A high-speed railroad was proposed in 1905 to connect New York City and Chicago. The Chicago – New York Electric Air Line Railroad would have been a brand new, flat, and straight interurban railroad, reducing travel time to just 10 hours.
The Proposal
The train would be powered by electricity, operating at a third the cost of steam engines. With few stops and no grade crossings, the train could average 70+ mph and reach speeds of 100 mph on straightaways.
Two million dollars worth of stock was issued, with shareholders promised first priority for thousands of potential jobs. However, construction began but was halted due to the depression of 1907-1908, and the project was ultimately abandoned.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
