SAN ANTONIO'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

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

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving San Antonio, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Missouri Pacific Station
Houston St. and Medina St.
Opened 1907, replacing earlier station

Southern Pacific Station
1174 E. Commerce St.
Opened 1926, replacing earlier station at same location built in 1877

Missouri Kansas Texas Station
Durango St. (now Cesar Chavez Blvd.) and Flores St.
Opened 1917

Prior to building their own station, Missouri Kansas Texas trains used the Southern Pacific station.

MISSOURI PACIFIC

(Missouri Pacific Station)

Departures



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

205  Texas Triangle        Corpus Christi  7:45       12:50 pm
  7  Southerner            Laredo          8:30
 22  Sunshine Special      Little Rock     8:30        2:30 pm
 21  Sunshine Special      Laredo          5:15        1:00 pm
  8  Southerner            St. Louis       7:50        8:15 pm
215                        Corpus Christi 10:00
Arrivals



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

216                        Corpus Christi  7:00
  7  Southerner            St. Louis       7:15        5:45 am
 22  Sunshine Special      Laredo          8:00        1:30 pm
 21  Sunshine Special      Little Rock     5:00       12:40 pm
  8  Southerner            Laredo          7:20
206  Texas Triangle        Corpus Christi  7:30        2:00 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1970, last train was the Texas Eagle.

After World War II, the Sunshine Special was renamed the Texas Eagle, upon reequipping with streamlined equipment.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC

(Southern Pacific Station)

Departures



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

  2  Sunset Limited        New Orleans     2:15        3:45 am     7:50 am
  1  Sunset Limited        Los Angeles     3:15       12:15 pm     1:35 am
211  (mixed train)         Kerrville       8:00
302  (Motor Train)         Houston         9:00
  5  Argonaut              Los Angeles     3:05        2:40 am
  6  Argonaut              New Orleans     3:40       12:40 pm
313  Border Limited        Brownsville    10:40
  8  Alamo                 Houston        11:30
Arrivals



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

  2  Sunset Limited        Los Angeles     1:55        3:25 am     7:50 am
  1  Sunset Limited        New Orleans     2:55       11:59 am     1:35 am
  7  Alamo                 Houston         6:30
314  Border Limited        Brownsville     6:30
  5  Argonaut              New Orleans     2:35        1:45 am
301  (Motor Train)         Houston         2:55
  6  Argonaut              Los Angeles     3:10       12:50 pm
212  (mixed train)         Kerrville       4:45
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971, with the Sunset Limited.

MISSOURI KANSAS TEXAS

(Missouri Kansas Texas Station)

Departures



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

  2  Texas Special         St. Louis       8:30       11:00 am
  4  Katy Limited          Kansas City     1:30
  6  Katy Flyer            Kansas City    11:00       10:10 pm
Arrivals



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

  5  Katy Flyer            Kansas City     7:00        6:20 am
  1  Texas Special         St. Louis       5:30        3:20 pm
  3  Katy Limited          Kansas City     9:00
Passenger service discontinued in 1964, last train was the Texas Special.

STATIONS TODAY

The Missouri Pacific station remains standing, and is now a bank.

The Southern Pacific station continued to be used by Amtrak until 1998, when Amtrak moved into a smaller station a short distance south, at 350 Hoefgen St. The Southern Pacific station has since been adapted for other purposes.

The Missouri Kansas Texas station has been demolished, a hotel now occupies that location.

Texas Transportation Museum
Railroad Stations of San Antonio
Links to Web sites containing photos and further information on the stations in San Antonio.

Sunset Station
Link to an official Web site, showing how the Southern Pacific station has been preserved and transformed for other uses.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

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