NYC Passenger

New York Central 20th Century Limited – 4-4-2 Bedroom Car

• Scale:                            1:32
• Release:                        1998
• Limited Edition:              50
• Model Size:                   32”L x 4”W x 5”H
• Base Type:                    Black Walnut
• Base/Case Size:           35”L x 8”W x 8”H
• Availability:                    Sold Out

New York Central 20th Century Limited – Observation Car

• Scale:                            1:32
• Release:                        2001
• Limited Edition:              50
• Price:                             $2,500
• Model Size:                   32”L x 4”W x 5”H
• Base Type:                    Black Walnut
• Base/Case Size:           35”L x 8”W x 8”H
• Availability:                    Available (Westchester County, City of Buffalo, Cayahoga County, Dutchess County and Manhattan Island)

New York Central 20th Century Limited – Club Car

• Scale:                            1:32
• Release:                        2001
• Limited Edition:              50
• Price:                             $2,500
• Model Size:                   32”L x 4”W x 5”H
• Base Type:                    Black Walnut
• Base/Case Size:           35”L x 8”W x 8”H
• Availability:                    Available

New York Central 20th Century Limited – 13 Double Bedroom Car

• Scale:                            1:32
• Release:                        2004
• Limited Edition:              50
• Model Size:                   32”L x 4”W x 5”H
• Base Type:                    Black Walnut
• Base/Case Size:           35”L x 8”W x 8”H
• Availability:                    Sold Out

New York Central 20th Century Limited – 10-5 Bedroom Car

• Scale:                            1:32
• Release:                        2004
• Limited Edition:              50
• Model Size:                   32”L x 4”W x 5”H
• Base Type:                    Black Walnut
• Base/Case Size:           35”L x 8”W x 8”H
• Availability:                    Sold Out

New York Central 20th Century Limited – 17 Roomette Car

• Scale:                            1:32
• Release:                        2005
• Limited Edition:              50
• Model Size:                   32”L x 4”W x 5”H
• Base Type:                    Black Walnut
• Base/Case Size:           35”L x 8”W x 8”H
• Availability:                    Sold Out

New York Central 20th Century Limited – Dining Car

• Scale:                            1:32
• Release:                        2005
• Limited Edition:              50
• Model Size:                   32”L x 4”W x 5”H
• Base Type:                    Black Walnut
• Base/Case Size:           35”L x 8”W x 8”H
• Availability:                    Never produced

New York Central 20th Century Limited – Railway Post Office Car

• Scale:                            1:32
• Release:                        2005
• Limited Edition:              50
• Model Size:                   32”L x 4”W x 5”H
• Base Type:                    Black Walnut
• Base/Case Size:           35”L x 8”W x 8”H
• Availability:                    Never produced

New York Central 20th Century Limited

It was promoted as The Greatest Train in the World. Its extra-fare opulence, comfort and reliability were intended to impress, and they did. Since 1902, the flagship of the New York Central had been the New York–Chicago 20th Century Limited, but the greatest Century of all was the 1938 streamliner styled by Henry Dreyfuss. In 1937, the New York Central was among the first railroads to enter the streamliner era with its Cleveland–Detroit Mercury. Once that train’s appeal was established, the 20th Century Limited became the next natural candidate for streamlining.

The NYC hired the 32-year-old Dreyfuss to style this first, all-private-room train in America using Pullman car designs shared with the Pennsylvania Railroad’s contemporary Broadway Limited. The Century appeared in tasteful tones of gray and blue offset by complementary tan, copper, and rust colors. Dining and lounge interiors were sophisticated with rounded shapes and surfaces. The dinner was as elegant as a four-star Manhattan restaurant with other on-board services equally impeccable. The train had a secretary, a telegraph, valet service, and barbershop. A red carpet was rolled out from the concourse to the train-side for boarding passengers.

Before their introduction, more than 100,000 people walked through Century train sets on display in both New York and Chicago. Then, at 5 p.m. on June 15, 1930, the first of the new trains departed simultaneously from the two cities the same hour at which the first two new Broadway Limiteds departed. Their arrival times were likewise identical. At first, the Century operated as a 13 car train, but later expanded to 17 cars and operated in two sections.

Fine Art Models has designed and built an eleven car consisting of the 1938 Century using the drawings from Pullman’s original archives – the first company ever permitted to do so.  These cars perfectly complement our Dreyfuss-streamlined J3a Hudson locomotive which pulled them, and makes an interesting contrast with our cars of the 1938 Broadway Limited.  Each one is constructed of brass with sprung trucks and ball-bearing axle journals. Every door that is supposed to open, does and each car has functional end diaphragms. Complete underbody detail exists as well as complete interiors with lighting. Real glass is used for the windows.  We encourage you to find the 20th Century or Broadway Limited of this quality in any museum today. 

References

Cook, Richard J. Sr., The Twentieth Century Limited, 1938–1967, Lynchburg, Virginia 1993, TLC Publishing, Inc.