New York Central Railroad

The New York Central Railroad was one of America's most prestigious railroads, rivaling the Pennsylvania Railroad for traffic between New York and Chicago. The NYC operated the legendary 20th Century Limited, arguably the most famous named passenger train in history, which ran from Grand Central Terminal to Chicago.

The railroad advertised its "Water Level Route" along the Hudson River and Lake Erie, which avoided the heavy grades of the PRR's mountain crossings. The NYC's Niagara-class 4-8-4 steam locomotives were considered some of the most efficient and powerful ever built, while the Dreyfuss-styled Hudson locomotives pulled the streamlined 20th Century Limited.

The NYC's distinctive lightning stripe scheme on its passenger diesels was designed by Henry Dreyfuss and became an iconic image of American railroading. The railroad's "cigar band" logo was equally recognizable.

The NYC merged with arch-rival Pennsylvania Railroad in 1968 to form Penn Central, which went bankrupt in 1970. Today, much of the former NYC is operated by CSX, while Conrail and then CSX/NS absorbed other portions.