The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company (C & NW) was a Class 1 railroad in the Midwestern United States.

First chartered in 1859, it became one of the longest railroads in the US as a result of mergers with other railroads and ran through Illinois, Iowa. Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, south Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

This marvelous beverage menu from the 1930s illustrates how passengers drank very well in the dining car. They could choose cocktails, beer, wine, whiskeys, brandies, gin fizzes and soft drinks ranging from coco cola (sic), sarsaparilla and, bizarrely, laxative waters.

Imported and domestic cigars and cigarettes were sold along with playing cards, chewing gum and aspirin!

Note that the sale and service of alcoholic drinks at that time was limited to the localities in which it was lawfully permitted.

In 1995, the Union Pacific Corporation acquired C & NW.

Courtesy Private Collection.