On the most direct route between Houston and New Orleans there is a small obstacle: The Great Atchafalaya Swamp. It's only the largest swamp to be found within the limits of the continental United States. The Southern Pacific avoided it by following levees through the bayou country to the south via Morgan City and New Iberia, while the Missouri Pacific skirted it to the north via Opelousas. S. P.'s routing served the important cities of Lafayette and Lake Charles, while MoPac picked up the state capital of Baton Rouge.

In earlier years the Orleanean day train had carried a through sleeper for San Francisco, via the Santa Fe's Belen Cutoff route. By the time of this timetable the through sleeper had been discontinued, although one could still make the connection to Santa Fe's California Special in Houston.

From the pages of the Official Guide, May 1957

Missouri Pacific Lines herald

The Houstonian
The Orleanean

Missouri Pacific Lines
October 28, 1956

309 303 Train Number 304 310
Daily Daily Miles Services Daily Daily
10 10P 8 35A Dp 0 New Orleans, LA (Union Psgr. Tml.) (CT) C R Ar 7 15P 6 40A
10 17P 8 42A 4 Carrollton Avenue 6 56P 6 26A
R10 54P R 9 19A 30 La Place, LA D 6 17P D 5 37A
R11 03P R 9 28A 38 Garyville, LA D 6 08P D 5 28A
F11 09P F 9 34A 43 Lutcher, LA F 6 02P F 5 22A
R11 18P R 9 43A 51 Convent, LA D 5 54P D 5 14A
R11 31P R 9 56A 62 Burnside, LA D 5 43P D 5 03A
R11 46P R10 11A 75 St. Gabriel, LA D 5 28P D 4 48A
12 10A 10 35A Ar 90 Baton Rouge, LA C R Dp 5 10P 4 30A
12 20A 10 45A Dp Ar 5 00P 4 20A
12 57A 11 22A 95 Anchorage, LA 4 23P 3 45A
F11 34A 107 Erwinville, LA F 4 09P
F11 46A 117 Livonia, LA F 3 56P
F 1 26A 11 53A 122 Lottie, LA 3 48P F 3 10A
12 07P 129 Krotz Springs, LA 3 31P
F 1 56A 12 24P 141 Port Barre, LA C 3 13P
2 04A 12 32P 148 Opelousas, LA C 3 03P 2 35A
2 52A 1 06P 169 Eunice, LA C 2 26P 2 05A
F 3 07A 1 20P 179 Basile, LA C 1 58P F 1 47A
F 3 14A 1 28P 185 Elton, LA C 1 50P F 1 41A
3 35A 1 55P 195 Kinder, LA C 1 30P 1 30A
F 2 12P 207 Reaves, LA C F 1 02P
F 219 Ragley, LA F
4 25A 2 45P 231 De Quincy, LA C 12 30P 12 45A
F 5 05A 3 25P 261 Mauriceville, TX C 11 45A F12 05A
5 30A 3 50P Ar 278 Beaumont, TX C Dp 11 25A 11 45P
5 40A 4 00P Dp Ar 11 15A 11 35P
F 6 14A 4 34P 298 Grayburg, TX C 10 40A F11 02P
F 6 28A 4 50P 312 Hull, TX C 10 20A F10 48P
F 4 58P 317 Hardin, TX F10 14A
F 5 24P 340 Huffman, TX F 9 47A
7 50A 6 10P Ar 367 Houston, TX (Union Station) (CT) C Dp 9 05A 9 35P
66-75 Connecting Train Number (Santa Fe) 76-65
6 45P Dp 0.0 Houston, TX (Union Station) (CT) C Ar 8 15A
10 50P Dp 191.4 Temple, TX (CT) C Ar 3 45A
10 30A Ar 658.1 Clovis, NM (CT) C Dp 4 25P
1 Connecting Train Number (Santa Fe) 2
10 50A Dp 658.1 Clovis, NM (MT) C R Ar 2 45P
8 44P Ar 1262.9 Williams, AZ (Grand Canyon) (MT) C Dp 5 15A
1 05P Ar 2083.7 Oakland, CA (PT) C R Dp 11 25A
1 30P Ar 2090.7 San Francisco, CA (via bus) (PT) C R Dp 11 00A

Train 303 (New Orleans-Houston): 27 stops, 9:35, 38.3 MPHTrain 304 (Houston-New Orleans): 27 stops, 10:10, 36.1 MPH

Train 309 (New Orleans-Houston): 21 stops, 9:40, 38.0 MPHTrain 310 (Houston-New Orleans): 20 stops, 9:05, 40.4 MPH


MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY
Route of the Eagles

EQUIPMENT—SOUTHWEST
All Regular Cars Air Conditioned

Nos. 303 and 304—The Orleanean.
Sleeper—Houston and Oakland (8-Section, 2 Compartments, 2 Double Bedrooms) [14-23].
Cafe-Lounge—Between New Orleans and Houston [40eb, 30wb]
De Luxe Chair Cars and Coaches—New Orleans and Houston.

Nos. 309 and 310—The Houstonian.
Sleeper—(8-Section, 5 Double Bedroom.) Between New Orleans and Houston [95-105].
De Luxe Chair Cars and Coaches—New Orleans and Houston.

It wasn't until the Interstate era, with its limitless sums of taxpayer money, that the road builders succeeded in penetrating the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin—with an 18.2 mile long bridge carrying Interstate 10 between Henderson and Rosedale.

Original timetable information copyright ©1957 by National Railway Publication Company.  No record of copyright renewal found; it is believed this information is in the public domain.

The Missouri Pacific name and herald are trademarks of Union Pacific Railroad Company and are used with permission. Missouri Pacific herald obtained from Missouri Pacific Historical Society.

All comments, original material and page design copyright ©2006-2011 by Eric H. Bowen. Page created 2/19/2011.

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LEGEND

Time:

A - A.M.

D - Train stops only to discharge passengers

F - Conditional (Flag) stop

I  - Customs/Immigration inspection stop

M - Meal stop

N - Not a passenger stop

P - P.M.

R - Train stops only to receive passengers


Services:

A - Auto loading/unloading facilities (as freight)

B - Checked baggage is handled

C - Coupon station (Ticket office)

I  - International border inspection station

M - Food service available

P - Telephone station

R - Rental cars available

T - Telegraph station

X - Checked baggage NOT handled

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