The 20th Century Limited Passing Breakneck Mountain on the Hudson River 1948 Designer: Henry Dreyfuss Client: New York Central System Dreyfuss Collection, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum In the 1930s, New York Central responded to automobile and airline competition by focusing on luxury and comfort. Leaving Manhattan one afternoon, Dreyfuss noted dozens of unused commuter cars in the Mott Haven yards. This gave him an idea, and he returned immediately with a proposal to modify the cars for long-distance travel. The result was the Mercury, coordinated inside and out, from the locomotive to the coffee cups. The Mercury was a rolling testbed for the 20th Century Limited, a completely new train. Dreyfuss sheathed its Hudson J-3a engine in a distinctive cowling, making it more powerful looking. He unified the string of cars by covering the spaces between them and devising a harmonious paint scheme; inside, Dreyfuss modified the junctures between cars to create vestibules, enhancing the sense of continuity. Consulting with lighting manufacturers and car builders, he made the interiors appear wider and broke up the strict march of seating, creating informal groupings. In addition, natural tones served as a subtle backdrop for the fashionable travelers who used this "all-room" train. [ Intro | New York Central | Bell Telephone | Deere & Co. | Polaroid | Honeywell | Human Factors ] © Copyright 1997 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Smithsonian Institution