The Aztec Eagle was the principal rail passenger connection between the major U.S. cities and Mexico in the 1950s. At various points in its lifetime (although not on this timetable) it carried through sleepers between St. Louis and Mexico City. I have heard rumors of a direct New York-Mexico City sleeper but I have not yet found such an entry; there were through sleepers from New York to San Antonio in this timetable and a St. Louis-Mexico City all-Pullman train before WWII, but I have as yet seen no through cars from New York to Mexico. Your suggestions are welcome. [Edit—January 2013: Found it. Through Pullmans operated briefly between New York and Mexico City on the P. R.R.-Mo. Pac.-N. de M. Sunshine Special between 1946 and 1948. A tip of the hat to "Harry Foster Malone, Esq." on the Railfan.Net forums; confirmed in Arthur Dubin's More Classic Trains. Timetable for the 1947 Sunshine Special is "in the works."] 


From the pages of the Official Guide, December 1952

Missouri Pacific Lines heraldFerrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (N de M) herald

The Aztec Eagle

Missouri Pacific Lines
N. de M. (National Railways of Mexico)
June 1, 1952

21 Train Number 22
Daily Miles (Missouri Pacific Lines) Services Daily
12 05P Dp 0 San Antonio, TX (CT) C Ar 1 30P
F12 30P 13 Von Ormy, TX F 1 05P
12 50P 23 Lytle, TX 12 50P
F12 59P 28 Natalia, TX F12 38P
1 08P 33 Devine, TX 12 29P
F 1 20P 42 Moore, TX F12 15P
1 39P 54 Pearsall, TX 11 56A
F 1 51P 63 Derby, TX F11 39A
2 03P 70 Dilley, TX 11 28A
F 2 14P 77 Millett, TX F11 15A
F 2 25P 81 Gardendale, TX F11 07A
2 37P 87 Cotulla, TX 10 55A
F 2 55P 98 Artesia Wells, TX F10 35A
3 20P 115 Encinal, TX 10 09A
4 20P Ar 154 Laredo, TX C Dp 9 05A
2 Continuing Train Number (National Railways of Mexico) 1
6 00P Dp 156 Nuevo Laredo, Tam. Ar 8 00A
8 39P 266 Villaldama, N.L. M 5 23A
10 15P Ar 324 Monterrey, N.L. C M Dp 3 50A
10 35P Dp Ar 3 30A
1 15A Ar 391 Saltillo, Coah. C M Dp 1 40A
1 35A Dp Ar 1 20A
5 15A Ar 512 Vanegas, S.L.P. M Dp 9 55P
5 25A Dp Ar 9 45P
8 55A Ar 633 San Luis Potosi, S.L.P. C M Dp 6 35P
9 15A Dp Ar 6 15P
11 08A 686 San Felipe, Gto. 4 38P
12 08P 716 Rio Laja, Gto. 3 38P
1 08P 742 San Miguel Allende, Gto. C 2 35P
1 55P Ar 765 Escobedo, Gto. Dp 1 55P
2 15P Dp Ar 1 35P
780 Mariscala, Gto. 1 13P
2 58P 793 Queretaro, Qro. C 12 59P
4 54P 860 Huichapan, Hgo. M 11 10A
8 00P Ar 958 Mexico City, D.F. (Buenavista) (CT) C Dp 8 20A

Train 21-2 (San Antonio-Mexico City): 26 stops, 31:55, 30.0 MPHTrain 1-22 (Mexico City-San Antonio): 27 stops, 29:10, 32.8 MPH


NOTE: For connecting service north of San Antonio to Texarkana, St. Louis and points beyond, see the Texas Eagle on Track 9.

(Missouri Pacific Notes)

MISSOURI PACIFIC LINES
Route of the Eagles
EQUIPMENT—SOUTHWEST
All Regular Cars Air Conditioned
Designating Number of Sleeping or Parlor Cars indicated in brackets.

Southbound

THE AZTEC EAGLE
TRAIN No. 21

Sleepers—

San Antonio to Mexico City (10-Section, 1 Drawing-room, 2 Compartment) [314].

San Antonio to Mexico City (8-Section, 5 Double Bedroom) [316].

Dining Lounge (Missouri Pacific Car)—

San Antonio to Mexico City.

Coaches—(Reclining Seats)—

San Antonio to Laredo.

San Antonio to Mexico City. (Reserved Seats.)


Northbound

THE AZTEC EAGLE
TRAIN No. 22


Sleepers—

Mexico City to San Antonio (10-Section, 1 Drawing-room, 2 Compartment) [326].

Mexico City to San Antonio (8-Section, 5 Double Bedroom) [321].

Dining Lounge (Missouri Pacific Car)—

Mexico City to San Antonio.

Coaches—(Reclining Seats)—

Mexico City to San Antonio. (Reserved Seats.)

Laredo to San Antonio.

(National Railways of Mexico Notes)

National Railways of Mexico

ST. LOUIS - MEXICO CITY
MISSOURI PACIFIC-NATIONAL RAILWAYS
Through Air-Conditioned Trains—
Modernized Service


EQUIPMENT—Through Pullman Sleepers, 10-Section, 2 Compartments, 1 Drawing-room and 8-Section, 5 Double Bedroom—also A.C. Reclining Chair Cars and Dining Lounge Cars on Trains 1 and 2 between San Antonio and Mexico City, connecting at San Antonio with the Texas Eagle of the Missouri Pacific.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., SAN ANTONIO, TEX., LAREDO, MONTERREY AND MEXICO CITY.

Trains 1 and 2, Through Air-Conditioned Sleepers, 10-Section, 1 Drawing-room, 2 Compartment and 8-Section, 5 Double Bedroom—also A.C. Reclining Chair Cars and Dining Lounge Cars between San Antonio, Tex., and Mexico City. Connecting at San Antonio with The Texas Eagle of the Missouri Pacific.