[5] In keeping with the theme, all the sleeping, dining, and lounge cars on the train were named for people, places, or events connected with Washington's life.

A country starved for good news latched onto the railway's confidence in the future and willingness to spend money to introduce a fine new train.

The April 1952 issue of Tracks Magazine reported: The George Washington was also known for its diner and its beautiful china manufactured by Buffalo Pottery.

After World War II, C&O chairman Robert Ralph Young attempted to upgrade the George Washington route service with newer equipment and steam turbine motive power.

In that era, automobiles and airline travel were quickly increasing their market share over long distance passenger rail services in the United States.

Between 1953 and 1954, the C&O shifted the eastern terminus for its Norfolk/Hampton Roads area passenger trains west from Phoebus, Virginia to Newport News station.

Starting in July, Amtrak began integrating the George with the James Whitcomb Riley, an old New York Central/Penn Central daytimer running from Cincinnati to Chicago.

The George began exchanging through Washington-Chicago and Newport News-Chicago coaches with the Riley at Cincinnati on July 12, adding a through sleeping car on September 8.

"[citation needed] While the kitten's rendition is credited to Guido Grenewald the success of the tiny feline as an advertising campaign for the railroad is honored to Lionel Probert, an assistant to the C&O president at the time.