During my 1967-1970 stint at Bolt Beranek and Newman's Downers Grove Office, the intercitiy railroad passenger service I used most often was the GM&O's Chi. - St. Louis service. Only once did I make a full round trip to a client in St. Louis, but made many trips in connection with work in Normal (most frequently) Bloomiinngton, and Springfiled.. Rather than using an early Burlington suburban train from Westmont to catch the first GM&O, I would usually drive and park my car in a garage near Joliet Union Station. Breakfast and dinner on the train was always a treat, and even if a full day could not be devoted to the client, the time was usually sifficient. When needed, an overnight stay at a hotel was possible. I do not remember using a sleeper on any of these trips. The food, service, comfort, and punctuality were excellent. The trains, inside and out, looked a bit shopworn, but I did not let that bother me. They were always clean, and riding quality was good.
Other staff members in the office generally used their cars for such trips. And one check-out of an auditorium or church sound system and ventilating system noise control required two of us. I had a hard time convincing my partner on that project (I think his name was Vincent, but I am not sure,) to go by train. But he agreed "just this once." On the way back, over chicken dinners in the dining car, he confided that he never dreamt that travel could be so pleasant.
My first trip on the GM&O was as a newly inducted soldier during the Korean War. After a day of processing about 40 of us hiked from the induction center in Chicago to Union Station where we boarded a heavy weight open section sleeper attached just behind the baggage car of the Abraham Lincoln. After all the other passengers had eaten we went en-mass to the dining car which we had all to ourselves. I don't remember what we had for dinner but I remember savoring what was to be my last civilian meal for a long time. At St. Louis our sleeper was switched onto the rear of the Frisco's Will Rogers. In the wee hours of the morning the Frisco dropped our sleeper off at Newburg, MO and about 4:00 am a sergeant boarded the car to unceremoniously rouse us from our comfortable berths to board an army bus for the short ride to Ft. Leonard Wood and the first day of basic training.
Mark
Upper or lower? 40 in one sleeper with a capacity of 27? (12 sections = 24 + drawing room 3)
daveklepper Upper or lower? 40 in one sleeper with a capacity of 27? (12 sections = 24 + drawing room 3)
I only vaguely recall there were about 40 of us but there may well have been a few less than that number. I do remember two men slept in most (if not all) of the lower berths which was not uncommon on military moves. I was lucky enough to have an upper all to myself.
Pullman modified a lot of 12-1 cars for troop service by removing the door to the Drawing room making in effect 13 section cars.
Thanks for posting. Wasn't this the only intercity GM&O passenger service still operating at this time?
The only one operating out of Chicago. Was the GM&O involved in the Jax, FL - New Orleans service in any way, or was that only SAL/SCL - L&N?
I thought stuffing two soldiers into one lower berth ended after WWII, and I am surprised it existed so much later.
NorthWest Thanks for posting. Wasn't this the only intercity GM&O passenger service still operating at this time?
At that time (early 1950's) the GM&O still ran the following trains:
Chicago - St. Louis - Abraham Lincoln, Ann Rutledge, Midnight Special, Alton Limited, an un-named No's. 5 & 6
St. Louis - Mobile - Gulf Coast Rebel
Chicago - Kansas City - un-named No's 7-9 & 10-18
KCS: I think he was referring at the time referred to in my original posting, 1967-1970.
I was, but it doesn't matter. I think that at that time, only the Chicago-St. Louis trains and the Joliet commuter service was operating.
NorthWest I was, but it doesn't matter. I think that at that time, only the Chicago-St. Louis trains and the Joliet commuter service was operating.
Oops, my mistake - Mark
No problem!
I find it fascinating that the GM&O was one of the first to purchase a diesel streamliner, and yet killed off all service south of St. Louis by 1960.
GM&O discontinued passenger train service south of St. Louis prior to 1960 but replaced it with bus service operated by a subsidiary, Gulf Transport Co.
What was the subsequent history of this bus subsidiary? Did it interline with the continued StL-Chi rail service?
Great movie. Great passenger scenes of the old GM&O. I did some research and those scenes were shot on the Chicago - St. Louis line. When the movie was filmed the GM&O was freight only south of St. Louis.
ACYSo GM&O passenger service south of St. Louis was gone by 1960? The movies In The Heat Of he Night 1967) was set in Mississippi in 1967 or thereabouts. Didn't Detective Tibbs arrive on A GM&O train in the opening scenes? The Lord works in mysterious ways.
My understanding is that the TV show 'In the Heat of the Night' was shot around the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, GA on CSX's Georgia Subdivision (former Georgia Railroad).
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The Sidney Poitier In the Heat of The Night was filmed using the GM&O depot at Sparta, IL, on the line south of St. Louis. Other than as a way for Poitier to arrive without a car (Stops only one day a week? right...) the GM&O doesn't figure in the film.
ACYSo GM&O passenger service south of St. Louis was gone by 1960?
IIRC 1958. We all know how accurately the film industry has portrayed railroads...
According to a GM&O schedule in a 1964 Official Guide shows the GM&O bus to Mobile Alabama making a connection with GM&O train 1" The Limited" which left Chicago Union Station at 11:25 AM and arrived in St Louis at 4:43 PM. The bus company was known as Gulf Transport Company and the bus began its journey to Mobile from St Louis Union Station also stopping at the Greyhound Bus Depot in downtown St Louis. The bus would depart St Louis Union Station at 5:45 PM and arrive in Mobile at 11;59 AM the next morning. The Midnight Special also made a connection to a Gulf Transport Bus, but that bus began its journey to Mobile at the Greyhound Bus Depot not Union Station.
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