"The Southern Serves the South"

And serve the south it did– with style. When Southern launched it's New York to New Orleans all-coach steamliner the Southerner in March of 1941, passengers were treated to comfortable reclining seats, air-conditioned coaches, pleasant indirect lighting, and attractive coordinated interior colors.

Who needs a sleeper?

Well, some folks may prefer a sleeper. And for that, there's the Crescent.

By the time the Southerner started operation, the Crescent had already acquired a reputation for quality and service on it's run between New York and New Orleans. The Crescent Limited began service in 1925 as an extra fare all-Pullman (sleeper) train, although the route had been operated by Southern Railway (and its predecessors) since the late 1800's.

While the luxurious Pullman equipment was very nice indeed, it was the gleaming green and gold heavy Pacific locomotives at the head of the Crescent Limited that really captured the imagination. The green and gold of the Southern Crescent steam locomotives became synonymous with luxury, and would inspire the colors found on the diesel power that would follow.

The great depression took it's toll on the luxury railroad, and rather than add coach cars to the vaunted Crescent Limited, Southern instead discontinued the Crescent Limited nameplate and converted the train to include coach-service in 1934.

Shortly thereafter, in 1938, the train was renamed– now it was simply the Crescent– and the train returned to all pullman service. Diesel power in a distinctive green and white color scheme was added in 1941, coinciding with the launch of the Southerner.

1949 brought an all-new set of modern streamlined passenger cars to the Crescent. Offered to passengers were 5 different types of rooms, including the only master room in the South (with a private shower and a radio).

As with all the grand streamliners, the Crescent's ridership declined with the rise of the auto and airplane, and by the 1970's the Crescent and the Southerner were consolidated into the Southern Crescent, with a mix of Pullmans and reclining-seat coaches.