EL PASO'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving El Paso in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving El Paso, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Union Station
700 San Francisco St.
Opened 1905, consolidating the stations of some railroads

Number of station tracks: 9
Interlocked switches controlled from Tower 196

SOUTHERN PACIFIC

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  5  Argonaut              Los Angeles     8:50        7:10 pm
 43  Californian           Los Angeles     8:55   39   7:10 am
  2  Sunset Limited        New Orleans     9:15        2:30 pm     6:20 pm
  1  Sunset Limited        Los Angeles     7:35       11:55 pm     1:35 pm
 44  Californian           Chicago         8:05   40   9:20 pm
  4  Golden State Ltd.     Chicago         8:35        7:55 am
  6  Argonaut              New Orleans     8:40        8:45 pm
  3  Golden State Ltd.     Los Angeles    10:05        3:00 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  5  Argonaut              New Orleans     8:20        6:30 pm
 43  Californian           Chicago         8:30   39   6:20 am
  2  Sunset Limited        Los Angeles     8:55        2:00 pm     5:50 pm
  1  Sunset Limited        New Orleans     7:20       11:40 pm     1:05 pm
 44  Californian           Los Angeles     7:40   40   8:25 pm
  6  Argonaut              Los Angeles     7:50        7:50 pm
  4  Golden State Ltd.     Los Angeles     8:20        7:40 am
  3  Golden State Ltd.     Chicago         9:50        2:45 pm
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971, with the Sunset Limited.

TEXAS & PACIFIC

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  6  Texas Ranger          Marshall       12:30 pm     2:40 pm
  2  Sunshine Special      St. Louis       8:45 pm    12:50 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 11  Sunshine Special      Marshall        6:30 am 1  10:45 pm
  7  Southerner            Texarkana       5:00 pm    12:50 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1967, last train was the Texas Eagle.

After World War II, several trains were reequipped with streamlined cars, and evolved into the Texas Eagle service.

SANTA FE

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 14                        Albuquerque    10:45 pm     8:00 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 13                        Albuquerque     7:30 am    11:40 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1968.

NATIONAL RAILWAYS OF MEXICO

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  8                        Mexico City     3:05 pm    10:30 am
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  7                        Mexico City     8:15 am     4:30 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1957.

STATIONS TODAY

Union Station continues to be used by Amtrak.

El Paso Union Station
Link to a Web site containing further historical information on Union Station.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.