Southerner (U.S. train)
{{Short description|Former named American passenger train}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width =
| name = Southerner
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = The Southerner Southern Railway System.JPG
| image_width = 300px
| caption = Postcard depiction of the train.
| type = Inter-city rail
| status = Operating
| locale = Northeastern United States/Southeastern United States
| first = March 31, 1941
| last = 1970
| operator =
| formeroperator = Southern Railway
| ridership =
| start = New Orleans, Louisiana
| stops =
| end = New York City
| distance = {{convert|1377|mi|km}}
| journeytime =
| frequency = Daily
| trainnumber = 47 southbound, 48 northbound
| class =
| access =
| seating = Reclining seat coaches
| sleeping = A single sleeping car of roomettes and double bedrooms (1952)
| autorack =
| catering = Dining car
| observation = Tavern-lounge car
| entertainment=
| baggage =
| otherfacilities=
| stock =
| gauge =
| el =
| speed =
| map = {{Southerner|inline=y}}
| owners =
| map_state =
}}
The Southerner was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Southern Railway in the United States between New York City and New Orleans via Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Meridian. It operated from 1941 to 1970.
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.
The Southerner shared much of the same route as the Crescent, the Southern's other major New York-New Orleans sleeper, but diverged between Atlanta and New Orleans. While the Crescent took a more direct route via Montgomery and Mobile, Alabama, the Southerner stayed inland to serve Birmingham and Meridian. The Southerner also traveled exclusively on Southern trackage south of Washington, while the Crescent used Atlanta and West Point Railroad, Western Railway of Alabama and Louisville and Nashville Railroad trackage south of Atlanta.
In 1970, the Southern Railway combined the Crescent with the Southerner to form the Southern Crescent.{{cite web| url=http://www.trainweb.com/routes/route_19/rg_19.htm| title=Amtrak Crescent Route Guide| author=Amtrak| accessdate=2007-05-15}} The merged train moved to the Birmingham–Meridian route, allowing the train to run solely on Southern's right-of-way between New Orleans and Washington. 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.
References
{{reflist|2|refs=
{{Wayner - Car names, numbers, consists|page=86-87}}
{{Wegman-Illustrated | page=100}}
}}
External links
- [http://nutrias.org/~nopl/exhibits/choochoo/franck123.jpg Terminal Station, at 1125 Canal Street, New Orleans]
- [http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=166795 Southerner 1948 at Tuscaloosa, Alabama]
- [http://www.getcruising.com/rails/_sou.html Streamliners to the Palms]
- [http://streamlinermemories.info/South/SOU52TT.pdf July, 1952 Southern Railway timetable]
{{Named Trains of the Southern Railway}}
Category:Named passenger trains of the United States
Category:Night trains of the United States
Category:Passenger trains of the Southern Railway (U.S.)
Category:Transportation in New Orleans
Category:Railway services introduced in 1941
Category:Railway services discontinued in 1970
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Alabama
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Louisiana
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Mississippi
Category:Passenger rail transportation in North Carolina
Category:Passenger rail transportation in South Carolina
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Virginia
{{US-train-stub}}