1910.pdf

http://discussion.cprr.net/2007/08/official-rail-guide-1910.html

Google books has made old guides avail to about 1910 (also downloadable)

http://www.naotc.org/oldguides/index.html

Read the 1952 Official Guide online

http://www.timetableworld.com/book_viewer.php?id=3&section_id=265

Streamliner Memories -- scanned menus, brochures and other memorabilia from the streamliner era.

http://streamlinermemories.info/

You can purchaseOfficial Guides on CD's (single or whole decades) at

http://taplines.biz/CDs-Official-Guide-of-Railroads-C13742.aspx

Finally Trains Mag April 2016 p36 has a complete map of thru passenger trains East Coast to Chicago in Oct 1940 (subscription only--Map of the month)

 

[jis]

You can get a bunch of them them on DVDs from Taplines - http://www.taplines.net. The DVDs are not too expensive. I have got the entire set. You can get the complete DVD set for $59 or so. Take a look at: http://taplines.biz/OFFICIAL-GUIDE-OF-RAILWAYS-COLLECTION-1848-1969-on-DVDs-P1457553.aspx

There is a DVD covering 1930 - 1958 and another covering the 60s. A third one covers 1850s to 1930. Note that not all timetables are included. but the select sample is quite representative and useful.

 

[Palmetto]

Any clue as to where to even begin to look for timetables from the '30's and '40's? CHI to East Coast,... New York, Boston, Washington and CHI, West Coast to LAX would be the primary interest but any timetable from that period will work for this research project.

THANKS in advance for any and all info posted.

Ebay.

Railroadiana Shows. I'll be selling some of mine at one next month.

Carl Loucks [if he's still in business]

You did not state whether you were looking for public or employee timetables. I suspect, though, you mean public.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

Lots of New York Central timetables here:

http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/timetables.htm

 

[HARHBG]

THANKS !! so very much to all who posted the wealth of information.

If anyone is still reading this post.........a quick question I'm sure all you people know the answer to, ..... but I'm not certain ...(and don't want to bother the membership with another "stupid" question posting)........

Just what, exactly, does "Limited" mean in a train name? Was "Limited" an indicator of an Express train with limited stops?? THANKS AGAIN..............

 

[neroden]

"Local" stopped at all stations. "Limited" stopped at fewer stations. "Express" stopped at even fewer stations.

 

[HARHBG]

THANK YOU!!

 

[chakk]

Those name conventions were not always followed. The Chicago Express on the B&O made far more stops than the Capitol Limited running over the same route several hours later.

 

[neroden]

Yeah, they started getting silly about it later. That's what they meant originally though.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

And the Bullets make even fewer stops.

I actually spotted a 1941 Official Guide at the Illinois Railway Museum, but I decided to get the 1963 version.

 

[Fenway]

This must have been an interesting trip in 1946

​

 

[Joe from PA]

Bought a 1946 Long Island RR timetable for all routes on eBay. I was a 1949-1955 train watcher as a kid.

 

[BlackDiamond]

I have a June 1950 Official Guide I got at a train show many years ago. It is getting fairly brittle with age (which I can relate to LOL)
One of my favorite entries is for service on the Maine Central Calais Branch that would have run a few miles from where I live.

 

[JLChicago]

Check out wx4.org. It’s got thousands of timetables. Mostly employee timetables but also many public timetables too. And they show links to just about every other timetable website out there. Be forewarned. You will get addicted to this site. It’s wonderful.