Chicago to New Orleans - passing trains?

[CSumption]

During the Panama Limited's journey from Chicago to New Orleans, were there trains that it would have crossed paths with along the way? That is, would a passenger looking out the window see another train at any point on the trip?

[Deggesty]

CSumption

During the Panama Limited's journey from Chicago to New Orleans, were there trains that it would have crossed paths with along the way? That is, would a passenger looking out the window see another train at any point on the trip?

The following is a list of places where a passenger on the Panama Limited could have seen other passenger trains.

From Central Station to Kensington, the South Shore used the IC Electric track, which ran alongside the steam main as far south as Richton. So, a passenger could have seen South Shore trains and IC Electric trains, both coming and going.

The IC crossed both the PRR and NYC at Grand Crossing (75^th Street). It might have been possible to see a NKP train between Grand Crossing and 83^rd Street. The IC crossed over the GTW just above Harvey. Big Four trains ran over the IC between Central Station and Kankakee.

There were several crossings of other passenger roads in Illinois–P&E at Champaign, Big Four at Mattoon, PRR at Effingham, B&O at Odin, Southern at Centralia, L&N at Ashley, and C&EI at Ullin. The M&O (later, GM&O) used the IC track from Cairo Jct., Ill. To Winford Jct., Ky.

The next junction was Memphis, where the SLSF and RI also used the Central station.

A C&G train might have been seen in Winona, and a Mississippi Central train might have been seen in Brookhaven.

Going into New Orleans, it is possible that an L&A train could be seen, and the MP and SP used the old Union Station.

These are the possible passenger train sightings; there were several other places where freight trains might have been seen.

Johnny

[daveklepper]

Then, of course, if he didn't sleep and kept is window shade open, he could see the northbound Panama, the northbound City Of Miami on the days it was running, the northbound Seminol.   Before retiring, he could see the northbound City of New Orleans.   All northbound IC trains.

[espeefoamer]

Would he be passing any trains that have no name?

[daveklepper]

Plenty of freight trains.

[KCSfan]

Let me add a bit to what has already been posted.

In addition to those of the PRR, NYC and NKP, passenger trains of the Pere Marquette, B&O and Erie all crossed the IC mainline in Chicago proper. Michigan Central (NYC) trains also used the IC rails from Central Station to 115th St (Kensington). The C&EI  crossed under the IC in the south suburb of Dolton. Further south in Illinois additional passenger lines that crossed the IC were the NKP at both Paxton and Neoga, the Illinois Terminal at Champaign and the Wabash at Tolono.

In addition to the other roads already mentioned, I'm pretty sure the MP crossed the IC at Memphis  and at the New Orleans Union Terminal trains of the Southern, L&N and T&P would likely be seen.

Additional northbound IC trains that would be passed by the Panama were the Louisiane, the Creole and the Chickasaw. Somewhere en route the southbound Southern Express which was also headed for New Orleans would be overtaken and passed.

Mark 

 

 

[JWhite]

 The IC also crossed the CB&Q and shared tracks with the Missouri and Illinois (Missouri Pacific) in Centralia, the CB&Q and the M&I both had stations in Centralia.  It also crossed the CE&I in Kinmundy but I don't think there was any passenger traffic on the CE&I for much of the time the Panama Limited ran.  I have read an article from the Kinmundy newspaper from the turn of the last century that talks about riding the IC from Kinmundy to Centralia, the M&I to Salem and the CE&I back to Kinmundy for a one day round trip from Kinmmundy to Centralia.  I suppose one would have had to ride all three railroads for the one day shopping trip...

[wjstix]

espeefoamer

Would he be passing any trains that have no name?

Yes, and freight yards full of old black men too.

Actually if you count freight, passenger and commuter trains, the rider would probably have seen about 50 trains before getting out of the suburbs of Chicago.