1882 Chicago and North-Western Railway Broadside Promoting New Dining Cars

This is a very rare c. 1882 Chicago and North-Western Railway broadside promoting the elegance of the railroad's new dining cars. The broadside features caricatures of two waiters and announces the arrival of the 'famous North-Western Dining Cars,' put into service on March 1 on the Chicago, St. Paul, and Minneapolis line. All meals were only 75 cents. The broadside claims that the North-Western 'is bound to lead all competitors in furnishing all the best and latest improvements for the Pleasure, Comfort, and Safety of its patrons.'

The Chicago and North-Western Railway

The Chicago and North-Western Railway, chartered on June 7, 1859, came into existence 5 days after it bought the assets of the defunct Chicago, St. Paul and Fond du Lac Railroad. The Chicago and North-Western continued merging with and acquiring railroads throughout the Midwest during the rest of the 19th century. By the turn of the 20th century, the railroad operated over 5,000 miles of track. Its profitability began to fall in the early 20th century and forced a reorganization in 1944. After the employees bought the company in 1972, the railroad was renamed the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company. Union Pacific acquired the Chicago and North Western in 1995.

Publication History and Census

This broadside was created and printed by Rand, McNally, and Company for the Chicago and North-Western Railway c. 1882. This is the only known cataloged example. We have dated this piece c. 1882 based on newspaper advertisements for the North-Western Dining Cars, which we have traced to March 1882. The broadside promotes the dining cars as having entered service on March 1. Thus, this broadside likely dates from their first month of service.