The Flambeau

June 23, 1937, Menasha Record

A golden age of train travel is illustrated by the above ad.  Every railroad in the country had trains with fanciful names that everyone knew- names linked to geography or the train's capabilities.  Some of the more famous ones included the New York Limited, the Orange Blossom Special, and the California Zephyr, namesake of St. Mary's athletic teams.  No, the Chattanooga Choo Choo wasn't a real train.  But don't forget the most famous train name in the world- the Orient Express!  It was another world.  As we fled the city centers and moved out to the suburbs that were well-served by superhighways, our embrace of car culture led to the detriment of rail travel in the bulk of the United States.