"Once upon the Wabash" - Historic American Trains on the Wabash RailRoad 1957

A newly married couple on their honeymoon are riding in a late 1940's car beside the Wabash mainline, when suddenly the dining steward on the "Blue Bird" passenger train, exercising magical powers, whisks the couple onto the train at the wish of the new bride. They are given a tour of the train and then a 40 minute tour of the Wabash Railroad empire. The Wabash Railroad was named after the Wabash River. The Railroad served a large area, operating in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario.

• Category

  Travel & Events

[pilsudski36]

Glory days - for who? African-Americans were largely confined to service jobs like Pullman Porters (But not Pullman Conductors), dining car cooks and waiters, red caps, etc. Some African-American men were employed as firemen on steam engines, but when railroads dieselized, few blacks became engineers. Still, they railroad employment was very desireable for black men at that time, as blacks Americans were excluded from so much other employment.

[Robbi496]

I am such a lunatic! Why am in tears at the end of stuff like this?? LOL

[Robbi496]

Wish they knew how to do movies and ads like this today!!

[whd507]

Original filming by Dean Moore DBA Condor Films, at that time in St. Louis, (later Memphis, now Highlandville MO ). He was proud of this movie, but some transitions and editing decisions were the result of viewers at the railroad. Dean Moore Jr. © Condor Films Highlandville MO

[Sean Carr]

I can sense that the passenger railroads were glory days for the African-American community. Sadly, that doesn't happen in America anymore. Just take a look at all the slums in Detroit, Chicago and elsewhere. You of the black community today who worship our good Lord in the black churches, just keep faithful and strong in the Lord Jesus, and He will lift you up in due time.

[Sean Carr]

I can sense that the Wabash's stellar service was right up there with the good ol' Santa Fe, Union Pacific and New York Central.

[Sean Carr]

And yet much of the Wabash's infrastructure is still intact, today owned by Norfolk Southern.

[tejasnite]

Thank you

[flowingstringfantasy]

It is to my understanding that working as a porter in those days were prime employment opportunities for blacks. Many inspirational stories were told about how black fathers financed their sons for college with jobs like this. So at least not all was lost and i guess it was a better fate than working the cotton patch way down south. My hat is off to those men who purpose and vision for a better life for their children.

[rattacular12]

You sir are an idiot. But thats ok we understand. She said everything just shines, but it wasnt towards the cooks. So go get Al and Jesse and sue the Wabash railroad. See how that works out for you.