In 1949, when this brochure was issued, the Pennsylvania had managed to close the time disadvantage it had from the B&O. From Washington to Chicago, the B&O’s route was 767 miles while the Pennsylvania’s was 837, but both the Capitol Limited and the Liberty Limited were able to make the trip in 20 hours.
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The Capitol Limited still had a slight advantage in prestige as it was an all-Pullman train, while the Liberty carried both Pullmans and coaches. B&O’s all-coach train, the Columbian, was combined with the Capitol Limited from New York to Washington, but the trains were separated in Washington and the Cap left and stayed about 10 minutes ahead of the Columbian all the way to Chicago.
In addition to their observation-lounge cars, both the Capitol and Liberty Limited had mid-train lounge cars plus diners. The Liberty also had a lounge-buffet car for coach passengers (who weren’t allowed in the observation-lounge). Both railroads also operated three other trains from Chicago to Washington, but for some reason the B&O had four other westbound trains and the Pennsy had five others from Washington to Chicago.
20 hours between Washington and Chicago? That doesn’t sound right. In 1955 the Liberty made the WSH-CHI run in a little over 16 hours, and that was after the ICC requirement to install specialized signaling or limit trains to 79 MPH.
You’re right; I must have miscalculated the time zone change. The B&O 1949 timetable shows the Capital Limited and Columbian both taking 15-2/3 hours to get from Washington to Chicago and five minutes less on the return. A PRR 1949 timetable shows the Liberty Limited taking 16 hours each way. So the B&O saved a few minutes but not much.