The Southern Railway stayed out of Amtrak initially, which meant that it continued to operate its own remaining intercity passenger trains.

The flagship of this fleet was the Washington, D.C.-New Orleans "Southern Crescent", and under the Southern became one of the best-run and most popular trains in the U.S.

The train's rolling stock included a sleeper lounge that featured one of the last master rooms in railway service. Its motive power came from a stable of E8s in bright green and white with gold striping.

Here is the New Orleans-bound "Southern Crescent" entering Alexandria, Va. Union Station behind a quartet of Es.

Photographed by Thomas McCann, 1975.
Added to the photo archive by Thomas McCann, June 10, 2010.
Railroad: Southern.

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