CHARLOTTE'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

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

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Charlotte, during the golden age of passenger trains. Most passenger trains used the Southern Station.

Southern Station
601 W. Trade St.
Opened 1907

Seaboard Station
Tryon St. and 13th St.
Opened 1907

SOUTHERN RAILWAY

(Southern Station)

Departures-Southbound



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

 37  Crescent              New Orleans     3:35        2:05
 47  Southerner            New Orleans     4:27        4:10    1   3:40
 31  Augusta Special       Augusta         5:00        3:30
 29  Peach Queen           Atlanta         9:20        8:45    5  10:15
 39  Sunnyland             Birmingham     10:10
 33  Piedmont Limited      New Orleans    12:20       12:20
 11                        Greenville      1:01
 23  Skyland Special       Jesup           6:30
135                        Atlanta        10:25       10:55
 35  New Orleans Express   Montgomery     11:30       11:50
Arrivals-Southbound



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

 37  Crescent              New York        3:35        2:05
 47  Southerner            New York        4:27        4:10    1   3:25
 31  Augusta Special       Washington      4:50        3:15
 29  Peach Queen           New York        9:15        8:25    5   9:50
 39  Sunnyland             Washington      9:45
 33  Piedmont Limited      Washington     12:20       12:10
 11                        Richmond       12:31
 21                        Goldsboro       4:30
 15  (mixed train)         Taylorsville    7:50
135                        Washington      9:40       10:25
 35  New Orleans Express   Washington     11:25       11:30
Departures-Northbound



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

 48  Southerner            New York        1:45        1:42    2  12:12
 30  Peach Queen           Washington      2:35        8:40 pm
136                        Washington      6:45        7:25
 36  Washington Express    Washington      8:20        7:50
 12  (mixed train)         Taylorsville   10:40
 22                        Goldsboro      12:50
 34  Piedmont Limited      New York        4:00        3:50
 12                        Richmond        6:15
 38  Crescent              New York        7:50        7:15    6   5:02
 32  Augusta Special       Washington      8:15        7:30
 40  Sunnyland             Washington      9:10
Arrivals-Northbound



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

 48  Southerner            New Orleans     1:45        1:42    2  12:05
 30  Peach Queen           Atlanta         2:27        8:20 pm
 24  Skyland Special       Jesup           8:05
136                        Atlanta         6:20        7:00
 36  Washington Express    Montgomery      8:10        7:40
 34  Piedmont Limited      New Orleans     3:50        3:40
 12                        Greenville      5:48
 38  Crescent              New Orleans     7:50        7:10    6   4:45
 32  Augusta Special       Augusta         8:05        7:20
 40  Sunnyland             Birmingham      9:00
Southern Railway initially did not join Amtrak, and was required to continue operation of its remaining trains beyond 1971.

In 1961, Southern Railway moved to a modest new station at 1914 N. Tryon St. Amtrak continues to use that station.

SEABOARD AIR LINE RAILWAY

(Seaboard Station)

Departures



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

 14                        Wilmington NC   5:30 am     4:20 am
 21                        Rutherfordton  11:35 am
 22                        Hamlet          6:55 pm
Arrivals



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

 21                        Hamlet         11:25 am
 22                        Rutherfordton   6:35 pm
 13                        Wilmington NC  11:10 pm    10:40 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1958.

Until late 1930's, also operating into Charlotte was Norfolk Southern, using its own separate station at an undetermined location. In the early 1930's, the Norfolk Southern station was at Brevard St. near the Charlotte Yard.

STATIONS TODAY

The old Southern Railway station was demolished in 1962. The Greyhound bus station is now at that location.

The Seaboard station still stands.

North Carolina Railroad Stations
Link to a Web page containing further information on the historic stations.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

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

Southern Railway had the largest presence in Charlotte, with its main line between Washington and Atlanta and beyond to New Orleans. At Ninth Street, 1/2 mile northeast of the old station, was the junction with SR's Winston Salem Division. And immediately west of the old station was the junction with SR's Columbia Division. The Columbia Division line was later relocated to connect with the main line at Charlotte Jct., 3 miles southwest of the old station.

Charlotte was located on the Seaboard Air Line branch between Monroe and Rutherfordton NC, with SAL using its own station.