NOTE
for No. 531 between
Washington and Harrisburg: "Only those coach passengers for The
Jeffersonian destinations must reserve their coach seats in advance
through Ticket Agents."
PENNSYLVANIA
RAILROAD
Serving the Nation
THROUGH CAR
SERVICE—WESTWARD
Coaches on all trains, except Nos. 29, 31, 49 and 61.
Regularly assigned cars are Air-Conditioned.
No. 31—"SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS."
Lounge Car...New
York to Indianapolis—(6 Double Bedrooms, Buffet).
Sleeping Cars...New
York to St. Louis—(14 Sections)
New York
to St. Louis—(18 Roomettes).
New York
to St. Louis—(6 Compartments, 3 Drawing-Rooms). (2 Cars.)
New York
to St. Louis—(12 Duplex Rooms, 5 Double Bedrooms).
New York
to Indianapolis—(14 Sections)
New York
to Indianapolis—(18 Roomettes).
Washington
to St. Louis—(8 Sections, 2 Compartments, Drawing-room).
Washington
to St. Louis—(10 Roomettes, 5 Double Bedrooms).
Observation Car...Washington
to St. Louis—(Compartment, 2 Drawing-rooms, Double Bedroom, Buffet).
Parlor Car...Indianapolis
to Louisville—(Cafe Lounge).
Dining Cars...New
York to St. Louis.
Washington
to Indianapolis.
No Coaches.
No. 65—THE
JEFFERSONIAN.
(All Seats Reserved.)
Coaches...New
York to St. Louis—(Reclining Seats).
Washington
to St. Louis—(Reclining Seats).
Observation Lounge Coach
(Buffet)...New York to St. Louis.
Lounge Coach
(Buffet)...New York to St. Louis.
Dining Cars...New
York to St. Louis. Washington to Harrisburg.
THROUGH
CAR SERVICE—EASTWARD
Coaches on all trains, except Nos. 28, 30, 48 and 60.
Regularly assigned cars are Air-Conditioned.
No. 30—"SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS."
Lounge Car...Indianapolis
to New York—(6 Double Bedrooms, Buffet).
Sleeping Cars...St.
Louis to New York—(18-Roomettes).
St.
Louis to New York—(6 Compartments, 3 Drawing-rooms). (2 Cars.)
St.
Louis to New York—(12 Duplex Rooms, 5 Double Bedrooms).
St.
Louis to New York—(14 Sections).
St.
Louis to Washington—(10 Roomettes, 5 Double Bedrooms).
Indianapolis
to New York—(18 Roomettes)
Indianapolis
to New York—(14 Sections).
Indianapolis
to Washington—(10 Sections, 3 Double Bedrooms).
Observation Car...St.
Louis to Washington—(Compartment, 2 Drawing-rooms, Double Bedroom,
Buffet).
Parlor Car...Louisville
to Indianapolis—(Cafe Lounge).
Dining Cars...St.
Louis to New York.
Indianapolis
to Washington.
No Coaches.
No. 64.—THE
JEFFERSONIAN.
(All Seats Reserved.)
Coaches...St.
Louis to New York—(Reclining Seats).
St.
Louis to Washington—(Reclining Seats).
Observation Lounge Coach
(Buffet)...St. Louis to New York.
Lounge Coach (Buffet)...St.
Louis to New York.
Dining Cars...St.
Louis to New York.
Harrisburg
to Washington.
The "Spirit of St. Louis" was the Pennsylvania's premium all-Pullman train from New York/Washington to St. Louis, followed minutes later by the all-coach Jeffersonian. Steam was still an important part of Pennsy's motive power mix in the late 1940s, and as the newly designed T-1 duplex locos had proved problematic the ancient K-4s Pacifics were often pressed into service.
The K-4 was an excellent and proven design, it's true, but it was underpowered for the length, weight, and speed demands of premium passenger trains in the postwar era. Standard practice was to operate them double-headed which meant twice the fuel and manpower costs. This is just a guess, but looking at the equipment listing for the Spirit I would not be surprised to find that it often operated in two sections between Harrisburg and Indianapolis with the St. Louis cars and diner in the first section and the Indianapolis cars and diner in the second.
Read more about the Spirit of St. Louis train at American Rails (opens in a new window).