Missouri Pacific
Passenger Trains
Memphis, TN

MP Passenger Ads

Louis A. Marre Collection
MP motor car #661 at Memphis Union Station 1935. This is possibly train #330 or #331 that operated Memphis Helena, with #330 arriving Memphis 1040am, #331 departing 7pm.

Louis A. Marre Collection

MP Magazine, March 1941, Bill Pollard collection

Mike Condren Collection
MP passenger train leaving Memphis.

Contributed by Bill Strong
Missouri Pacific's "Hot Springs Special", train #219, is seen backed into Track #4 of Memphis Union Station awaiting departure.

Bill White Photo, Mike Condren Collection
MP passenger train crossing the Frisco diamond at Kansas Ave, passing under the traffic light.

1960 Missouri Pacific Consists, compiled by Bill Pollard
1960 Missouri Pacific Consists, compiled by Alan Hegler

Delta Eagle

"The Delta Eagle" was proclaimed to be "the Shortest full - sized streamliner to ever see regular service on a U.S. railroad" at its inception of service on May 11, 1941. The train operated on Missouri Pacific trackage from Memphis, TN to Tallulah, LA. After leaving Memphis and crossing the Mississippi River on the Harahan Bridge, the train headed south - southwesterly into Arkansas with some of the major stops being Marianna, Helena, Lakeview, McGehee, Lake Village and finally Tallulah, Louisiana which was not far from Vicksburg, MS. Helena, the largest city on the route, was on a branch and a back-up move was required, in each direction, to access this city located on the Mississippi River. This was a 259 mile route and this little streamliner covered the timing in 6 hours and 45 minutes.

The locomotive and train set were all unique pieces of equipment. The engine was a one of a kind product of the Electro Motive Corporation, Classified as a AA-6 model and built in August 1940 . A prime mover occupied the front of this locomotive, while the middle portion contained a baggage compartment. At the extreme rear was a steam generator to provide heating to the train.

The two passenger cars were also unique cars built by the St.Louis Car Company in April, 1941. The first car was number 760 which contained a 15 foot Railway Post Office section for sorting letters and mail. The coach section contained 60 seats and this car was reserved for the Negro passengers. (Segregation was rigidly enforced on passenger trains of the south until 1964.)

The second car was normally the 732 and it contained a small Grill for food service. Three patrons could sit at the counter and be served, while the first set of coach seats were arranged around a pair of tables which offered sit down service for 8 patrons. The white passengers rode in this car. Also, unique was a train sign, on the rear of this coach in two places on the back of this car.

On January 1, 1952 the train was restructured as a Memphis to McGehee, Ark. train. By 1954 it no longer served Memphis. A bus substituted for the Memphis to Helena, Ark. portion and the train, no longer called "The Delta Eagle", operated only from Helena to McGehee, Ark.

While there was much enthusiasm for this "mini" streamliner and heavy ridership at its inception, "The Delta Eagle" made its last trip out of Memphis Union Station on Oct. 17, 1954. This train had a rather short life span and operated into Memphis for only 13 years and 5 months.

James LaVake Photo
Missouri Pacific's "Delta Eagle" has just crossed Kansas Street in Memphis and is headed for the Harahan Bridge over the Mississippi River. Note the "traffic light" signals were in place at this railroad crossing with the Frisco even back in August, 1952.

James LaVake Photo
MP train 336 "The Delta Eagle" is backing into Memphis Union Station in this October, 1950 view. The locomotive number 7100 is a one of a kind E unit and baggage car built specifically for this train in August of 1940.

James LaVake Photo
Missouri Pacific's compact streamliner "The Delta Eagle" is at Kentucky Street leaving Memphis en route to Tallulah, LA. in January, 1951. Normally a second streamlined car, which contained coach seating for whites and also a Grill for food service would be on the rear. Today, a heavyweight coach is substituting for this car.

James LaVake Photo
Mr. LaVake caught a most uncommon site at Memphis. Here we see the "Delta Eagle" backing into Union Station with a steam engine, Pacific number 6424, along with a full Railway Post Office car on the front. Evidently the diesel 7100 is in the shop for repairs. December, 1952.

From the Phil Gosney Collection.

For information about the Memphis Union Station.

For information about the Other Passenger Stations of Memphis.

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