First service March 31, 1941 Former operator(s) Southern Railway End New York City | Last service 1970 Start New Orleans, Louisiana | |
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The Southerner was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Southern Railway in the United States between New York City and New Orleans, Louisiana. It operated from 1941 to 1970.
Contents
History
The Southerner was one of two new streamliners put into operation by the Southern Railway in 1941, the other being the Tennessean. The new train made its first run on March 31, 1941, using new equipment delivered by Pullman-Standard. The Pennsylvania Railroad handled the train between New York and Washington, D.C.
In 1970, the Southern Railway combined the Crescent with the Southerner to form the Southern Crescent. This train became Amtrak's Crescent on February 1, 1979.
Equipment
Pullman-Standard built three consists in 1941 for the new Southerner streamliner. Each consist included the following: baggage-dormitory-coach (22 seats), 52-seat coach (partitioned because of segregationist policies in the Southern United States), 56-seat coach, a dining car, two more 56-seat coaches, and a tavern-lounge-observation car. The front half of the observation car contained a tavern area with booths and tables. A bar area with a small buffet followed, then a rounded-off observation area. The Pennsylvania Railroad owned three of the 56-seat coaches. Motive power south of Washington, D.C. was provided by an EMD E6 diesel locomotive.