Need info please on slogan: "A Southern route for Southern people".

[Anonymous]

My Mom recently saw an "old, beat up" boxcar that had the following slogan: "A Southern route for Southern people". My guess is it was an old Southern Railroad boxcar, but I have never heard of this slogan. Any ideas? Thanking y'all in advance, Chris in Texas.

[Anonymous]

You sure stumped me. "Southern Railway Serves the South" and later variations are all I remember since the 1960s.

Would you consider giving your mother a disposable camera?
[8D]

[tomwatkins]

I don't think it's a Southern Railway slogan. I've been studying the Southern for a number of years and I've never seen it associated with the Southern. I'd be interested in whose slogan it was, though.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[leighant]

When did your mom see that "beat-up boxcar"? 20th century? The slogan sounds like it might have applied in 1870s to construction of the Southern Pacific/T&NO/ Galveston, Houston and San Antonio "Sunset Route" as a southern alternative to the Central Pacific/Union Pacific "Overland" transcontinental route. But I've never heard that specific slogan.

[Anonymous]

Actually, she saw it just a few days ago. This one sure has me stumped!

[ndbprr]

You sure it was a printed or painted slogan and not just a joke somebody chalked or grafittied on the side?

[Anonymous]

Is it a Northern Route for Northern People?

What then does it make the UP? A western Railroad for western People?

Simple really. 4 railroads for each part of the USA all interchanging at one place. St. Louis.

I strongly suspect someone put grafitti on that boxcar as a joke.

[Anonymous]

"Graffiti" was the first thing I thought of, but she insists it looked like it was "professionally" painted on at the factory. I am beginning to think this may not be solved until someone else sees the boxcar in question & observes the reporting marks, etc. I do appreciate everyone who responded - thank y'all kindly.

[IRONROOSTER]

From the W&H site are the following for Southern Railway:

Look Ahead - Look South
Southern Gives a Green Light to Innovation
Southern Railway Serves the South
Southern Serves The South
The Southern Serves The South

some of which are similar.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

IRONROOSTER seems to have the last word on slogans. Just yesterday afternoon in Rochelle I was lucky enough to catch a "SOUTHERN GIVES A GREEN LIGHT TO INNOVATIONS" brown boxcar. Despite graffiti, the slogan was clear enough--but it did not have the first "O" in the slogan filled in with green as I remember. Probably the green "O" weathered its color away but the slogan kept enough of its white lettering to endure despite the graffiti.
[:I]
Allen [e-mail]