The L&N introduced the Pan-American on December 5, 1921.[1]: 283 A section of the train diverged at Bowling Green, Kentucky to serve Memphis, Tennessee.[2]: 10 At the outset the train carried both sleepers and coaches, and was noteworthy for its all-steel construction in an era when wood heavyweight coaches were still common. The name honored the substantial traffic the L&N carried to and from the seaports on the Gulf of Mexico.[3]: 108 It covered the 921 miles (1,482 km) from Cincinnati to New Orleans in 26 hours, soon shortened to exactly 24 hours.[4]: 426 [5]: 129
The train proved popular with the traveling public, and in 1925 was re-equipped as an "All-Pullman" (no coaches) train.[6]: 147 Its popularity contributed to businesses named after it; the Pan-American Lunch Room operated in Nashville, Tennessee in the 1920s.[7] The economic pressures of the Great Depression forced the Pan-American to start carrying coaches again in 1933.
Like many L&N trains, the Pan-American experienced a surge in ridership during World War II, carrying four times its normal traffic.[2]: 24 The Pan-American lost its title as the L&N's flagship train in 1946 with the introduction of faster Humming Bird over the same route.[5]: 137 Although never fully streamlined, the Pan-American began receiving streamlined equipment in 1949. The southbound Pan-American carried through sleepers for Nashville, Tennessee, Louisville, Kentucky and Memphis from New York City conveyed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in Cincinnati.[8] Further south in Montgomery, Alabama it received New York-New Orleans and Washington-New Orleans sleepers from the Southern Railway's Piedmont Limited.[9]: 538
In 1953 the Pan-American was one of several L&N trains to receive new lightweight "Pine"-seriessleeping cars from Pullman-Standard.[10] Throughout the 1960s, the decline of passenger railroading in the United States took its toll on ridership and amenities. A counter-lounge replaced the diner-lounge in 1965.[5]: 139 The Pan-American began handling some of the South Wind's through traffic in 1970 after the Penn Central withdrew from joint operation.[5]: 140 By 1970 the train's consist had shrunk dramatically: between Cincinnati and Louisville it might carry only a baggage car, coach, and dining car, with a sleeper for New Orleans added in Louisville. Amtrak did not retain service over the L&N route, and the Pan-American ended on April 30, 1971.[3]: 111
Cultural influenceedit
Postcard of the Pan-American passing the WSM transmitter in Nashville
In the words of Kincaid Herr, official historian of the L&N, the Pan-American "came to be the symbol of the L&N's passenger service."[11]: 235 The train was made famous by WSM Radio's nightly broadcast of the passing train's whistle. Some Pan-American passengers were lucky enough to sit in comfortable lounge chairs and hear the sound of their own train's whistle from a wood-cabinet table radio tuned to WSM in the observation car. The broadcasts began on August 15, 1933.[2]: 26 [11]: 259
"Pan-American Blues" was one of two railroad songs recorded by DeFord Bailey (the other being "Dixie Flyer Blues", so named for another L&N train. Bailey saw the Pan-American frequently at Nashville's Union Station in the 1920s, but the inspiration for name came from one of his foster sisters, who noted that "it was the fastest around." Bailey, with his harmonica, imitated the sound of the Pan-American's whistle and it quickly became one of his most-requested performances at the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere.[13]: 78–80
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Pan-American.
The Pan-American - January 1927 - Streamliner Schedules
The Pan-American - July 1954 - Streamliner Schedules
February 16, 2024
american, train, american, passenger, train, operated, louisville, nashville, railroad, between, cincinnati, ohio, orleans, louisiana, operated, from, 1921, until, 1971, from, 1921, 1965, section, served, memphis, tennessee, bowling, green, kentucky, american,. The Pan American was a passenger train operated by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad L amp N between Cincinnati Ohio and New Orleans Louisiana It operated from 1921 until 1971 From 1921 to 1965 a section served Memphis Tennessee via Bowling Green Kentucky The Pan American was the L amp N s flagship train until the introduction of the Humming Bird in 1946 Its name honored the substantial traffic the L amp N carried to and from the seaports on the Gulf of Mexico The Pan American was one of many trains discontinued when Amtrak began operations in 1971 Pan AmericanPostcard photo of the heavyweight trainOverviewStatusDiscontinuedLocaleMidwestern United States southeastern United StatesFirst serviceDecember 5 1921Last serviceApril 30 1971Former operator s Louisville and Nashville RailroadRouteTerminiCincinnati OhioNew Orleans LouisianaDistance travelled922 miles 1 484 km Average journey timeSouthbound 23 hrs 10 min northbound 23 hrs 15 minService frequencyDailyTrain number s Southbound 99 northbound 98On board servicesSeating arrangementsReclining seat coachesSleeping arrangementsRoomettes double bedroomsCatering facilitiesDining car lounge carRoute mapLegend0 mi CincinnatiOHKY3 km2 mi Covington5 km3 mi Latonia114 km71 mi Louisville156 km97 mi Elizabethtown228 km142 mi Bowling Green257 km160 mi Russellville278 km173 mi GuthrieKYTN291 km181 mi Clarksville361 km224 mi Paris378 km235 mi McKenzie398 km247 mi Milan410 km255 mi Humboldt435 km270 mi Brownsville494 km307 mi Memphis300 km186 mi NashvilleTNAL408 km254 mi Athens421 km262 mi Decatur506 km314 mi Birmingham603 km375 mi Montgomery722 km449 mi Flomaton782 km486 mi MobileALMS822 km511 mi Pascagoula838 km521 mi Ocean Springs842 km523 mi Biloxi855 km531 mi Gulfport864 km537 mi Pass Christian870 km541 mi Bay St LouisMSLA921 km572 mi New OrleansThis diagram viewtalkedit Contents 1 History 2 Cultural influence 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe L amp N introduced the Pan American on December 5 1921 1 283 A section of the train diverged at Bowling Green Kentucky to serve Memphis Tennessee 2 10 At the outset the train carried both sleepers and coaches and was noteworthy for its all steel construction in an era when wood heavyweight coaches were still common The name honored the substantial traffic the L amp N carried to and from the seaports on the Gulf of Mexico 3 108 It covered the 921 miles 1 482 km from Cincinnati to New Orleans in 26 hours soon shortened to exactly 24 hours 4 426 5 129 The train proved popular with the traveling public and in 1925 was re equipped as an All Pullman no coaches train 6 147 Its popularity contributed to businesses named after it the Pan American Lunch Room operated in Nashville Tennessee in the 1920s 7 The economic pressures of the Great Depression forced the Pan American to start carrying coaches again in 1933 Like many L amp N trains the Pan American experienced a surge in ridership during World War II carrying four times its normal traffic 2 24 The Pan American lost its title as the L amp N s flagship train in 1946 with the introduction of faster Humming Bird over the same route 5 137 Although never fully streamlined the Pan American began receiving streamlined equipment in 1949 The southbound Pan American carried through sleepers for Nashville Tennessee Louisville Kentucky and Memphis from New York City conveyed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in Cincinnati 8 Further south in Montgomery Alabama it received New York New Orleans and Washington New Orleans sleepers from the Southern Railway s Piedmont Limited 9 538 In 1953 the Pan American was one of several L amp N trains to receive new lightweight Pine series sleeping cars from Pullman Standard 10 Throughout the 1960s the decline of passenger railroading in the United States took its toll on ridership and amenities A counter lounge replaced the diner lounge in 1965 5 139 The Pan American began handling some of the South Wind s through traffic in 1970 after the Penn Central withdrew from joint operation 5 140 By 1970 the train s consist had shrunk dramatically between Cincinnati and Louisville it might carry only a baggage car coach and dining car with a sleeper for New Orleans added in Louisville Amtrak did not retain service over the L amp N route and the Pan American ended on April 30 1971 3 111 Cultural influence edit nbsp Postcard of the Pan American passing the WSM transmitter in NashvilleIn the words of Kincaid Herr official historian of the L amp N the Pan American came to be the symbol of the L amp N s passenger service 11 235 The train was made famous by WSM Radio s nightly broadcast of the passing train s whistle Some Pan American passengers were lucky enough to sit in comfortable lounge chairs and hear the sound of their own train s whistle from a wood cabinet table radio tuned to WSM in the observation car The broadcasts began on August 15 1933 2 26 11 259 The Pan American inspired several songs Pan American Blues 1926 by DeFord Bailey The Pan American 1948 by Hank Williams 12 107 Pan American Boogie 1949 by the Delmore Brothers 8 Pan American Blues was one of two railroad songs recorded by DeFord Bailey the other being Dixie Flyer Blues so named for another L amp N train Bailey saw the Pan American frequently at Nashville s Union Station in the 1920s but the inspiration for name came from one of his foster sisters who noted that it was the fastest around Bailey with his harmonica imitated the sound of the Pan American s whistle and it quickly became one of his most requested performances at the Grand Ole Opry and elsewhere 13 78 80 References edit EuDaly Kevin et al 2009 The Complete Book of North American Railroading Minneapolis Voyageur Press ISBN 978 0 7603 2848 4 OCLC 209631579 a b c Comer Kevin 2012 Louisville amp Nashville Railroad in South Central Kentucky Charleston SC Arcadia Publishing ISBN 978 0738592145 OCLC 759916711 a b Schafer Mike 1996 Classic American Railroads Saint Paul MN MBI ISBN 978 0 7603 0239 2 OCLC 768619768 Klein Maury 2003 1972 History of the Louisville amp Nashville Railroad Lexington University Press of Kentucky ISBN 0813122635 OCLC 248817483 a b c d Cox Jim 2011 Rails Across Dixie A History of Passenger Trains in the American South Jefferson NC McFarland ISBN 9780786445288 OCLC 609716000 Prince Richard E 2000 1968 Louisville amp Nashville Steam Locomotives Bloomington Indiana University Press ISBN 025333764X OCLC 46648011 https www ancestry com interactive 2469 13399408 pid 1373584605 amp backurl https search ancestry com cgi bin sse dll indiv 3D1 26dbid 3D2469 26h 3D1373584605 26tid 3D82991240 26pid 3D382070537565 26hid 3D1041385891937 26usePUB 3Dtrue 26 phsrc 3DIAO2307 26 phstart 3Ddefault 26usePUBJs 3Dtrue amp treeid 82991240 amp personid 382070537565 amp hintid 1041385891937 amp usePUB true amp phsrc IAO2307 amp phstart default amp usePUBJs true registration required Pan American Lunch Room 2620 Jefferson Nashville TN City Directory 1929 user generated source a b The L amp N s Pan American American Rails com Retrieved October 12 2013 Official Guide of the Railways New York National Railway Publication Co March 1950 OCLC 6340864 THE TOWERING PINE SLEEPER CAR The Historic Railpark and Train Museum Archived from the original on October 15 2013 Retrieved October 11 2013 a b Herr Kincaid A 2000 1964 The Louisville amp Nashville Railroad 1850 1963 Lexington University Press of Kentucky ISBN 0813121841 OCLC 44128340 Yenne Bill 2005 Atlas of North American railroads Minneapolis MBI ISBN 0760322996 OCLC 475547092 Morton David C Charles K Wolfe 1991 DeFord Bailey A Black Star in Early Country Music Knoxville University of Tennessee Press ISBN 0870496980 OCLC 22710812 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Pan American The Pan American January 1927 Streamliner Schedules The Pan American July 1954 Streamliner Schedules Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pan American train amp oldid 1187963713, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
