While initially skeptical most railroads which tested the demonstrator set were left completely mesmerized. It later expanded upon this with 1939's FT model for freight service. Then, in 1935, Electro-Motive unveiled a main line variant for passenger service. At the time, this new form of motive power was largely confined to switcher and secondary assignments. During the 1920's, diesel locomotive usage was growing. The winds were also shifting in other ways. By the 1940's, many of the largest railroads were jumping on board, forever changing rail travel. These fast, colorful trainsets were an instant sensation and the entire industry took notice. In an attempt to reignite interest, Union Pacific and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy devised the streamliner concept. The traveling public was abandoning trains for two primary reasons the economy and the automobile's affordability. The industry was facing a terrible dilemma as both freight tonnage and the passenger market were down significantly. ![]() Only the strongest managed to avoid bankruptcy. It resulted in major systems like the Rock Island (1933), Milwaukee Road (1935), Erie (1938), Chicago & North Western (1935), and New York, New Haven & Hartford (1935) all entering receivership. ![]() Railroads entered the 1930s with great uncertainty following 1929's stock market crash which caused a nationwide economic collapse.
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