Among the most notable trains and cars traveling along the Marietta line, sleek streamliner trains heralded the Golden Age of passenger railroads. From the 1940s through the 1960s, L&N’s shiny streamliner trains in Marietta included the Flamingo, the Southland, and The Georgian.
L&N introduced The Georgian in 1946. It originally operated between St. Louis and Atlanta on a trip that required just over 12 hours. By 1948, passengers could continue to Chicago and Miami on the line, too. A cooperative effort with the Chicago and Eastern Illinois line completed the route.
Twin Streamliner Trains
The Georgian was a twin to The Hummingbird. L&N inaugurated the two all-coach streamliner trains in the fall of 1946. The Hummingbird operated between Cincinnati and New Orleans, according to a Facebook post written by passenger train enthusiast Ron Flanary.
Both streamliner trains were initially seven cars total—all coach class – with full diners and lounges. Within a short time, the railroad added Pullman sleepers to the streamliner trains. This accommodated those who wanted first class sleeping space for the overnight runs. The E7 engines for both trains sported dark blue paint, with silver used as the highlighting lighter color. A patch of gray in the back of the roof blended the rear of the engine into the car roofs.
On the ninth anniversary of the Georgian’s Chicago connection service, Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad produced a publicity photo promoting the event. The photo description released by the railroad included Pullman conductor James Byers, “pretty Chicago model, Julie Jarrett, 19″, L.W. Henson, dining car steward, and John Higgins, Atlanta passenger agent. As part of the celebration, dining car patrons received a slice or Georgia peach shortcake, according to a Facebook post from a relative of the Pullman conductor.
Color Changes
Later in its history, the Georgian’s sleek stainless steel coaches featured blue trim. The trim matched the blue and cream color of the L&N engines. L&N applied the line’s trade dress colors on its other streamliner trains, including the Dixie Flyer, Dixie Limited and Hummingbird. During another period, the passenger cars were blue, with the route names painted on the sides of the car. L&N employees at major stations took great care to keep the exteriors of these streamliner trains sparkling and bright. At larger stations, crews washed the cars with long brushes during longer stops.
For their time, the streamliner trains offered travelers a wide range of accommodation and services. A 1960s-era schedule and timetable book listed coach cars with reserved seats, sleeper cars with “roomettes” and double bedrooms, a club car and a dining car available on The Georgian route through Marietta.
On January 29, 1968, the L&N’s northbound “Georgian” derailed near Hopkinsville, KY. According to P.H. Croft, superintendent of the Evansville Division for L&N Railroad at the time, the train was going about 60 miles per hour when it derailed. Reports indicated that 30 passengers sustained injuries when thirteen of the 15 cars left the tracks. The most serious injury was a broken leg and by the end of the day all but 9 passengers had been released from the hospital. Following the accidents, huge cranes lifted cars back onto the tracks, with repairs following to the tracks and cars. Accounts of the wreck are recounted with photos on the Facebook page of the Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook group.
Shortly afterwards, L&N would officially discontinue the Georgian as a named route. When passenger service along the line through Marietta ended in 1971, the final trains were represented only by numbers: Number 3 Southbound and Number 4 Northbound. The Number 4 Northbound was the last passenger train out of Marietta, departing the station Friday evening, April 30, 1971. For an account of the last train from Marietta, read Part 1 of this series.
Our “Last Train” Series
We’re working on a 5-part series on the Last Train from Marietta. Here are links to previous posts:
