ATLANTA'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Atlanta in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Atlanta, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Terminal Station
71 Spring St. SW
Opened 1905

Number of station tracks: 13 through
Interlocked switches controlled as follows:
North Tower: controlled the north end of the station
South Tower: controlled the south end of the station

Union Station
2 Forsyth St. NW
Opened 1930, replacing earlier stations 3 blocks east built in 1853 and 1871

Number of station tracks: 8 (?)
Non interlocked switches

Terminal Station was built as a second station in Atlanta, relieving congestion at the existing Union Station.

SOUTHERN RAILWAY

(Terminal Station)

Departures-Southbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 11                        Birmingham     12:15       11:45 pm
 27  Cracker               Brunswick       8:00
  7  KC Florida Special    Birmingham      8:00        7:30
 47  Southerner            New Orleans     9:55       10:00    1   9:40 am
  1  Ponce De Leon         Jacksonville   11:10        9:15
 39  Sunnyland             Birmingham      4:50   29   4:15
 25                        Columbus GA     4:55
  7  KC Florida Special    Jacksonville    9:30       10:45
  3  Royal Palm            Jacksonville    9:40        9:40
Arrivals-Southbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 35  New Orleans Express   Washington      6:30        6:30
 31                        Chattanooga     9:15
135                        Washington      9:25        8:15
 37  Crescent              New York        9:30        8:00
 47  Southerner            New York        9:45        9:50    1   9:15 am
  1  Ponce De Leon         Cincinnati     10:55        8:50
 29  Peach Queen           New York        4:30        3:45    5   4:35 pm
 33  Piedmont Limited      Washington      6:50        6:30
 39  Sunnyland             Washington      8:15
  3  Royal Palm            Cincinnati      9:20        9:15
Departures-Northbound



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 36  Washington Express    Washington     12:55       12:30
  4  Royal Palm            Cincinnati      9:15        8:10
 34  Piedmont Limited      New York        9:25        9:00
 38  Crescent              New York        2:00        1:55    6  11:25 am
 40  Sunnyland             Washington      2:05
 32                        Chattanooga     2:40
  2  Ponce De Leon         Cincinnati      7:10        6:55
 48  Southerner            New York        8:30        8:30    2   7:00 pm
 30  Peach Queen           Washington      8:35        1:55 pm
136                        Washington     10:00       10:45
Arrivals-Northbound



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 12                        Birmingham      6:55        6:10
  8  KC Florida Special    Jacksonville    7:05        6:30
  4  Royal Palm            Jacksonville    8:25        7:40
 24                        Columbus GA    11:20
 40  Sunnyland             Birmingham      1:15   30   1:10
  2  Ponce De Leon         Jacksonville    6:35        6:25
  8  KC Florida Special    Birmingham      8:00       10:25
 48  Southerner            New Orleans     8:20        8:20    2   6:40 pm
 26  Cracker               Brunswick       9:35
Southern Railway initially did not join Amtrak, and was required to continue operation of its remaining trains beyond 1971.

In 1970, with the closure of Terminal Station, Southern Railway began serving Atlanta strictly with its Peachtree Street station. This Peachtree Street station continues to serve Amtrak.

CENTRAL OF GEORGIA

(Terminal Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  2  Nancy Hanks II        Savannah        8:45  108   6:00 pm 8   6:00 pm
 20  Man O'War             Columbus GA    10:05       10:15
 18  Flamingo              Jacksonville   10:35        9:30
 12                        Macon           5:00
 18                        Columbus GA     5:30
 32  Southland             Tampa           8:10        8:00
 94  Dixie Flyer           Jacksonville    8:25
  4                        Savannah       11:00       10:00
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3                        Savannah        7:05        6:00
 95  Dixie Flyer           Jacksonville    7:30
 33  Southland             Tampa           8:50        8:00
 11                        Macon          10:55
 17                        Columbus GA     1:00
  1  Nancy Hanks II        Savannah        3:15  107   1:30    7   1:00
 17  Flamingo              Jacksonville    6:35        5:40
 19  Man O'War             Columbus GA     7:05        5:55
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak, last train was the Nancy Hanks II.

In 1970, with the closure of Terminal Station, Central of Georgia moved to a new Spring Street Station, for its final year of passenger operation.

ATLANTA & WEST POINT

(Terminal Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 35  New Orleans Express   Montgomery      7:30        6:50
 37  Crescent              New Orleans     9:50        8:35
 31                        Montgomery      1:25
 33  Piedmont Limited      New Orleans     7:15        7:15
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 36  Washington Express    Montgomery     12:35       11:25 pm
 34  Piedmont Limited      New Orleans     9:00        7:50
 38  Crescent              New Orleans     1:45        1:15
 32                        Montgomery      5:55
Passenger service discontinued in 1970.

SEABOARD AIR LINE

(Terminal Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  9  Cotton States Spec.   Birmingham      7:45   33   7:35
  6  Robert E. Lee         Washington      1:55        1:45
  5  Robert E. Lee         Birmingham      4:55        5:10
 10  Cotton States Spec.   Washington      7:40   34   6:45
 12                        Hamlet          9:45        9:45
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 11                        Hamlet          6:20        6:05
  9  Cotton States Spec.   Washington      7:20   33   7:20
  6  Robert E. Lee         Birmingham      1:40        1:10
  5  Robert E. Lee         Washington      4:40        4:50
 10  Cotton States Spec.   Birmingham      7:20   34   6:25
Passenger service discontinued in 1969, last train was the Silver Comet.

Trains 33-34, the Silver Comet, replaced the Cotton States Special in 1947.

ATLANTIC COAST LINE

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 11  Dixie Flagler         Miami          12:03    5   1:25 am
  1                        Waycross        8:30  101  10:25 am
  3  Dixie Flyer           Waycross       10:00   95   9:30 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  4  Dixie Flyer           Waycross        7:00   94   6:20 am
 12  Dixie Flagler         Miami           7:22    6   4:20 am
  2                        Waycross        7:50  102   5:15 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1969, last train was the Dixie Flyer.

Previously used Terminal Station.

GEORGIA RAILROAD

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  2                        Augusta         9:30 am     9:25 am
  4                        Augusta         9:00 pm     9:00 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3                        Augusta         7:20 am     7:00 am
  1                        Augusta         6:35 pm     5:30 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1983.

Georgia Railroad did not join Amtrak, and was required to continue operation of its remaining trains beyond 1971.

In 1970, Georgia Railroad moved to a new Hunter Street Station, located at 4 Hunter St. SE. After the 1971 formation of Amtrak, Georgia Railroad continued to operate some service independently, as mixed trains.

LOUISVILLE & NASHVILLE

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  4                        Knoxville       8:15
 32  Southland             Cincinnati      9:15        9:10 am
 18  Flamingo              Cincinnati      7:25        7:50 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 17  Flamingo              Cincinnati      9:45        8:10 am
  1                        Knoxville       5:30
 33  Southland             Cincinnati      7:45        7:10 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1968, last train was the Flamingo.

NASHVILLE CHATTANOOGA & ST. LOUIS

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 12  Dixie Flagler         Chicago         7:27        4:35
 94  Dixie Flyer           Chicago        10:40       10:50        5:15 pm
 92  Dixie Limited         St. Louis       7:30   80   6:00
  4                        Memphis         9:30        9:00
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3                        Memphis         8:15        8:10
 93  Dixie Limited         St. Louis       9:50   81   8:35    3  10:00 am
 95  Dixie Flyer           Chicago         6:50        7:00
 11  Dixie Flagler         Chicago        11:58        1:15 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

STATIONS TODAY

The Terminal Station closed in 1970 and was demolished in 1972. The Richard B. Russell Federal Building now occupies that location.

Union Station was demolished in the early 1970's, evidence of station tracks still exists.

The Southern Railway eventually became the only passenger railroad serving Atlanta. With the only stop in Atlanta being the Peachtree Street station, north of downtown Atlanta at 1688 Peachtree St. NW. The station consists of one platform between the two tracks of the Southern Railway main line. Amtrak continues to stop at that station.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.