There is no better way to kick off the Streamliners South collection than with this terrific linen post card of the Rebel as it flies along the bayou and under the spanish moss.

It's also appropriate to start with Gulf Mobile & Ohio's signature streamliner because the Rebel was the first streamliner to serve the south. The Rebel was lushly appointed and included the very important features of air conditioning (an absolute must) and on-board hostesses (America's first railroad to do so!).

With through Pullman service available to Chicago, the Rebel routes ran between St. Louis and Mobile, as well as (more importantly!) St. Louis and New Orleans.

As we will see on some of the post cards that follow, the featured routes of the southern streamliners seemed to be those that ran from either New York or Chicago to the marquee destinations of New Orleans and Miami.

And why not? New York and Chicago are fine cities to be sure– but Miami or New Orleans in January? There's a reason the birds fly south in the winter...