Today In History:  07 July  [1929]   --  A 48-hour combined rail and air passenger service across the USA is established.

Transcontinental Air Transport Inc. inaugurates a 48-hour combined rail and air passenger service from coast to coast in the United States.  The airline enlisted the help of Charles Lindbergh to design a transcontinental network to get government airmail contracts. Lindbergh established numerous airports across the country in this effort, and flew the first plane over the air route.

The first leg oft he route was on an overnight train journey from New York City to Columbus, Ohio. There, passengers boarded a Ford Trimotor aircraft at what is now John Glenn Columbus International Airport, and flew to Waynoka, Oklahoma. Passengers woul dthen catch the Santa Fe Railway for an overnight trip to Clovis, New Mexico, where they would take a second Ford Trimotor flight to Los Angeles.
PHOTO: The TAT Ford 5-AT-B "City of Columbus" flown by Lindbergh.


Photo Attribution:  Public Domain  via Wikimedia.