The Morning Star was a passenger train operated by St. Louis Southwestern Railway (Cotton Belt) between St. Louis and Dallas, designated as train numbers 5 (southbound) and 6 (northbound). From 1941 to 1950, the Morning Star also carried through cars from Memphis to Dallas, connecting with the main train at Brinkley, Arkansas. The Memphis connection for the Morning Star was added to permit Cotton Belt passenger trains to readily connect with the new Tennessean which had been inaugurated by Southern Railway in 1941. The Morning Star was replaced by unnamed train numbers 7 and 8 in November 1952, as a part of extensive passenger train restructuring by St. Louis Southwestern. The #7/#8 trains continued to the mid-1950s along the St. Louis - Dallas route, with coach and sleeping car service; however, food concession cars were eliminated.[1]

Morning Star
Advertising blotter for the Morning Star in June 1941
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
Statusdiscontinued
LocaleSouthwestern United States
First service1941
Last servicec.1950
Former operator(s)St. Louis Southwestern Railway
Route
TerminiSt. Louis, Missouri and Memphis, Tennessee
Dallas, Texas
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)5 (southwest-hbound), 6 (northeast-bound)
On-board services
Seating arrangementscoach
Sleeping arrangementsSections, compartments and drawing room between St. Louis and Pine Bluff, Ark. (1950)
Catering facilitiesdining car (Jonesboro, Ark. - Dallas)

References

edit
  1. ^ "St. Louis Southwestern Railway, Table 1". Official Guide of the Railways. 88 (4). National Railway Publication Company. September 1955.