Nostalgia & History > Southern Crescent at Alexandria

In the summer of 1972, Southern Railway train number 1, the Washington-New Orleans "Southern Crescent" pauses at Alexandria (Va.) Union Station. Through cars were handled north of Washington by Amtrak to New York, and for a time, Boston. (my photo)

Art House

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Excellent Art!  Thank you.

Fantastic picture!

A through sleeper was also operated on this train from NY to LAX with an overnight layover in your sleeper in New Orleans.  Amtrak provided this service up to the early 80's.

Old Southern Railway Washington, DC based passenger train crews worked to and from  Monroe, VA     Old Southern Railway Alexandria, VA based engine crews worked to and from Monroe, VA.

RodneyZona Wrote:
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> Old Southern Railway Washington, DC based
> passenger train crews worked to and from  Monroe,
> VA     Old Southern Railway Alexandria, VA
> based engine crews worked to and from Monroe, VA.

"They handed him his orders in Monroe, Virginia, sayin' Steve, you're way behind time. This is not 38 , this old 97, put her into Spencer on time."

 

Who would have guessed that Spencer became the NC Transportation Museum and home to so many historic pieces of equipment.

Excellent photo of a great train.
Thanks for your posting.
ALLEN

While I love to look at photos that help me relive my past, of trains I once rode, I am greatly moved by the sleeping car porter's image. Oh to have interviewed him and heard his stories of woe and glee as he worked the many miles-of-smiles in the old sleeping cars. I am greatly honored to have met but a few, during my brief stint as a railroader.  It is a rich photo.

Hou74-76 Wrote:
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> While I love to look at photos that help me relive
> my past, of trains I once rode, I am greatly moved
> by the sleeping car porter's image. Oh to have
> interviewed him and heard his stories of woe and
> glee as he worked the many miles-of-smiles in the
> old sleeping cars. I am greatly honored to have
> met but a few, during my brief stint as a
> railroader.  It is a rich photo.

Yes.

Rising from the Rails by Larry Tye is a good overview of the Pullman employee experience. Many interviews, etc with veterans of rail service