Transportation in 1920s and 1930s

Group Members
Faizan Ashraf
Jacob Dorabialski
Peter Hwang
Terry Kim
David Kong
Jason Shin
Transportation in the
1920s and 1930s
Bulletin Board Assignment

The 1920's and 1930s were a period of great progress in
transportation. For many Canadians, transportation reflected
all that was new and modern about these decades. This
project focuses on five main modes of transportation in the
1920s and 1930s: automobiles, trains, ocean liners, public
transit and airplanes.

Faizan Ashraf, Jacob Dorabialski, Peter Hwang, Terry Kim,
David Kong, Jason Shin
11/1/2006
Transportation in the 1920s and 1930s
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 4
AUTOMOBILES 5
HENRY FORD 5
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 6
ASSEMBLY LINE 6
THE MODEL T 6
TRAINS 8
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY 8
CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY 9
PASSENGER TRAINS 10
FREIGHT TRAINS 11
TECHNOLOGY IN TRAINS 11
OCEAN LINERS 13
WHAT IMPELLED OCEAN LINERS TO GAIN DEMAND AND TO PROSPER? 13
FAMOUS SHIPPING AND PASSENGER LINERS 13
THE CUNARD LINE 13
THE CUNARD‐WHITE STAR LINE 14
THE BLUENOSE 14
PUBLIC TRANSIT 15
TRAFFIC CONGESTION 15
TRAM 16
TORONTO CITY'S TRANSIT 16
Faizan Ashraf, Jacob Dorabialski, Peter Hwang, Terry Kim, David Kong, Jason Shin
AIRPLANES 17
COMMERCIAL AIRLINES 17
AIRMAIL 18
THE VIEW OF AIR TRAVEL IN CANADA 18
IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL 18
ESTABLISHED CANADIAN AIRLINES 19
ESTABLISHMENT OF CANADIAN AIRLINES ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
BOEING 314 19
ZEPPELINS 20
THE GOLDEN AGE 20
THE HINDENBURG DISASTER 20

Introduction
Jake Dorabialski
The 1920’s and 30’s were the years of economic growth and decline; they represented the times of
development and recession in society. The most profound advancements in transportation occurred
during the post WWI era. Land transportation was the most dominant form of transportation. The
expansion of the use of the automobiles revolutionized the way the world functioned. People depended
on cars for traveling between work and home, to run errands, and to visit one another. With the
automobile, people could run society faster; thus, the world developed and prospered at a faster rate.
Water transportation was also significant to the subject of transportation during the 1920’s and 30’s.
During that time period, transatlantic liners were the most significant mode of sea transportation. World
powers competed for ocean supremacy, battling to build better ocean liners. The 1920’s and 30’s were
the golden age of sea transport. Conversely, another form of transportation was emerging – air
transportation. With their first introduction in WWI, the airplane developed to challenge the main
modes of long distance transportation—ocean liners and trains. In addition, Zeppelins also completed
with planes for air supremacy. However, their prosperous reputation was devastated with the
Hindenburg disaster. Urban transportation experienced gradual increase as it was available only in the
largest cities in Canada. Public transportation was a solution to provide a method of travel for the
increasing populations in cities and traffic congestion. Expansion in transportation technology (especially
the automobile, ocean liners, and commercial airplanes) was at its highest in 1920’s and 30’s. These
developments helped shape and prosper society.
Automobiles
By: Faizan Ashraf
The most important age in automotive history was arguably the 1920’s. This was when the automobile
industry experienced great development and prosperity. At this time, the world was booming and
experiencing extreme and rapid economic growth. Vehicle demand became extremely high. Before
automobiles were introduced and mass‐produced, land transportation was very slow and difficult.
Automobiles dominated what was once the world of bicycles and horse carriages. Cars were used to go
between work and home, to run errands, and to go on vacations. The appeal of saving time significantly
increased car sales. As the world became more advanced, automobiles became more popular.
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was the most successful automobile maker of all time. He served as an inventor,
entrepreneur and an advocate for automobiles of his time. He contributed to the growth of the North
American economy at a time when it was still suffering from post‐war effects. Henry Ford shaped parts
of our society to what it is today.
In 1903, Ford established the Ford motor company and took his place as the vice president and
chief engineer. The company had poor success as it was very slow at producing cars, making only 3 to 4
vehicles a day.
However, this soon changed. Ford invented the Assembly Line and implemented it to the faster
production of cars. He also utilized the Internal Combustion Engine in his automobile models. These
technologies made his cars affordable, reliable, and efficient. This led to the conception of the Model T
in 1908.

Internal Combustion Engines
The most crucial part for an automobile is its engine. Before the invention of fuel and steam
engines, the only sources of power for vehicles were man power and horses. The gasoline internal
combustion was the most widely used engines for automobiles back in the 1920s. This engine was
popular because it could reach a wide range of speed and its design allowed it to be mass powered. As
the years passed engines have been modified to increase speed power and efficiency.
Assembly Line
The auto assembly line was one of the biggest improvements in automobile production. It cut
down the duration of assembling a vehicle by almost half. This technology was perfected by auto‐maker
Henry Ford. The assembly line consisted of a large conveyor belt which moved the chassis of a car to
different stations in the factory. As the belt moves, sections of the automobile were placed in place. The
distinct advantage was that the work was divided amongst numerous of people. The average auto
factory went from making only 4 or 5 vehicles a day to over 100. This assembly line also decreased the
price because of the not as many workers were necessary. For example, the $1000 price tag of the Ford
T Model (90,000 in current CND) became $500 after the introduction of the assembly line. In conclusion,
the assembly line allowed the average Canadian to buy an automobile because of the substantial
decrease of price.
The Model T
The Model T was produced mainly in Detroit, Michigan, which is the center of automobile
production today. By the fourth year of production, almost 12,000 Model T’s were sold. The
introduction of the assembly line ensured that the Model T maintained its competitive price. One car
only required 93 minutes to manufacture. Later on, the variations were developed such as the Model T
Roadster, Coupe, Fordor and Tudor. Ford had sold over fifteen million Model T’s worldwide by the end
of 1927. The Model T had brought the automobile to the average person, as a result of its low cost.
How the Automobiles Influenced Society
The world was significantly changed in the 1920’s and the 30’s due to the widespread use of
automobiles. By the end of the 1920s, automobiles became so inexpensive that almost every family
owned an automobile. As a result, the way of life was considerably changed. Workers did not have to
seek employment near their household, and could live farther away and still get to their jobs with ease.
People would be able to run their errands with greater convenience. Finally, families could go on
vacation on their own schedule and visit their relatives in distant places. Overall, automobiles increased
the society in both productivity and efficiency, which spared more time for entertainment and
recreation.
The automobile also brought substantial economic prosperity. More and more money was
invested into the automobile industry. New roads and highways were being built to accommodate the
growing number of cars.
Unfortunately automobiles also negatively influenced society. Firstly, roads were not being
paved at the rate of the multiplying amount of cars. This resulted in a huge problem of traffic
congestion. Secondly, the amount of pollution created by automobiles were appalling. Thirdly, there
was a problem in attempting to cross the country since there were no transcontinental highway at that
time, only dirt and unreliable roads. The automobile served the people of this world in a very influential
manner.
Trains
David Kong
It was November 7th of 1885, when the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven into the
ground in Craigellachie, British Colombia. This symbolized the official completion of the transcontinental
railway, promised by Sir John A. McDonald over a decade ago. Spanning 1600km of rugged and barren
terrain of the Canadian Shield and the Rocky mountains, this system brought a nation together.
However this apparent triumph was overshadowed by multiple factors, including debt, war and
bankruptcy. In the 1920’s and 30’s, the railway scene was filled with two huge locomotive companies:
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and the Canadian National Railway (CNR).
Canadian Pacific Railway
Sir John A. McDonald proposed confederation along with a national dream – a
transcontinental railway that will link the nation coast to coast and virtually shrink down the size
of Canada. The Canadian Pacific Railway was the solution – linking the Dominion of Canada from
sea to sea. This would promote the settlement to the west and allow the transportation of
products from city to city along its extensive route.
For the first forty years of the service, the CPR had a monopoly on railway services, and
therefore, was the most profitable railroad. No other railway could compete as effectively on a
national level. For decades, the CPR bought out smaller, insignificant networks to expand their
own.
In the early years, the CPR stayed as a freight line, providing an economic lifeline for
western Canada. As a result, all products from Western Canada could be shipped to Eastern
Canada, where it could be sold. Rail represented the most economic method for farmers to ship
their products.
However, as the amount of passenger travelers increased, the CPR built its tourism line.
They opened luxury cars to allow the rich to go on vacation in the Alberta Rockies. In addition,
the CPR built large hotels, including the famous Banff Spring Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise.
Both are still standing today.
When the depression occurred in the 1930’s, the CPR stayed out of debt – being the only
rail company to do so. They continued to pay shareholders dividends until 1932. By the end of
the 1930s, the Canadian Pacific Railway expanded further in airlines and cruise lines. For the
decades to come, the CPR remained as the greatest travel and transport object in Canada.
Canadian National Railway
In 1917, amidst the great war, the Canadian Government took over the Canadian
National Railway. 17 new lines were integrated into this system. In addition, small local rail lines
consolidated under the new Canadian National Railway. This included the Grand Trunk Pacific,
which extended the track into British Colombia. In 1923, the CNR completed the Grand Trunk
railway, making it an actual coast to coast system. The CNR went from Vancouver to Halifax –
spanning over 35000 kilometers, making it one of the longest railways in the world. In
comparison to the Canadian Pacific, the CPR only went only from Vancouver to Montreal.
In addition to railways, the CNR also owned a telegraph company, a steamship line as
well as a chain of hotels. During the 1920’s, the CNR fine‐tuned their services – such as their
uniform timetables, work rules and salaries.
The Canadian National Railway did many things to attract customers by promoting an
enjoyable trip. The CNR worked creating more first‐class cars as in the 1920’s, people were
becoming more prosperous. One of the highlights of travelling on the CNR was established by
their first radio network in Canada to entertain train travelers. Specially equipped cars would
allow travelers to listen to programs broad casted by one of the CNR’s many radio stations
located across the country. This radio service is now known as the Canadian Broadcasting
Company.
However these successes were short‐lived, as the stock market crashed in 1929 – giving
way to the Great Depression. In the 1930’s, individuals and businesses failed, and the same fate
occurred to the Canadian National railway. Also, the drought badly hurt Prairies farmers,
stopping the trafficking of grain. The cars that would have carried wheat now housed homeless
men desperately searching for work.
Thankfully, the depression ended by the end of the decade. New developments
occurred, such as an addition of a national air service, which became a subsidiary of CNR. The
start of air travel helped the Canadian National Railway get out of debt, but as Canada entered
the Second World War, the CNR was used for the transportation of soldiers and products to help
win the War.
When looking into the topic of transportation, there are two different categories. The first category is
the transportation of people; the second category is the transportation of goods. Both railway
companies focused on these two categories to make a profit. In this case, there are two different kinds
of trains – Passenger Trains and Freight Trains.
Passenger Trains
There are four main passenger trains in the 1920’s and 1930’s. These trains have
different characteristics that are set to the class of passengers and the length of their trip. The
four types are the Colonist Car, the Coach Car, the Sleeping Car and the Dining Car.
Colonist Car
The Colonist Car is geared to settlers on their road to the prairies. This was the
most inexpensive way to travel long distances. The advantage was the low cost, but the
disadvantages included the lack of amenities and luxuries. Passengers had to sit on
wooden seats and sleep on platforms that came down from the ceiling. People brought
their own blankets to ease the pain of sleeping. In addition, they had to cook their own
meals on stoves at the back of the car. These stoves were also the only source of heat.
Coach Car
The Coach Car was used by travelers who seek some comfort, and are taking
short trips. This car was of average comfort, with pillowed seats and food such as candy,
fruits, sandwiches, cold drinks and coffee. This car is far more comfortable than the
colonist car.
Sleeping Car
The Sleeping Car was used by passenger who had to make long journeys. Seats
in these cars were easily turned into beds. Staff on board would assist the passenger in
getting comfortable. In addition, curtains between beds were added for privacy.
Freight Trains
Freight Trains represented the economic development of Western Canada. Their
relatively small market was compensated because of the transportation of goods to Eastern
Canada was simple thanks to the transcontinental system. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, Canadian
Prairies had a very rural based economy – lead by farming. The market for agriculture was
located in large cities of Canada, which included Montreal and other Eastern Canada
destinations. Freight trains were the easiest and most economical way for farmers to carry these
loads over long distances.
The Canadian Pacific owned a monopoly on transcontinental transportation before the
arrival of the Canadian National. The CPR could therefore charge as much as they would like,
and the farmers would have to pay it. The arrival of the CNR meant that the two companies
would have to fight for customers, which would keep the prices competitive. This brought the
freight pricing standards down, helping the farmers a great deal.
Technology in Trains
Two major developments occurred in Trains. The first one is the change of fuel. The
second one is the implementation of a reliable breaking system.
Development of the Steam Engine
Early trains were powered by steam. The process included coal, wood and
heated water in a boiler. This boiling water resulted in steam. The steam was then
collected in a steam dome, piped to the cylinders, where it expanded. This forced
pistons to move back and forth, similar to that of a car. These pistons were connected to
the long arms called driving rods, which turned the huge wheels of the train.
The huge disadvantage was that the train needed to refill itself all the time.
Large steam engines burned 15 tons of coal for a distance of 200km. The coal, wood and
water was picked up at servicing spots every 200 km. The boiler needed water often,
which was filled every 16 km.
Diesel locomotives replaced the steam engine. In the late 1920’s, they were
used in smaller trains. In the 1930’s, passenger trains began usage of diesel engines,
which were much more powerful. In the 1940’s, diesel engines completely took over the
steam engine in regular service.
Diesel locomotives were preferred because they were more efficient, and did
not require the constant servicing that used to plague the steam engine. This new
technology featured diesel powering an electric generator. This electric generator would
turn the rail wheels. Also, hydraulic were also tried, the efficiency and control of the
electric generator came out on top.
Development of the “Brakemen”
When trains needed to stop, the conductor would give the signal, and the
brakeman‐ the person who is in charge implementing the brakes would manually use
hand‐wheel techniques to apply brakes. This is very dangerous because it was
ineffective, and impractical as trains became longer and faster. This is when a new idea
was formed
This new idea involved a pneumatic system – where compressed air would halt
the train. Compressed air obtained from a pump was much stronger than a manual
brake applied by a person. This way, the conductor could quickly brake the train without
having to call the brakeman.
Air was pumped into the storage tanks on the train. Air was replenished before
the departure as well as whenever necessary. Pressure indicators on tanks would show
the conductor how much was in the tank, and when a refuel was necessary. To use
these brakes, air in tanks was pumped down onto the brakes. This force was enough to
stop the wholes from turning. In an emergency situation, high pressured air brakes
would stop the train in a shorter distance, usually half a mile.
Although the idea was excellent, the first pneumatic brakes failed.
Early 20th century transportation was mainly based on railway locomotives. For people, air travel was
not yet perfected and only the rich could own cars. For products, trains represented the cheapest way to
get the goods from Western Canada to Eastern Canada. This broad market of transportation was a
battlefield for two huge railway companies. The Canadian Pacific Railway as well as the Canadian
National Railway. The CPR definitely won, as it was the only company to stay afloat during the Great
Depression. The CNR also served a great purpose. Its entry into business kept prices competitive for
Prairie farmers, who benefited from such competition. Early 20th century was also an extremely
innovative phase for trains and many other forms of transportation. Two main innovations included the
development of the steam engine and the brake system. Finally, trains in the early 20th century created a
class difference. While privileged travelers could eat steak and view the scenery, the poor had to crouch
around the furnace to warm themselves up. Railway locomotives are still important to Canada today,
but not as prominent as they were a century ago. In times of war, trains helped Germany transport their
soldiers to the war front. In times of crisis, the railway helped homeless men find jobs in foreign cities. In
Canada, trains helped minimize a huge scattered nation, and bring forward a peaceful tomorrow.
Ocean Liners
Jason Shin
The period between the 1920’s and 1930’s is widely held as the golden age of ocean liners. Ocean liners
were the only way to get between North America and Europe. At that period of time, there were great
advancements in speed, size and elegance of liners as competition grew between European and North
American companies. Demand for faster and larger ships rose. The need to build more superior ships
had shaped the 1920’s and 1930’s as the age of transatlantic transportation.

What impelled ocean liners to gain demand and to prosper?
In the 1920’s, ocean liners experienced strong demand and growth on the account of the
following reasons. Primarily, ocean liners were the only way to get between North America and
Europe. Furthermore, great economic booms and prosperity in the 1920’s led to an increasing
number of people who traveled for business or vacation purposes. Most importantly, in the
1920’s a large number of immigrants came to the United States and Canada from Europe on
transatlantic liners.

Famous shipping and passenger liners
In the beginning of twentieth century, competition flared between the great powers for ocean
supremacy. This mostly included the building of warship fleets for WWI, but after the war,
especially in the 1920’s, it also included building grand ocean liners. These ocean liners became
national identities that represented the wealth and power of a country. The most prominent
and leading shipping lines at that time were Britain’s Cunard Line, and White Star Line;
Germany’s Hamburg America Line , and North German Lloyd; and France’s French Line.
The Cunard Line
Founded by a Canadian businessman, the Cunard Line began running as a transatlantic
steam ship mail service. In the World War One, Cunard Lines lost eleven out of eighteen
passenger liners. In the 1920’s, the Cunard Line decided to rebuild its lost fleet. In 1923,
it began to construct Franconia II. It was a single stacker but was far superior in size
compared to other ships. Franconia II was one of Cunard's most luxurious ships in the
1920's with garden lounges, and with fifteenth‐century styled rooms. In the early
1920’s, shipping companies started to rely a lot on cruising instead of transatlantic
crossings. Franconia II was of the earliest cruising ships; and it was popular with
celebrities of the time.
The CunardWhite Star Line
By the early 1930's, the famous Cunard Line and other ocean liners encountered
financial difficulties. There was a decrease of the number of passengers due to the
depression. The British government agreed to provide financial assistance on the terms
that Cunard merges with White Star Line (a former competitor). On May, 1934, the
merge took place and the Cunard‐White Star Line was born.
By the end of 1934, the new line completed the new super‐liner, RMS Queen Mary. It
was the second largest passenger ship and it was the fastest ocean liner for the first year
of its service. The RMS Queen Mary ranked the highest in size, speed and luxury. The
Cunard‐White Star line was secretly building another passenger ship Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth was the biggest passenger ship the world has ever seen but
unfortunately, the construction was finished when World War II began. As the result,
Queen Elizabeth could not earn much glory and had no choice except to become a troop
ship just like many other ocean liners. As the war came to an end, air travel stepped
over the ocean liners in the 1950’s and 60’s.
The Bluenose
In 1920, many Nova Scotians wanted a grand fishing vessel for use in the Grand Banks
fisheries. In addition, it was planned to be one that would have a high top speed,
enough to compete with the typically fast New England schooners. Construction began
on the ship in December 1920 and was finished in March, the next year. The Bluenose
was a wooden‐mast sail ship. Amid hundreds of spectators, the Bluenose was launched
into Lunenburg harbor on March 26, 1921. The Bluenose held its title as the world’s
fastest fishing schooner for seventeen years. Unfortunately, in 1942, it was sold to the
West Indian Trading Company. Atlantic Canadians were devastated as they fought hard
to keep the iconic schooner in Nova Scotia. In 1946, the Blue nose hit a coral reef of
Haiti and sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Public Transit
Peter Hwang
The face of public transit did not appeal to many Canadians in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Above all, public
transportation was available only in the largest cities in Canada. However, even in these cities,
transportation came across a few problems. Trams and buses took longer to travel than automobile. In
addition, their schedules were often delayed. Commuters often preferred the automobile over trams
and buses.
However, public transportation did also have its advantages. Trams and buses helped reduce traffic
congestion. In addition, it was more affordable to use trams and buses as opposed to automobiles.
Traffic Congestion
With the growing numbers of automobile and the amount of legal drivers in the 1920’s, , traffic
congestion became a huge issue. As a result, in 1923, many changes were introduced to reduce
congestion in Toronto. For example there were more parking lots, parking tolls, time limits as well as
regulations concerning traffic on streets. Toronto also began constructing more roads for cars and
streetcars to travel on. Placing a traffic director at major intersections was used as an early method to
control traffic.

Tram
In the 1920’s and 30’s, the largest cities of North America used trams as the main mode of public
transportation. In the 1920s, trams were not widespread throughout the country. There were only tram
systems in Toronto and Montreal at that time.
In the 1920s and 30s, traffic congestion was a major issue. Legal drivers increased drastically,
causing traffic. Public transportation helped reduce this problem.
Trams were considered to be much better than buses because they were less crowded than
buses and it had higher capacities for passenger numbers. Trams were also able to squeeze through
narrow roads and were also more comfortable because the brakes and accelerations were smoother.
There were a few disadvantages. Primarily, trams often ran late. Secondly, they were also more
expensive than buses. Thirdly, it created lots of noise due to its wheels.
Toronto City's Transit
A provincial act created the Toronto Transportation Commission (TTC) in 1920. This commission
took over and combined the nine existing transit systems within the city in 1921. The TTC expanded the
Toronto streetcar system to connect Toronto's residential areas with the business district. In 1921, TTC
introduced a bus service in Toronto. Buses did not play a significant role in transportation in the 1920’s,
and was seldom used by citizens.
In the 1920’s and 30’s, public transit was a growing method of transportation; however, it was
only available in major cities such as Toronto and Montreal. Public transit was not widespread because
only the largest cities could afford and maintain it. In addition, the Great Depression had a serious
financial affect on public transit. Government municipalities had to provide large support to near‐
bankrupt transportation services. Furthermore, the Great Depression caused an increase of migration
from rural to urban areas. Therefore, cities were faced to provide a higher population with more public
transportation. Municipalities were often unable to cope with the burden and the people were faced
with few alternative choices such as using the automobile, cycling, and walking.
Airplanes
Terry Kim
As early as WWI, the introduction of aviation had a major impact on the world. Progressing from the
1920’s, more Canadians became heavily dependent on airline passenger travel. As people began to
realize the significance of the air transportation, airline services rapidly increased in demand and size.
Airmail was booming, with the continuous support of businessmen who enjoyed fast mail delivery
services. However, the early airline industry did not touch a large number of people. The reason being
was that most of the Canadian population during those years could not afford the expensive costs
introduced by the airlines.
Commercial Air lines
The development of commercial airliners began in the late 1910’s to the early 1920’s. During
that period of time, the government considered the role of aviation as a part in developing northern
Canada. Through the government’s help, Canada was able to lead the world in the transportation of air
cargo. But soon enough, depression hit Canada like a maelstrom. To recover from the damage, P.M.
King, in 1935, promised a trans‐Canadian airline system. This created a base for the international airlines
and airports we see today. Transatlantic flights were also introduced later that decade, but were too
expensive for the majority of Canadians.
Year Leaving from Going to Price

1931 Winnipeg Regina $18.50
Montreal New York $33.40
Moncton Toronto $88.25
1939 North America Marseilles, France $375.00
$675.00*
*Round Trip from North America to Marseilles. Equivalent to about 7000 CND today.

Airmail
Airmail was a successful and developing industry that was prospering from aviation. Airplanes were
much more efficient as they were faster than trains and ships. However, airplanes were not trusted with
important material since accidents were known to occur. As aircrafts advanced, people started changing
their fixed thoughts about aviation. The airmail trend steadily increased. As the plane’s reputation
steadily amplified, people were more exposed to air transportation.
Th e view of air travel in Canada
Due to the outrageous prices and worsening economy, air travel was not very popular amongst
Canadians. The costs were much higher than what the average Canadian family could afford. Many
Canadians also did not trust the safety of planes, especially after a widely publicized devastating plane
crash in 1931. Many airline companies and airplane manufacturers needed to create a safer and a more
efficient air service. Air travel needed more improvements before they could challenge the main mode
of transportation during that time period ‐ trains and ocean liners.
Improve ments in Commercial Air Travel
During the start of the 1930’s, there was a competition to create more efficient and improved
airplanes. Aircraft manufacturers and airline companies took a big step to create a secure and a cost‐
efficient way to fly. This period of time was believed to be the most groundbreaking period in
development of aviation in history. Many new functions were added to these planes.
Some of the innovative improvements were:
• Air‐cooled engines which was much more efficient than water‐cooled engines
• Reduction of weight
• Increased stability
• Faster speed due to more efficient engines
• Use of Altimeters‐an instrument which measures altitude of an object over fixed level
• Airspeed indicators‐an instrument used in aircraft to display the airspeed of an aircraft
• “Artificial horizon” system or also known as “attitude indicator”: a system which informed
the orientation of the airplane relative to the ground.

Established Canadian Airlines
In the late 1930’s, there were many small airline companies in Canada offering scheduled
passenger and mail flights from city to city. This gave the government an idea to start an airline business
themselves. In 1937, the Canadian government created Canada Airlines (later renamed to Air Canada).
In the late 1930’s, the Canadian Pacific Airlines was created. This resulted in a rivalry between the
government’s Canada Air and the new Canadian Pacific Airlines. Canadian Pacific Airlines began to fly
the Atlantic routes while Air Canada specialized in trans‐Canada flights. These two airlines competed
with one another over the Canadian airline market until in late 1990’s when Air Canada bought out
Canadian Pacific Airlines.
Boeing 314
In 1927, William Boeing founded the Boeing Airline Company. It was one of the most powerful
and prospering manufacturers, growing rapidly in the late 1930’s. They created efficient and reliable
new models. The Boeing 314, was first developed in 1935. The model was a great success as many
airline companies purchased the plane, including Pam America Airlines.

Zeppelins
Jake Dorabialski
A Zeppelin is a type of dirigible that was first developed by German aviation pioneer Ferdinand Graf von
Zeppelin. He developed his first airship called the LZ1 in 1900. With further advancement, Zeppelin’s
airship flights became increasingly successful and caught the public’s attention in Germany. During
WWI, Zeppelins were used especially for military purposes by the German army; however, after the war
they were developed for commercial travel.
The Golden Age
The Golden Age of Zeppelin dirigibles was marked in 1928, with the construction of the Graf
Zeppelin. The Zeppelin Company had expanded to commercial flights and manufactured the dirigibles
not for military purposes but for a way to “peacefully connect people.” The Graf Zeppelin undertook
flights around Europe and South Africa. Despite the Great Depression, the company faced growth,
profiting from transporting mail throughout Europe and North America. Oddly, the Zeppelin Company
also experienced an increasing number of passengers, especially from the United States.
The Hindenburg Disaster
Built in 1935 by the Zeppelin Company, the Hindenburg was considered the most superior air
vessel ever created. It was the largest dirigible at that time, measuring 250m (almost three times as long
as a Boeing 757). The Hindenburg used hydrogen, a very explosive gas, to ascend. The Hindenburg also
ranked high in elegance and was very luxurious. It attracted the most wealthy people as well as
celebrities.
The Hindenburg had its first commercial flight in 1936, one year before its last. Despite the
world's decreasing economy, the Hindenburg was very successful, making many passenger and cargo
mail service flights. This success led the Zeppelin Company to expand on trans‐Atlantic service flights.
However, the project was immediately devastated as the Hindenburg exploded in May 1937,
while making a flight in New Jersey, U.S.A. When the hydrogen gas caught fire, the top part of the ship
exploded and it all came crashing to the ground. This disaster marks the end of the Zeppelin era and its
Golden Age. People lost all hope and confidence in dirigibles; therefore, their demand sharply dropped.
All projects to expand blimp transportation were abandoned and many companies who manufactured
dirigibles went bankrupt.

Transportation in 1920s and 1930s

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Transportation in 1920s and 1930s

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Year Leaving from Going to Price

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