The Douglas DC-7 was an evolution of the highly successful DC-6. The airliner featured greater speed and range with a stretched fuselage and eighteen cylinder Wright R 3350 Turbo-Compound engines. The DC-7 was the first airliner to provide non-stop service on the Los Angeles / New York route in both directions. It was only a few yeas after the introduction of the DC-7 that the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 entered service spelling the end for the large propliners.