Along this expansive journey, it makes key stops in cities such as Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso, Texas, as well as Tucson, Arizona. Before Amtrak began operations on May 1, 1971, the Sunset Limited was managed by the Southern Pacific Railroad. This train holds the distinction of being the oldest named passenger service in the United States, first introduced in November 1894 as the Sunset Express. Operating along the Sunset Route, it connected New Orleans to the Pacific Coast and provided an essential southern gateway to the West. The Sunset Route played a unique role among the three transcontinental paths envisioned by the Pacific Railroad Acts, which aimed to link the east with the west. While the other two key routes originated from Chicago and St. Louis, the Sunset Route had strategic advantages. Its southern position meant it avoided the harsh weather challenges posed by the Wasatch and Sierra mountain ranges, which frequently disrupted travel along northern lines. As a result, it provided an all-season corridor, ensuring uninterrupted year-round service to the West Coast. The Sunset Limited was the flagship service of the Southern Pacific Railroad, known for its luxurious accommodations. Initially designed as an all-Pullman train, it featured only sleeping cars with no standard coaches, offering an elevated travel experience between New Orleans and San Francisco via Los Angeles. Introduced in 1894, the train maintained a distinctive look for decades, with cars sporting six-wheel trucks and painted in dark olive green with black roofs and undercarriages. This color scheme reflected the elegance and prestige associated with Southern Pacific’s top-tier services during that era. By the summer of 1926, the Sunset Limited provided an ambitious schedule, completing the New Orleans to San Francisco journey in 71 hours and 40 minutes. It even included a coast-to-coast sleeper service that originated in Jacksonville, Florida, and continued uninterrupted to Los Angeles. However, changes during World War II impacted its operation. On January 5, 1942, Southern Pacific halted the San Francisco–Los Angeles segment of the route, originally intended as a temporary pause for equipment maintenance. But the cut proved permanent, leaving Los Angeles as the western terminus. In the post-war period, streamlining efforts modernized the Sunset Limited, and on June 2, 1949, Southern Pacific rolled out faster schedules across its network. The Sunset’s travel time was reduced to 49 hours and 45 minutes eastbound, while westbound journeys took just 48 hours.

(Photo credit: RHP / Amtrak). Notify me of new posts by email.

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