AMERICA'S STREAMLINERS
ILLINOIS CENTRAL
(PRE WW II)
The most famous Illinois Central train for many years was the Panama Limited, operating overnight between Chicago and New Orleans. Although in later years, the daytime City of New Orleans over that same route became more familiar through folk song. Amtrak eventually adopted the City of New Orleans name for its one daily train on that route, operating overnight. The Panama Limited was first streamlined in 1942, but some cars were actually rebuilt heavyweight cars. The articulated Green Diamond train was one of the earliest streamliners, introduced in 1936. And in 1940, Illinois Central introduced the City of Miami, one of three all coach streamliners operating every third day over different routings between Chicago and Miami. Overall, one streamliner was leaving Chicago or Miami each day.
Only streamlined trains and the most important stations are shown.
GREEN DIAMOND
(required 1 set)
#51 May 3, 1942 #50
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5:00 pm Chicago 2:05 pm
5:52 pm Kankakee 1:03 pm
7:15 pm Clinton 11:39 pm
8:05 pm Springfield 10:55 pm
10:10 pm St. Louis 8:55 pm
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(articulated train built by Pullman-Standard in 1936)
Power Car 121
Baggage Mail 122
56 Seat Coach 123
44 Seat Coach Buffet 124
Diner Parlor Observation 125
CITY OF MIAMI
(required 1 set/operated every third day)
#53 May 3, 1942 #52
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8:20 am Chicago 9:05 pm
9:13 am Kankakee 8:05 pm
10:25 am Champaign 6:51 pm
1:18 pm Carbondale 3:41 pm
4:35 pm Jackson TN 12:30 pm
10:07 pm Birmingham 7:28 am
2:25 am Columbus GA 5:03 am
4:32 am Albany GA 3:03 am
6:45 am Waycross 12:45 am
8:25 am Jacksonville 11:15 pm
2:55 pm Miami 4:30 pm
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(Birmingham-Albany via Central of Georgia)
(Albany-Jacksonville via Atlantic Coast Line)
(Jacksonville-Miami via Florida East Coast)
(all cars built by Pullman-Standard in 1940)
E6A Locomotive 4000
Baggage Dorm Coach 1900 - Bougainvilla
52 Seat Coach 2600 - Camellia
60 Seat Coach 2601 - Japonica
Diner 4100 - Palm Garden
60 Seat Coach 2602 - Hibiscus
60 Seat Coach 2603 - Poinsettia
Tavern Observation 3300 - Bamboo Grove
PANAMA LIMITED
(required 2 sets)
#55 May 3, 1942 #54
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3:15 pm Chicago 8:00 am
4:10 pm Kankakee 6:55 am
5:28 pm Champaign 5:40 am
8:45 pm Carbondale 2:12 am
1:10 am Memphis 9:30 pm
5:20 am Jackson MS 5:05 pm
9:15 am New Orleans 2:00 pm
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(all cars built by Pullman-Standard in 1942 except baggage dorm cars)
(baggage dorm cars were rebuilt heavyweight cars)
Baggage Dorm 1901-1902 Lake Michigan/Lake Ponchartrain
Diner 4101-4102 Evangeline/Vieux Carre
6S/6R/4BR Sleeper (12 cars available)
18R Sleeper City of Jackson/City of New Orleans
3BR/1C/1DR Lounge General Beauregard/General Jackson
4BR/4C/2DR Sleeper Chicagoland/St. Louisan
6S/6R/4BR Sleeper (12 cars available) (St. Louis-New Orleans)
6S/6R/4BR Sleeper (12 cars available) (Chicago-Gulfport SB only)
6S/6R/4BR Sleeper (12 cars available) (New Orleans-Cinc. NB only)
2BR/2C/1DR Observation Gulfport/Memphis