(Pennsylvania RR Notes)
THROUGH CAR
SERVICE NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, BALTIMORE, WASHINGTON AND RICHMOND
SOUTHWARD
No.
197—SILVER COMET (via S. A. L.)
Sleeping Cars...New
York to Birmingham—(10 Sections, 2 Compartments, Drawing-room).
New York
to Birmingham—(8 Sections, 5 Double Bedrooms).
New York
to Birmingham—(10 Sections, Lounge).
New York
to Atlanta—(10 Sections, 2 Compartments, Drawing-room).
Dining Car—New
York to Birmingham.
Reclining Seat Coaches.
(All Seats Reserved.)
New York
to Birmingham.
New York
to Birmingham (Observation Lounge).
THROUGH CAR
SERVICE RICHMOND, WASHINGTON, BALTIMORE, PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK
NORTHWARD
No.
196—SILVER COMET (via S. A. L.)
Sleeping Cars...Birmingham
to New York—(10 Sections, 2 Compartments, Drawing-room).
Birmingham
to New York—(8 Sections, 5 Double Bedrooms).
Birmingham
to New York—(10 Sections, Lounge).
Atlanta
to New York—(10 Sections, 2 Compartments, Drawing-room).
Dining Car—Birmingham
to New York.
Reclining Seat Coaches
(All Seats Reserved)...Birmingham to New York.
Birmingham
to New York—(Observation Lounge).
(R. F. & P. Notes)
THROUGH CAR
SERVICE
Coaches on all trains unless otherwise shown.
No. 33 and 34 (S. A. L. Silver Comet)
- Sleeping Cars New York (via P. R. R.) and Atlanta-Birmingham,
Washington and Atlanta. Reclining-Seat Coaches New York and Birmingham.
Dining Car, Pullman-lounge and Coach-observation service. Sleeping Car
Washington to Philadelphia (via B. & O.)
(Seaboard Air Line Notes)
EQUIPMENT
OF THROUGH TRAINS BETWEEN EASTERN CITIES AND FLORIDA, ATLANTA,
BIRMINGHAM AND THE SOUTHWEST
SOUTHBOUND
THE SILVER COMET—No. 33.
Baggage Service...Between
all points.
SAL Dining Car...New
York to Birmingham.
Sleeping Cars...New
York to Birmingham—10-Section, 1-Drawing-room, 2-Compartment. (SA-12.)
New York
to
Birmingham—8-Section, 5 Double Bedroom. (SA-14.)
New York
to Atlanta—10-Section, 1-Drawing-room, 2-Compartment. (SA-10.)
Washington
to Atlanta—6-Section, 6 Double Bedroom. (R-100.)
Portsmouth
to Atlanta—12-Section, 1-Drawing-room. (B-5.) (Handled on Train 7
Norlina to
Hamlet.)
Lounge Car...New
York to Birmingham—10-Section. (SA-15.)
Reclining Seat Coaches
(Seats Reserved)...[21-B] New York to Birmingham. (18 Seats.)
[22-B]
New York to
Birmingham. (52 Seats.)
[23-B]
New York to
Birmingham. (52 Seats.)
[24-B]
New York to
Birmingham. (52 Seats.)
[25-B]
New York to
Birmingham. (52 Seats.)
[26-B]
New York to
Birmingham. (52 Seats.)
[28-B]
Portsmouth to
Atlanta. (52 Seats.) (Handled on Train 7 Norlina to Hamlet.)
Observation Coach...[27-B]
New York to Birmingham. (48 Seats.)
NORTHBOUND
THE SILVER COMET—No. 34.
Baggage Service...Between
all points.
SAL Dining Car...Birmingham
to New York.
Sleeping Cars...Birmingham
to New York—10-Section, 1-Drawing-room, 2-Compartment. (B-72.)
Birmingham
to New
York—8-Section, 5 Double Bedroom. (B-73.)
Atlanta
to New York—10-Section, 1-Drawing-room, 2-Compartment. (B-71.)
Atlanta
to Washington—6-Section, 6 Double Bedroom. (B-70.)
Atlanta
to Portsmouth—12-Section, 1-Drawing-room. (B-5.) (Handled on Train 8
Hamlet
to Norlina.)
Lounge Car...Birmingham
to New York—10-Section. (B-74.)
Reclining Seat Coaches
(Seats Reserved)...[21-B] Birmingham to New York. (18 Seats.)
[22-B]
Birmingham to
New York. (52 Seats.)
[23-B]
Birmingham to
New York. (52 Seats.)
[24-B]
Birmingham to
New York. (52 Seats.)
[25-B]
Birmingham to
New York. (52 Seats.)
[26-B]
Birmingham to
New York. (52 Seats.)
[28-B]
Atlanta to
Portsmouth. (52 Seats.) (Handled on Train 8 Hamlet to
Norlina.)
Observation Coach...[27-B]
Birmingham to New York. (48 Seats.)
According to Schafer and Welsh in Classic American Streamliners, Seaboard had proposed the idea of a New York-Birmingham streamliner in the late 1930s on the heels of the Silver Meteor's successful debut. Partner railroad Pennsylvania was cool to the idea, in part due to resistance from their powerful ally Southern. But after WWII, with new equipment again available, Seaboard launched its New York-Birmingham streamliner on May 18, 1947. The train would debut with older heavyweight sleeping cars; lightweight stainless-steel all-room sleepers were still on order. The new Silver Comet's schedule cut 4½ hours from the time its heavyweight predecessor, the Cotton States Special, had offered in my next previous issue of the Guide (January 1946).
View Seaboard's ad for the new Silver Comet (PDF format, 535K).