20th Century Limited

Updated July 10, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The 20th Century Limited debuted in 1902 as the New York Central's luxury train, operating between New York and Chicago. It traveled the smooth “water level route” alongside the Hudson River and the shores of Lake Erie. The railroad would roll out a crimson carpet to welcome passengers to the train, giving rise to the phrase the “red carpet treatment. Amtrak currently operates a long distance train over the same route.”