| 149-37 | Connecting Train Number (Penna., Southern, W. Pt. Rt., L. & N.) | 38-118 | ||||
| 2 35P | Dp | 0 | New York, NY (Penna. Sta) (ET) | Ar | 9 05A | |
| 4 04P | 86 | North Philadelphia, PA | 7 35A | |||
| 6 55P | 227 | Washington, DC | 4 15A | |||
| 8 55A | 864 | Atlanta, GA (ET) | 1 15P | |||
| 7 45P | Ar | 1357 | New Orleans, LA (Canal St.) (CT) | Dp | 11 00P | |
| 1 | Train Number | 2 | ||||
| Daily | Miles | Services | Daily | |||
| 12 30A | Dp | 0 | New Orleans, LA (Union Sta.) (CT) | C R | Ar | 4 00P |
| 12 36A | 2 | Carrollton Avenue | 3 50P | |||
| N12 40A | 6 | East Bridge Junction | N 3 42P | |||
| Mississippi River Bridge | ||||||
| N12 56A | 11 | West Bridge Junction | N 3 26P | |||
| 3 25A | Ar | 145 | Lafayette, LA | C | Dp | 1 00P |
| 3 30A | Dp | Ar | 12 55P | |||
| 4 51A | 219 | Lake Charles, LA | C | 11 36A | ||
| 5 36A | 257 | Orange, TX | C | 10 52A | ||
| 6 00A | 279 | Beaumont, TX | C | 10 28A | ||
| 7 30A | Ar | 363 | Houston, TX (Grand Central Sta.) | C | Dp | 9 00A |
| 7 50A | Dp | Ar | 8 40A | |||
| F | 400 | Rosenberg, TX | C | |||
| 11 40A | Ar | 573 | San Antonio, TX (Sou. Pac. Station) | C | Dp | 4 45A |
| 11 55A | Dp | Ar | 4 30A | |||
| 2 55P | Ar | 743 | Del Rio, TX | C | Dp | 1 30A |
| 3 05P | Dp | Ar | 1 20A | |||
| N | 792 | High Bridge (Pecos River) | N | |||
| 5 45P | Ar | 871 | Sanderson, TX | C | Dp | 10 40P |
| 5 55P | Dp | Ar | 10 30P | |||
| 7 42P | 962 | Alpine, TX | C | 8 46P | ||
| 8 14P | 988 | Marfa, TX (CT) | C | 8 14P | ||
| 11 10P | Ar | 1184 | El Paso, TX (Union Station) (MT) | C | Dp | 3 20P |
| 11 40P | Dp | Ar | 3 00P | |||
| 3 25A | Ar | 1401 | Douglas, AZ | C R | Dp | 11 05A |
| 3 32A | Dp | Ar | 11 00A | |||
| 3 57A | 1423 | Bisbee Junction, AZ (Bisbee via bus) | C | F10 31A | ||
| 5 45A | Ar | 1524 | Tucson, AZ | C R | Dp | 8 25A |
| 5 55A | Dp | Ar | 8 10A | |||
| F 7 40A | 1621 | Chandler, AZ | C | F 6 27A | ||
| F | 1629 | Mesa, AZ | C | F | ||
| 8 20A | Ar | 1645 | Phoenix, AZ | C R | Dp | 5 50A |
| 8 35A | Dp | Ar | 5 40A | |||
| 11 40A | Ar | 1818 | Yuma, AZ (MT) | C | Dp | 2 35A |
| 10 55A | Dp | Yuma, AZ (PT) | Ar | 1 15A | ||
| F12 02P | 1884 | Niland, CA | F11 49P | |||
| 12 58P | 1940 | Indio, CA | 10 57P | |||
| F 1 35P | 1968 | Palm Springs, CA | C R | F10 26P | ||
| F | 1989 | Beaumont, CA | ||||
| 3 00P | 2012 | Colton, CA | C | 9 22P | ||
| D 3 30P | 2037 | Pomona, CA | C R | F 8 50P | ||
| 4 05P | 2063 | Alhambra, CA (Pasadena) | C R | 8 18P | ||
| 4 30P | Ar | 2069 | Los Angeles, CA (Union Psgr. Tml.) (PT) | C R | Dp | 8 00P |
Full Lounge Car—
New Orleans to Los Angeles (for Pullman passengers).
Standard Sleepers—(Open for occupancy at New Orleans 10:00 p.m.)
New
Orleans to Los Angeles
(10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 15.
(10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 16.
(10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 17.
(10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 19.
New Orleans to Phoenix (10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 18.
Reclining Chair Cars—Seats must be reserved in advance. (Open for occupancy at New Orleans 10:00 p.m.)
New Orleans to Los Angeles. Cars 10-11-12.
Dining Car—
New Orleans to Los Angeles.
Coffee Shop Lounge—
New Orleans to Los Angeles.
News Agent Service.
Tickets Honored—Ask Agents.
Full Lounge Car—
Los Angeles to New Orleans (for Pullman passengers).
Standard Sleepers—
Los
Angeles to New Orleans
(10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 25.
(10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 26.
(10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 29.
Los Angeles to San Antonio (10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Occupancy at San Antonio until 8:00 a.m. Car 27.
Phoenix to New Orleans (10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 28.
San Antonio to New Orleans (10 Roomettes, 6 Double Bedrooms). Car 27. Open for occupancy at San Antonio 9:30 p.m.
Reclining Chair Cars—Seats must be reserved in advance.
Los Angeles to New Orleans. Cars 20-21-22.
Dining Car—
Los Angeles to New Orleans.
Coffee Shop Lounge—
Los Angeles to New Orleans.
News Agent Service.
Tickets Honored—Ask Agents.
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
The Sunset Limited had been Southern Pacific's premier train on the southern transcontinental route since 1894. In the boom years following World War II, SP decided that it was time for the Sunset to join the streamliner ranks. A $15 million order for 73 cars was placed with the Budd company in 1948. As delivered, each of the five trainsets included an "Audubon" diner, themed after the bird paintings of the famous naturalist; a "French Quarter" lounge car featuring New Orleans-style wrought-iron grillwork and a shower bath and valet service for the Pullman passengers; and a "Pride of Texas" coffee shop-lounge car decorated with Texas cattle brands and featuring inexpensive meals for coach passengers. The new equipment entered service August 20, 1950 on a 42 hour schedule which trimmed 3½ hours off the previous eastbound time and a full five hours off the westbound schedule.
Click here to see Southern Pacific's ad for the new Sunset Limited. (PDF format, 626K)
Read the feature article from the August 26, 1950 edition of Railway Age magazine (PDF format, 16.5MB - Very large!)