mercury train
In the midst of a deadly hot summer, the debut of the New York Central System's Mercury gave chills to the traditional railroad industry. Dubbed the "Train of Tomorrow," the streamlined, seven-car train was unlike anything running between Cleveland and Detroit. While its art deco cars were retrofitted from ones already in the Central's yards to save costs, the air-conditioned Mercury offered amenities to its mostly business travelers such as seating in upholstered chairs, a coed smoking compartment, a full-length dining car and lounge with semicircular bar. Engineering advances coupled the cars into a unit, making for a smooth ride even at speeds topping 75 mph in the 2-hour, 50-minute trip. The success of the Cleveland Mercury spawned Chicago and Cincinnati routes. But the rise of air and car travel eventually halted the Mercury in 1959.
