The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-27
ODD TITLES FOR TRAINS.
Railroads Invent Catchy Names to
Attract Attention Of Public.

AJLIlEt Abt6uLlOA u ADAAA-
The recent competition inaugurated
by the general passenger agent of
western railroad offering a substantial
prize for the best name for a new fast
train between Chicago and St. Paul
and Minneapolis has just been decided
by the division of the prize among i've
persons who suggested the name OF the
North Star Limited" The adoption
of this name may become the subject
az a case in the courts, another line be-
tween the same cities claiming that II
has used a similar name for some
years This calls attention to the value
Of such a name to railroad Tor ad-
vertising purposes, and the trouble 10
which its officials go to secure terse,
catchy designation Of their fastest and
most luxurious expresses, says the New
York Times.
These efforts result in some very
queer names and some very good ones.
Every one has heard of the Lake Shore
limited the Empire State Express and
the Twentieth Century Limited. the
latest addition to the New YORK Cen
trails fast trains The Pennsylvania
railroad gives simple names to its rasJ-
est trains The Pennsylvania Limited
and the Pennsylvania Special are the
titles by which the two finest trains
on that road are known. while all It's
other trains are simply named after the
city to which they run
one of the most picturesque names
is that Of the Sunset Limited, when
dashes daily toward the iand OF the
setting sun California, by way OF the
Southern Pacific line. The Overland
United is a name which represents
well the ideas OF the men at the head
Of the Union Pacific road while the
North Coast Limited is a sonQrous tue
for the Northern Pacific fast train to
the North Pacific coast cities The ROCK
island has chosen a high-soundlng TUE
for its new train to California, after
which it is called. the Golden State
limited The other western roads nave
generally called their trains aLtef etlelI
own names. as for instance, the alton
Limited of the Chicago & Alton, Whiie
others again are called after the names
of cities or states, as the Coiofauo ope-
ciaI the Denver Express, etc. Ihe
Twin Cftv Limited is named after the
,,on,,laT Cancellation of the cities of
MINNEAPOLIS and St Paul from Whlch
it runs to St. Louis
With the anthracite coal strike set
tied the Black Diamond the Ldste7s
train of the Lehigh Valley road, VIII
no longer arouse resentment IN ths
traveller That road by the way, has
another oddly named Iast express
called simply the Buffalo train
over the Baltimore & ONO ana the
Reading runs the Royal Blue to Wash
ington. so called after the color OIL royal
blue in which all these trains are paint
cd though this name for an express o.
the GdOlLdt CITY Oh ftDubiN II ~ -
Well chosen perhaps as is that OF the
Congressional Limited running to tie
same city over the Pennsylvania BE
tween the capital and Boston runs the
Colonial express. while between New
York and Boston runs, among others
the Bay State Limited. There are seV-
eral Continental Limited trains. one Of
them going over the West Shore to
Chicago. The Lacka wanna Limited is
sample Of the Lackawanna's style o.
calling things by their names
Among the Cueerest names given to
trains are perhaps that of the Ghost
express, which formerly ran between
New York and Boston. leaving at mid.
night its cars being painted absolutely
white and the F. F. V. which familiar
letters the Chesapeake & Ohio ex-
planned as meaning the Fast Flying
Nirsiniau.
Another picturesque name with
finge eff romance is the Rip Van Wrinkle
Filler running over the West Shore in
summer to the Catskills. Whenever
there is an exposition anywhere they
are sure to be several Exposition Filters.
The latest of these is on the Big Foua