The Glamour of Train Travel - 40 Vintage Photos Show How Glamorous Train Travel Used to Be From the Early 20th Century

Traveling by train was pretty swanky from the early 20th century, and it hasn’t gone out of style. Still, the lavish furnishings and fine dining of the past hold a special place in the railroad's rich history. Here’s what train travel looked like in the good old days.


Two female passengers eating a meal in a London & North Western Railway dining car, 1905.

Two female passengers eating a meal in a London & North Western Railway dining car, 1905.


LNWR dining car on an American boat train, 1908.

LNWR dining car on an American boat train, 1908.


Interior of a luxury dining car, 1910.

Interior of a luxury dining car, 1910.


A first-class dining car on the Britain’s Great Eastern Railway—also known as GER, as shown on the embroidered seat cover, 1912.

A first-class dining car on the Britain’s Great Eastern Railway—also known as GER, as shown on the embroidered seat cover, 1912.


The observation and lounge car on Northern Pacific's transcontinental U.S. railroad line, 1926.

The observation and lounge car on Northern Pacific's transcontinental U.S. railroad line, 1926.


Gentlemen relax in leather armchairs on the Royal Scot, a train on the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, 1928.

Gentlemen relax in leather armchairs on the Royal Scot, a train on the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, 1928.


The luxurious first class lounge on board a London Midland and Scottish Royal Scot train, 1928.

The luxurious first class lounge on board a London Midland and Scottish Royal Scot train, 1928.


Two elegant ladies and waiters in a train dining car, Germany, 1929.

Two elegant ladies and waiters in a train dining car, Germany, 1929.


Rail passengers listening to the radio through personal headphones in the dining car of a train, 1930.

Rail passengers listening to the radio through personal headphones in the dining car of a train, 1930.


Passengers listen to a radio gramophone on a LNER train carriage in 1930.

Passengers listen to a radio gramophone on a LNER train carriage in 1930.


Passengers listen to the wireless on board a train on the Canadian Pacific Railway, September 1930.

Passengers listen to the wireless on board a train on the Canadian Pacific Railway, September 1930.


Family enjoying Christmas dinner in the Flying Scotsman restaurant car, 1931.

Family enjoying Christmas dinner in the Flying Scotsman restaurant car, 1931.


Midland And Scottish Railway train restaurant, 1932.

Midland And Scottish Railway train restaurant, 1932.


Passengers have lunch on North Coast Limited’s restaurant car, 1934.

Passengers have lunch on North Coast Limited’s restaurant car, 1934.


The interior of a carriage, circa 1934.

The interior of a carriage, circa 1934.


The dining car on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway Company’s Hiawatha line, which at the time of its debut was boasted as being “the largest single unit of any dining car in service,” 1935.

The dining car on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway Company’s Hiawatha line, which at the time of its debut was boasted as being “the largest single unit of any dining car in service,” 1935.


“Mitropa” dining-car, Germany, 1935.

“Mitropa” dining-car, Germany, 1935.


Passengers dine in the Art Deco-style car of the New York Central Railroad’s Mercury train, 1936.

Passengers dine in the Art Deco-style car of the New York Central Railroad’s Mercury train, 1936.


Passengers in a first-class railway carriage smoking compartment, 1936.

Passengers in a first-class railway carriage smoking compartment, 1936.


Children enjoying a festive party in an LMS dining car while traveling home for Christmas, 1938.

Children enjoying a festive party in an LMS dining car while traveling home for Christmas, 1938.


The luxurious and spacious dining of the new, streamlines Twentieth Century Limited, crack New York Central Railroad flyer showing the passengers at their meals during the “preview” run to New York City, 1938. The new train, first all-room train in America, will go into service between New York City and Chicago June 15th, on a 16-hour schedule.

The luxurious and spacious dining of the new, streamlines Twentieth Century Limited, crack New York Central Railroad flyer showing the passengers at their meals during the “preview” run to New York City, 1938. The new train, first all-room train in America, will go into service between New York City and Chicago June 15th, on a 16-hour schedule.


Passengers play cards in a Great Western Railway (GWR) dining car, 1938.

Passengers play cards in a Great Western Railway (GWR) dining car, 1938.


Cleaners at work in the luxurious coach ‘Minerva’ in 1938.

Cleaners at work in the luxurious coach ‘Minerva’ in 1938.


A corridor buffet car built for the new electric main line from London to Bognor Regis, Chichester and Littlehampton districts on show at Waterloo station, London in 1938.

A corridor buffet car built for the new electric main line from London to Bognor Regis, Chichester and Littlehampton districts on show at Waterloo station, London in 1938.


Waiters bringing food to passengers in the dining car of a Canadian Pacific Railway train during a three day journey across the country, 1939.

Waiters bringing food to passengers in the dining car of a Canadian Pacific Railway train during a three day journey across the country, 1939.


Interior view of a crowded restaurant car, 1940.

Interior view of a crowded restaurant car, 1940.


Interior view of a restaurant car, 1945.

Interior view of a restaurant car, 1945.


Diners in the restaurant car on a GWR (Great Western Railway) oil-fired locomotive, 1946.

Diners in the restaurant car on a GWR (Great Western Railway) oil-fired locomotive, 1946.


Passengers in a BEA Vickers Viking while away the time with a game of cards, 1947.

Passengers in a BEA Vickers Viking while away the time with a game of cards, 1947.


Interior of Jolly Tar, the first of the new British Railway Tavern cars at Waterloo Station, London, May 25, 1949.

Interior of Jolly Tar, the first of the new British Railway Tavern cars at Waterloo Station, London, May 25, 1949.


A new British Railways restaurant car at Waterloo Station in London in 1949.

A new British Railways restaurant car at Waterloo Station in London in 1949.


Passengers in the dining car on a Rio Grande streamliner train, early 1950s.

Passengers in the dining car on a Rio Grande streamliner train, early 1950s.


Crowded dining car aboard the Simplon Orient Express train, 1950.

Crowded dining car aboard the Simplon Orient Express train, 1950.


A man uses a typewriter while riding the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, 1950.

A man uses a typewriter while riding the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, 1950.


Passengers in a first class dining saloon in 1951.

Passengers in a first class dining saloon in 1951.


British Rail stewards serve drinks in a first-class dining car, 1951.

British Rail stewards serve drinks in a first-class dining car, 1951.


Veronica Balfe (wife of actor Gary Cooper) has a cocktail on the Super Chief railroad, 1951. The train was a favorite of celebrities traveling between Chicago and Los Angeles.

Veronica Balfe (wife of actor Gary Cooper) has a cocktail on the Super Chief railroad, 1951. The train was a favorite of celebrities traveling between Chicago and Los Angeles.