Royal Palm (passenger train)
Encyclopedia
The Royal Palm was a named train of the Southern Railway
which ran from Cincinnati, Ohio
to Jacksonville, Florida
and then on the Florida East Coast Railway
to Miami, Florida
. The train was discontinued in 1970.
at Cincinnati for passengers headed to Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo. A through sleeper
and coach between Miami and Detroit operated until 1957. The Royal Palm operated overnight between Atlanta and Jacksonville and during daylight hours to the north to Cincinnati. The Ponce de Leon
alternated with the Royal Palm on a reverse schedule between Cincinnati and Jacksonvile and the heavyweight companion was actually just as fast as the Palm during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Royal Palm (Train #3) departed Cincinnati going south via the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway
to Chattanooga, Tennessee
, then on Southern's old "East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia" main on to Atlanta, Georgia
and Macon, Georgia, then the Georgia Southern & Florida to Jacksonville, Florida.
. The northbound Ponce de Leon struck the Royal Palm with the result that 19 people were killed and 113 were injured, most on the Ponce de Leon.
The accident was also the subject of a song: "The Wreck of the Royal Palm" by Vernon Dalhart.
s was delivered to Southern Railway for use on its passenger trains. On December 15, 1949, the New York Central, Southern, and Florida East Coast began operation of the streamlined "New Royal Palm" winter-only train that replaced the "Florida Sunbeam," which had run down Southern's (GS&F) Palatka branch to Hampton, where it connected to the Seaboard to Miami. The New Royal Palm was essentially a Detroit-Miami streamliner
which carried through-sleepers for Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo. Each train carried up to 20 cars and operated like a fully appointed cruise ship with several dining car
s and lounge car
s. In the off-season, the equipment was used on the "Royal Palm," where it was permanently assigned after the "New Royal Palm" ceased to operate in April 1955. Stylish coaches provided by Southern and Florida East Coast featured spacious men's and women's smoking lounges and huge back-lit color photo murals of Florida scenery on both bulkheads. Both trains carried an elegant Pullman-built split level observation lounge car
(with tall rear windows) for sleeping car passengers until 1957. (Click on Royal Street link below). Coach passengers could socialize and relax in an intimate little bar-lounge next to the diner. Until 1957 black
passengers were hauled in the "colored" coach (RP-1), a combination baggage coach
behind the diesels.
The amenities provided on the Royal Palm were gradually curtailed as Southern Railway attempted to reduce operating losses. The train was discontinued in segments - first between Jacksonville and Valdosta, Georgia
in 1966 when the diner and sleeper were dropped - but the Palm carried its coach-lounge right up to the end of its long career. Ironically, the "Royal Palm" name was kept even though the train no longer served Florida where royal palms thrived on the lower east coast. Later the two-car remnant of the once proud sunliner was discontinued south of Atlanta, then the section between Somerset, Kentucky and Dalton, Georgia was cut, leaving two disconnected trains, which were finally discontinued in 1970. Southern did not join Amtrak in 1971, at which time had only four trains, the Southern Crescent, the Piedmont, and two unnamed runs, one each in North Carolina and Virginia, the latter three being dropped in 1975. Southern ended passenger operations on January 31, 1979, and joined Amtrak, with its only remaining train being the Crescent
.
Southern Railway (US)
The Southern Railway is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894...
which ran from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and then on the Florida East Coast Railway
Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison...
to Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. The train was discontinued in 1970.
Operations
The Royal Palm provided connections with the New York Central RailroadNew York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
at Cincinnati for passengers headed to Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo. A through sleeper
Sleeping car
The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
and coach between Miami and Detroit operated until 1957. The Royal Palm operated overnight between Atlanta and Jacksonville and during daylight hours to the north to Cincinnati. The Ponce de Leon
Ponce de Leon (train)
The Ponce de Leon was a named train of the Southern Railway which ran from Cincinnati, Ohio to Jacksonville, Florida from 1924 to the mid-1960s.-Operations:...
alternated with the Royal Palm on a reverse schedule between Cincinnati and Jacksonvile and the heavyweight companion was actually just as fast as the Palm during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Royal Palm (Train #3) departed Cincinnati going south via the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway
Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway
The Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway is a railroad that runs from Cincinnati, Ohio, south to Chattanooga, Tennessee, forming part of the Norfolk Southern Railway system. The rail line that it operates, the Cincinnati Southern Railway, is owned by the City of Cincinnati and is...
to Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
, then on Southern's old "East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia" main on to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and Macon, Georgia, then the Georgia Southern & Florida to Jacksonville, Florida.
Train accident
The Ponce de Leon and Royal Palm collided on December 23, 1926 in Rockmart, GeorgiaRockmart, Georgia
Rockmart is a city in Polk County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,870 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rockmart is located at ....
. The northbound Ponce de Leon struck the Royal Palm with the result that 19 people were killed and 113 were injured, most on the Ponce de Leon.
The accident was also the subject of a song: "The Wreck of the Royal Palm" by Vernon Dalhart.
Post-war winter schedule
In 1949, an order for twelve EMD E7EMD E7
The EMD E7 was a , A1A-A1A passenger train locomotive manufactured by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois. The cab version, or E7A, was manufactured from February, 1945 to April, 1949, and 428 were produced. The booster version, or E7B, was manufactured from March, 1945...
s was delivered to Southern Railway for use on its passenger trains. On December 15, 1949, the New York Central, Southern, and Florida East Coast began operation of the streamlined "New Royal Palm" winter-only train that replaced the "Florida Sunbeam," which had run down Southern's (GS&F) Palatka branch to Hampton, where it connected to the Seaboard to Miami. The New Royal Palm was essentially a Detroit-Miami streamliner
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
which carried through-sleepers for Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo. Each train carried up to 20 cars and operated like a fully appointed cruise ship with several dining car
Dining car
A dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
s and lounge car
Lounge car
A lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
s. In the off-season, the equipment was used on the "Royal Palm," where it was permanently assigned after the "New Royal Palm" ceased to operate in April 1955. Stylish coaches provided by Southern and Florida East Coast featured spacious men's and women's smoking lounges and huge back-lit color photo murals of Florida scenery on both bulkheads. Both trains carried an elegant Pullman-built split level observation lounge car
Observation car
An observation car/carriage/coach is a type of railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train as the last carriage, with windows on the rear of the car for passengers' viewing pleasure...
(with tall rear windows) for sleeping car passengers until 1957. (Click on Royal Street link below). Coach passengers could socialize and relax in an intimate little bar-lounge next to the diner. Until 1957 black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
passengers were hauled in the "colored" coach (RP-1), a combination baggage coach
Baggage car
A baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
behind the diesels.
The amenities provided on the Royal Palm were gradually curtailed as Southern Railway attempted to reduce operating losses. The train was discontinued in segments - first between Jacksonville and Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
in 1966 when the diner and sleeper were dropped - but the Palm carried its coach-lounge right up to the end of its long career. Ironically, the "Royal Palm" name was kept even though the train no longer served Florida where royal palms thrived on the lower east coast. Later the two-car remnant of the once proud sunliner was discontinued south of Atlanta, then the section between Somerset, Kentucky and Dalton, Georgia was cut, leaving two disconnected trains, which were finally discontinued in 1970. Southern did not join Amtrak in 1971, at which time had only four trains, the Southern Crescent, the Piedmont, and two unnamed runs, one each in North Carolina and Virginia, the latter three being dropped in 1975. Southern ended passenger operations on January 31, 1979, and joined Amtrak, with its only remaining train being the Crescent
Crescent (Amtrak)
The Crescent is a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. It runs daily from Pennsylvania Station in New York City to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana as train 19 and returns, on the same route, as train 20. Most of the route of...
.
External links
- Streamliners to the Palms
- Royal Street
- 6482 on the Royal Palm
- http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DSouthern%2520E7A%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-468%26fr2%3Dtab-web&w=120&h=81&imgurl=southern.railfan.net%2Fimages%2Farchive%2Fsouthern%2Fe7%2Ftn_sou2916_jpg.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsouthern.railfan.net%2Fimages%2Farchive%2Fsouthern%2Fe7%2Fe7.html&size=3.4kB&name=tn_sou2916_jpg.jpg&p=Southern+E7A&type=jpeg&no=15&tt=29&oid=f67ef14a17cd2dae&ei=UTF-8Southern E7A Units]
- Royal Palm and Ponce de Leon timetables
