View source for Broadway Limited

{{Short description|Former Pennsylvania Railroad and Amtrak passenger train}}
{{About|the train|the 1941 film|Broadway Limited (film)|the episode of Boardwalk Empire|Broadway Limited (Boardwalk Empire)}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| name            = ''Broadway Limited''
| logo            =
| logo_width      =
| image           = File:Broadway Limited at Lewistown station, September 1991 (cropped).jpg
| image_width     = 300px
| caption         = The Amtrak ''Broadway Limited'' at {{amtk|Lewistown}} in 1991
| type            = 
| status          = 
| locale          = 
| predecessor     = ''Pennsylvania Special''
| first           = November 14, 1912
| last            = September 9, 1995
| successor       = ''[[Three Rivers (train)|Three Rivers]]''
| operator        = 
| formeroperator  = [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] (1912–1968)<br />[[Penn Central Transportation|Penn Central]] (1968–1971)<br />[[Amtrak]] (1971–1995)
| ridership       = 
| website         = 
| start           = [[New York, New York]]
| stops           = 
| end             = [[Chicago, Illinois]]
| distance        = {{convert|907.7|mi|km}}
| journeytime     = 
| frequency       = Daily
| trainnumber     = 
| line_used       = [[Main Line (Pennsylvania Railroad)]]
| class           = 
| access          = 
| seating         = no coach; all [[Pullman car]]
| sleeping        = [[roomette]]s, double bedrooms, compartments
| autorack        = 
| catering        = [[dining car]]
| observation     = 
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = none (1954, 1964)
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = 
| gauge           = 
| el              = 
| speed           = 
| owners          = 
| routenumber     = 28: eastbound, 29: westbound
| map             = 
| map_state       = collapsed
| map_name        = 
}}
The '''''Broadway Limited''''' was a [[passenger train]] operated by the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] (PRR) between [[New York City]] and [[Chicago]] from 1912 to 1995. It was the Pennsylvania's premier train, competing directly with the [[New York Central Railroad]]'s ''[[20th Century Limited]]''. The ''Broadway Limited'' continued operating after the formation of [[Penn Central Transportation Company|Penn Central]] (PC) in February 1968, one of the few long-distance trains to do so. PC conveyed the train to [[Amtrak]] in 1971, who operated it until 1995. The train's name referred not to [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] in [[Manhattan]], but rather to the "broad way" of PRR's [[Quadruple track|four-track right-of-way]] along the majority of its route.

== History ==
=== Pennsylvania Railroad ===
[[File:Broadway Limited 1931.png|thumb|left|A postcard of the ''Broadway Limited'' in 1931]]
{{Broadway Limited (PRR) Route}}
The ''Pennsylvania Special'' was one of nine express trains the PRR operated between New York City and Chicago. On November 14, 1912, the PRR renamed it the ''Broadway Limited'', to avoid confusion with the similarly named ''Pennsylvania Limited''. The name, though spelled as "Broadway", honored the PRR's four-track "broad way" main line.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2003|p=110}}</ref> In the heavyweight era the ''Broadway Limited'' was an extra-fare, all sleeper (no coach service) train with an open-platform observation car at the end, such as ''Continental Hall'' and ''Washington Hall''.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kratville|1962|pp=190–193}}</ref> The scheduled running time was 20 hours until it was reduced to 18 hours in 1932. Further reductions took place between 1932 and 1935, with the final heavyweight running time at 16 hours, 30 minutes.<ref>{{Harvnb|Welsh|2006|p=62}}</ref>

On June 15, 1938, the ''Broadway Limited'' received lightweight [[Streamliner cars (rail)|streamlined car]]s to replace its heavyweight steel cars; on the same day rival [[New York Central Railroad]]'s (NYC) ''[[20th Century Limited]]'' was streamlined.<ref>{{Harvnb|Johnston|Welsh|Schafer|2001|pp=42–46}}</ref> [[Raymond Loewy]] styled the new cars and the [[PRR GG1]] electric locomotive as well as some streamlined steam locomotives for the PRR, notably the [[PRR S1|S1]] and [[PRR T1|T1 Duplex]] drive engines. The ''Broadway Limited'' was one of four pre-[[World War II]] PRR trains to receive such equipment; the others being the ''[[General (train)|General]]'' (New York–Chicago), ''[[Spirit of St. Louis (train)|Spirit of St. Louis]]'' (New York–St. Louis), and ''[[Liberty Limited]]'' (Washington–Chicago). Other PRR trains continued to use heavyweight cars until after the end of World War II. Most of the 1938 cars were built new by [[Pullman-Standard]] between March and May of that year, but the [[dining car|diners]], [[Railway Post Office|RPO]] and [[baggage car]]s were rebuilt from heavyweight cars by the railroad's [[Altoona Works|Altoona shops]]. The ''Broadway Limited'' was the only PRR train to be completely re-equipped with lightweight sleeping cars before World War II.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wayner|1972|pp=1–4}}</ref> The train's running time was further reduced to 16 hours.<ref>{{Harvnb|Welsh|2006|p=62}}</ref>

[[File:PRR Broadway Limited Services 1920s.jpg|thumb|center|500px|A printed pocket card of the equipment and services on the ''Broadway Limited'' in 1920]]

In 1949, the PRR re-equipped the ''Broadway Limited'' again with new streamlined equipment. The all-sleeper train carried compartments, bedrooms, duplex rooms, roomettes for a single occupant and drawing rooms for three persons. The buffet-lounge-observation cars built by Pullman Standard were named ''Mountain View'' and ''Tower View''. They had squared-off observation ends, instead of the tapered or rounded ends in the 1938 version and contained two master rooms with radio and showers.<ref>{{Harvnb|Welsh|2006|pp=90–93}}</ref>

[[File:The Broadway Limited April 29, 1928.jpg|thumb|350px|left|The timetable of the ''Broadway Limited'' in 1928]]
Also introduced was a twin-unit dining car and a mid-train lounge car, such as ''Harbor Rest'', described by a PRR brochure as "cheerful, spacious ... richly appointed for leisure with deep, soft carpets ... latest periodicals are in the libraries."<ref>{{Harvnb|Johnston|Welsh|Schafer|2001|pp=53–54}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Ball|1986|p=203}}</ref> The February 1956 [[Official Guide of the Railways|''Official Guide'']] listed the westbound ''Broadway Limited'' (Train 29) consist as having fourteen cars normally assigned: nine sleeping cars between New York and Chicago, one additional sleeping car from New York continuing through to Los Angeles on the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe]]'s ''[[Super Chief]]'', the twin-unit dining car, lounge car, and observation car. The train departed New York at 6:00&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]] and arrived at Chicago the following morning at 9:00&nbsp;a.m. [[Central Time Zone|Central Time]].<ref name="og195602">{{Official Guide of the Railways|February|1956|pages=292–300}}</ref>

The ''Broadway Limited'' was not immune to the decline in passenger rail transport, though it resisted longer than most. The competitor ''20th Century Limited'' began carrying coaches in 1957.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2003|p=114}}</ref> In October 1957, the PRR eliminated the train's transcontinental sleeping cars connecting with the original ''[[California Zephyr (1949–1970)|California Zephyr]]'' and the ''Super Chief.'' Factors in the termination were declining ridership, and in the case of the ''Super Chief'' the time-consuming transfer of a sleeping car between Union Station, which the PRR used, and Dearborn Station, which the Santa Fe used.<ref>Christopher T. Baer, 'A GENERAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY ITS PREDECESSORS AND SUCCESSORS AND ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT' http://www.prrths.com/newprr_files/Hagley/PRR1957.pdf</ref> In late 1967, when the [[Illinois Central Railroad]]'s ''[[Panama Limited]]'' also began carrying coaches, the ''Broadway Limited'' became the last "all-Pullman" train in the United States, a distinction that did not last long.<ref>{{Harvnb|Schafer|Welsh|1997|p=116}}</ref> The PRR merged the ''Broadway Limited'' with the ''[[General (train)|General]]'' on December&nbsp;13, 1967. The train was one of the few long-distance trains to survive the merger of the PRR and the NYC into the Penn Central (PC).<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|p=17}}</ref> Also, the train began stopping at some smaller cities it had bypassed until then.<ref>Penn Central East-West timetable, October, 1968</ref>

=== Amtrak ===
{{Broadway Limited (Amtrak) Route}}
Amtrak's incorporators selected the ''Broadway Limited'' as the new company's sole New York–Chicago route. Amtrak's ''Broadway Limited'' had a [[Washington, D.C.]] section east of Harrisburg that used the [[Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad|Port Road Branch]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|pp=22–25}}</ref> Amtrak refurbished the train in 1972, but the improvements did not persist. Author George H. Drury was critical in a 1974 ''[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]]'' article: "In May 1972... [t]he train was as fresh and new as a spring bride. In December 1973 the ''Broadway'' looked as though Amtrak had found a mistress elsewhere."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Amtrak East |first=George H. |last=Drury |pages=28–32 |magazine=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |date=July 1974 |volume=34 |issue=9}}</ref> In the 1970s, the ''Broadway Limited'' experienced chronic lateness due to poor track conditions in the Midwest. The route changed in 1979 when PC successor [[Conrail]] abandoned trackage west of [[Youngstown, Ohio]]. These changes included:<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|pp=22–25}}</ref>
* A minor reroute over the ex-NYC in [[Gary, Indiana]] in 1979
* A major reroute over the ex-[[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]] (B&O) in Indiana and Ohio, due to Conrail's desire to abandon part of the former [[Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway]]. This change took effect on November&nbsp;10, 1990. This resulted in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] losing service; a new station was built {{convert|25|mi}} to the north in [[Waterloo, Indiana|Waterloo]], and was used by Amtrak's ''[[Capitol Limited]].''<ref>'Amtrak National Timetable,' April 1991, p. 19</ref> The new ''Broadway Limited'' route also resulted in the restoration of service to [[Akron, Ohio]] and [[Youngstown, Ohio]].<ref>'Amtrak National Timetable,' October 1990, p. 44</ref>

Amtrak ultimately discontinued the ''Broadway Limited'' on September&nbsp;10, 1995, in the face of significant funding problems. The ''Broadway Limited'' then earned $6.6&nbsp;million against costs of $24&nbsp;million. Amtrak replaced it with the all-coach ''[[Three Rivers (train)|Three Rivers]]'', which would in turn be discontinued in 2005.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|p=27}}</ref>
[[File:AMTRAK'S BROADWAY LIMITED MAKES A STOP ENROUTE FROM CHICAGO TO POINTS EAST TO PICK UP AND DISCHARGE PASSENGERS. MANY... - NARA - 556840.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Broadway Limited'' making a stop at [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] in July 1974]]
{{clear}}

== Equipment ==
{{Infobox train consist
 | title     = Sample consist #1
 | box_width =
 | date1     = 1938 equipment
 | train1    =
 | location1 =
 | consist1  =
* City-series sleeping car (18 roomettes)
* Harbor-series sleeper-bar-lounge (2 double bedrooms)
* Heavyweight [[dining car]]
* Imperial-series sleeping car (4 compartments, 2 drawing rooms, 4 double bedrooms)
* County-series sleeping car (13 double bedrooms)
* View-series sleeper-buffet-lounge-observation (2 master rooms, 1 double bedroom)
 | footnote1 =<ref>{{Harvnb|Wayner|1972|p=1}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|
[[File:Mountain View (PRR car).jpg|thumb|right|The ''Mountain View'' sleeper-buffet-lounge-observation car at [[Chicago]]'s [[Union Station (Chicago)|Union Station]] in 1963]]
}}
[[Pullman Company|Pullman-Standard]] built the entirety of the equipment pool for the 1938 lightweight re-equipping, with the exception of two dining cars which were rebuilt in PRR's [[Altoona Works|Altoona shops]]. The equipment delivered included eight 18-roomette sleeping cars; two sleeper-bar-lounges; four 4-compartment, 2-drawing room, 4-double bedroom sleeping cars; two 13-double bedroom sleeping cars; and two [[View series]] sleeper-buffet-lounge-observation cars. The dining car seated 24 at tables (in both 1x1 and 2x2 configurations) and featured a small bar at one end with seating for two. The sleeper-bar-lounge included a secretary's room, barber shop, shower-bath, and a bar/lounge with both booth and chair seating.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wayner|1972|p=1}}</ref>

The ''Broadway Limited'' received additional Pullman equipment in 1949. This included ''Harbor Cove'' and ''Harbor Rest'', sleeper-bar-lounges with three double bedrooms, and ''Mountain View'' and ''Tower View'', sleeper-buffet-lounge-observation cars with two master rooms and a double bedroom.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wayner|1972|p=11}}</ref> The ''Broadway Limited'' received coaches for the first time in 1967, when it merged with the ''[[General (train)|General]]''. Under PC the train carried "two or more coaches, two lounges, twin-unit diner, and four sleepers." This was better than most remaining passenger trains, which often had only two-three cars.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|p=17}}</ref>

{{Infobox train consist
 | title     = Sample consist #2
 | box_width =
 | date1     = 1949 equipment
 | train1    =
 | location1 =
 | consist1  =
* Inn-series sleeping car (21 roomettes)
* Creek Series sleeping car (12 duplex bedrooms, 4 double bedrooms
* Imperial-series sleeping car (4 compartments, 2 drawing rooms, 4 double bedrooms)
* Harbor-series sleeper-bar-lounge (2 double bedrooms)
* Twin-unit [[dining car]]
* Rapids-series sleeping car (10 roomettes, 6 double bedrooms)
* View-series sleeper-buffet-lounge-observation (2 master rooms, 1 double bedroom)
 | footnote1 =<ref>{{Harvnb|Wayner|1972|p=1}}</ref>
}}
Amtrak singled out the ''Broadway Limited'' for special treatment and in 1972 completely refurbished its equipment, most of which was the ex-PC, although former [[Union Pacific Railroad]] sleeping cars were also used. Amtrak also added a [[Slumbercoach]] to the consist. In 1974, Amtrak tried out rebuilt 6-bedroom, 8-roomette ex-[[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad|Rock Island]] sleeping cars, but their limited capacity reduced revenue. The ''Broadway Limited'' began receiving rebuilt [[Heritage Fleet]] cars in 1980, and [[Amfleet]] coaches thereafter.<ref>{{Harvnb|Sanders|2006|pp=33–34}}</ref> 68 cars were rebuilt at a total cost of $9.8&nbsp;million.<ref name="an197911">{{cite journal | title=Lake Shore Gets Upgraded Cars | journal=Amtrak News | volume=6 | number=12 | date=November 1979 | url=http://history.amtrak.com/archives/amtrak-news-november-1979 | page=5 | access-date=2014-08-17 | archive-date=2013-11-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101190715/http://history.amtrak.com/archives/amtrak-news-november-1979 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Clear}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== References ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Ball|first=Don Jr.|title=The Pennsylvania Railroad 1940s–1950s|publisher=W. W. Norton|location=New York|year=1986|isbn=0-393-02357-5}}
* {{Johnston-Streamliner}}
* {{Kratville-SSL}}
* {{Sanders-Heartland}}
* {{Sanders-Indiana}}
* {{Schafer-Classic}}
* {{Wayner - Car names, numbers, consists}}
* {{Welsh-Broadway}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Broadway Limited}}
* [http://prr.railfan.net/documents/BroadwayLtd.html ''Inside the Broadway Limited''] promotional booklet published by the Pennsylvania Railroad
* [http://history.amtrak.com/archives/i-broadway-limited-i-route-guide-1977 Amtrak route guide, 1977] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819091456/http://history.amtrak.com/archives/i-broadway-limited-i-route-guide-1977 |date=2014-08-19 }}

{{PRR named trains}}
{{PC named trains}}
{{Former Amtrak routes}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Good article}}

[[Category:Former Amtrak routes]]
[[Category:Passenger trains of the Pennsylvania Railroad]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1912]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Night trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway services discontinued in 1995]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Ohio]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Indiana]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Illinois]]
[[Category:Former long-distance Amtrak routes]]
[[Category:North American streamliner trains]]