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{{italic title}}
{{Unreferenced stub|auto=yes|date=December 2009}}
{{Infobox rail service
[[Image:OP-16077.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Train No. 5, the ''Argonaut'', crosses the [[Rio Grande River]] near [[El Paso, Texas]] on September 24, 1947.]]
| box_width =
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[[Image:SP Argonaut drumhead logo combined.png|thumb|200px|right|"[[Drumhead (sign)|Drumhead]]" logos such as these often adorned the ends of [[observation car]]s on the ''Argonaut''.]]
| name = ''Argonaut''
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The '''''Argonaut''''' was the [[Southern Pacific Railroad|Southern Pacific Railroad's]] secondary [[transcontinental railroad|transcontinental]] [[passenger train]], inaugurated in 1926, and operated between [[New Orleans]] and [[Los Angeles]] via Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso, Texas; Demming, New Mexico; Douglas and Tucson, Arizona; and Palm Springs, California, until its discontinuance in 1961. In addition to passenger cars from New Orleans to the west coast, it also carried sleeping cars from New Orleans to San Diego via the San Diego & Arizona Eastern, a SP subsidiary. Westbound trains carried sleeping cars from both New Orleans and Houston to San Antonio.
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = SP Argonaut drumhead logo combined.png
| image_width = 300px
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| caption = "[[Drumhead (sign)|Drumhead]]" logos such as these often adorned the ends of [[observation car]]s on the ''Argonaut''.
| type = [[Inter-city rail]]
| status = Discontinued
| locale = [[Southwestern United States]] / [[Western United States]]
| predecessor =
| first = {{start date and age|1926}} to 1936, 1938
| last = {{end date and age|1958}}
| successor =
| operator =
| formeroperator = [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]]
| ridership =
| ridership2 =
| website =
| start = [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]
| stops =
| end = [[Los Angeles, California]]
| distance = {{convert|1996|mi|km}}
| journeytime =
| frequency = Daily
| trainnumber = 5 (westbound), 6 (eastbound)
| line_used =
| class =
| access =
| seating = Chair cars
| sleeping = Open sections, double bedrooms, drawing rooms and compartments
| autorack =
| catering = [[Dining car]]
| observation = [[Lounge car]] (1952)
| entertainment =
| baggage =
| otherfacilities =
| stock =
| gauge =
| el =
| speed =
| owners =
| routenumber =
| map =
| map_state =
}}
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The '''''Argonaut''''' was the [[Southern Pacific Railroad|Southern Pacific Railroad's]] secondary passenger train between [[New Orleans]] and [[Los Angeles]] via Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and Palm Springs, California. It started in 1926 on a 61 hr 35 min schedule Los Angeles to New Orleans, five hours slower than the [[Sunset Limited]]; it was discontinued west of Houston in 1958. (It was also dropped from May 1932 until May 1936.) In earlier years it carried sleeping cars from New Orleans to Yuma that would continue to San Diego via [[San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway]], a SP subsidiary.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Maiken|first1=Peter |title=Night Trains |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|year= 1989|page=182}}</ref> Westbound trains carried sleeping cars from New Orleans and Houston to San Antonio.


While the ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' was the premiere SP train on the "[[Sunset Route]]" &mdash; and probably on the whole SP system &mdash; the ''Argonaut'' was always a secondary train, running on a slower timetable than the ''Sunset Limited''. The ''Argonaut'' needed fifty hours between New Orleans and Los Angeles, while the ''Sunset Limited'' needed only forty-two. Unlike the ''Sunset Limited'', which was made for first-class luxury passenger travel, the ''Argonaut'' was always a train for economy travel, carrying mostly standard [[Coach (rail)|coaches]] and few standard sleepers, allowing normal people to enjoy transcontinental rail travel at moderate prices but with full [[dining car|dining]] and [[sleeping car]] service.
The ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' was the premiere SP train on the "[[Sunset Route]]" — and probably on the whole SP system — and the ''Argonaut'' was a slower secondary train. The ''Argonaut'' needed 50 hours between New Orleans and Los Angeles, while after 1950 the ''Sunset Limited'' needed 42. The Argonaut ran Tucson to El Paso via Deming; the westward train usually ran on the EP&SW line via Douglas.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Southern Pacific February 6, 1952 timetable, Tables 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9 |url=http://streamlinermemories.info/SP/SP52-2TT.pdf}}</ref>


Unlike the first-class ''Sunset Limited'' the ''Argonaut'' was always a train for economy travel, carrying standard [[Coach (rail)|coaches]] and few standard sleepers, allowing people to travel at moderate prices but with full [[dining car|dining]] and [[sleeping car]] service.<ref>{{cite web|website=American Rails |title=Argonaut|url=https://www.american-rails.com/argonaut.html}}</ref>
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Throughout its entire life the train comprised olive green and black heavyweight passenger cars, pulled by [[steam locomotives]] like the GS-1 [[4-8-4]] or MT-4 [[4-8-2]], sometimes even a Cab Forward [[4-8-8-2]]. In its last years, the train was pulled by [[EMD F7]] or [[ALCO PA|ALCO PA/PB]] [[diesel locomotives]].


Another counterpart was the ''[[Imperial (SP train)|Imperial]],'' which had Los Angeles and San Diego branches. The latter had a route which would twice cross the [[Mexico–United States border]].<ref name=":0" />
Additional material from ''Night Trains'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989.

⚫
Through its life the train had olive green and black heavyweight passenger cars, pulled by [[steam locomotives]] like the GS-1 [[4-8-4]] or MT-4 [[4-8-2]], sometimes even a Cab Forward [[4-8-8-2]]. In its last years the train was pulled by [[EMD F7]] or [[ALCO PA|ALCO PA/PB]] [[diesel locomotives]].{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

By its final year its route was shortened to have El Paso as its western terminus.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Southern Pacific Lines, Tables 1, 2, 11, 13|journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=90 |issue=7 |date=December 1957}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
*''[[Acadian (passenger train)|Acadian]]''
*''[[Acadian (train)|Acadian]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{SP named trains}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Argonaut (Train)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Argonaut (Train)}}
[[Category:Passenger trains of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company]]
[[Category:Passenger trains of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of the United States]]
[[Category:1926 introductions]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1926]]
[[Category:Night trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Night trains of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway services discontinued in 1958]]



{{US-train-stub}}
{{US-train-stub}}

Latest revision as of 21:46, 25 September 2024

Argonaut
"Drumhead" logos such as these often adorned the ends of observation cars on the Argonaut.
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleSouthwestern United States / Western United States
First service1926; 98 years ago (1926) to 1936, 1938
Last service1958; 66 years ago (1958)
Former operator(s)Southern Pacific
Route
TerminiNew Orleans, Louisiana
Los Angeles, California
Distance travelled1,996 miles (3,212 km)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)5 (westbound), 6 (eastbound)
On-board services
Seating arrangementsChair cars
Sleeping arrangementsOpen sections, double bedrooms, drawing rooms and compartments
Catering facilitiesDining car
Observation facilitiesLounge car (1952)

The Argonaut was the Southern Pacific Railroad's secondary passenger train between New Orleans and Los Angeles via Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and Palm Springs, California. It started in 1926 on a 61 hr 35 min schedule Los Angeles to New Orleans, five hours slower than the Sunset Limited; it was discontinued west of Houston in 1958. (It was also dropped from May 1932 until May 1936.) In earlier years it carried sleeping cars from New Orleans to Yuma that would continue to San Diego via San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway, a SP subsidiary.[1] Westbound trains carried sleeping cars from New Orleans and Houston to San Antonio.

The Sunset Limited was the premiere SP train on the "Sunset Route" — and probably on the whole SP system — and the Argonaut was a slower secondary train. The Argonaut needed 50 hours between New Orleans and Los Angeles, while after 1950 the Sunset Limited needed 42. The Argonaut ran Tucson to El Paso via Deming; the westward train usually ran on the EP&SW line via Douglas.[2]

Unlike the first-class Sunset Limited the Argonaut was always a train for economy travel, carrying standard coaches and few standard sleepers, allowing people to travel at moderate prices but with full dining and sleeping car service.[3]

Another counterpart was the Imperial, which had Los Angeles and San Diego branches. The latter had a route which would twice cross the Mexico–United States border.[2]

Through its life the train had olive green and black heavyweight passenger cars, pulled by steam locomotives like the GS-1 4-8-4 or MT-4 4-8-2, sometimes even a Cab Forward 4-8-8-2. In its last years the train was pulled by EMD F7 or ALCO PA/PB diesel locomotives.[citation needed]

By its final year its route was shortened to have El Paso as its western terminus.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Maiken, Peter (1989). Night Trains. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 182.
  2. ^ a b "Southern Pacific February 6, 1952 timetable, Tables 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Argonaut". American Rails.
  4. ^ "Southern Pacific Lines, Tables 1, 2, 11, 13". Official Guide of the Railways. 90 (7). National Railway Publication Company. December 1957.
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