Reply To: MP 366 and passenger train

[Bill Pollard]

Full exchanges from Yahoo Group (July 2015) about the image: MP366 and psgr train

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Monroe, Louisiana. Southbound. Today the store at the far right of the image is still there. This is south of the passenger station.
Jim Ogden

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So, Jim, given the mid-day sun, would this be 821/822?
Dick Ryker

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That’s my hunch. I understand there was a guy (now deceased) in Monroe who took railroad pictures. I think he worked at or had a camera shop in Monroe. I have seen a number of ALCo black and white photos. Another suspect is Lee Estes who worked for the A&LM Railway. I need to ask Don Smith if he has any idea.
Jim Ogden

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Would be nice if we could date the picture. I know this same picture was used either here or on the LRMRG yahoo group and was identified by consist as 131 the Little Rock to Lake Charles Train.

If 821/822 would be prior to 1956 as my Official Guide from that year has 821/822 not operating south of El Dorado, Arkansas. In 1954 train still went to Monroe, LA. If someone could identify the cars in the train by type the presence or absence of Pullman would tell which train as 821/822 would not have a Pullman while 131 would have.
George W. Simmons
Dry Prong, LA

[Editorial note: 821-822 discontinued between El Dorado and Monroe April 26, 1955.]

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I think the consensus was that it was 131 to Lake Charles rather than 821 because of its longer consist.
Jim Ogden

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From the window spacing the last car would appear to me to be a lightweight Pullman, most likely a 14-4.
Gordon Mott
Jacksonville, FL

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Gordon,
I would agree with your assessment. The last car car is not a heavyweight. The photo matches, exactly, the 1956 consist information for #131 – 7 cars from Little Rock to Alexandria:

Storage mail LR-Alex
baggage-express LR-Lake Charles
RPO-bagg-express LR-Alex
Coach (52 seat) LR-Lake Charles
Coach (52 seat) LR-Alex
Grill-coach (28 seat) LR-Alex
14-4 sleeper St Louis to Lake Charles

Dick Ryker

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