DELTA EAGLE COMES TO TALLULAH

 

 

In the Spring of 1941 excitement was high in Tallulah for the coming of the Missouri Pacific “streamlined” train, the Delta Eagle, which was to operate between Tallulah and Memphis. What follows is a series of articles from the Madison Journal. RPS July 2013

 

Many Coming To Tallulah On New Mo. Pac. Train

Madison Journal April 11, 1941

 

R. N. Ware, Manager of Chicago Mill & Lumber Company, announces that he has received a letter from residents of Marianna, Ark., questioning the possibility of a number of people coming to Tallulah during the latter part of April on the new Missouri-Pacific streamline train which will operate between Tallulah and Memphis.

 

The train will be on exhibition runs during the week of April 27 to May 3, and it is proposed that it make the visit to Tallulah during this time.

 

The tentative plan, as worked out by citizens of Marianna and railroad officials is as follows:

 

The train will leave Little Rock on April 28 or 29, or close to that date, with the Governor of Arkansas and members of his staff, members of Arkansas Corporation Commission, and officials of the Missouri Pacific at such time as to arrive in Marianna at about 11:00 a. m. Luncheon will be served the entire party at Marianna at about one o'clock. The train will then leave there with approximately 25 representatives of the various organizations of that town and proceeds to Helena, where 25 or 30 representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of Phillips County will board the train. The train would then proceed to Tallulah, arriving about seven o'clock, spending the night, and return the next morn­ing, leaving Tallulah about 9:00 or 10:00 o'clock.

 

 Rooms Needed

 

Mr. Ware brought this matter up at the meeting of the Luncheon Club Wednesday, and will also take it up with the Rotary Club Friday. Those present at the Luncheon Club were hearty in their approval of the proposed trip, and agreed that the only problem would be the possibility of securing accom­modations for the night for the 75 or 80 persons who would be on the train. Several members of the Club stated that there would be one or more rooms available in their homes, and Mr. Ware made note of the fact, stating that he would be glad to keep a record of the rooms in Tallulah available, and assign them to the visitors when they arrive. It is proposed to make the same request at the Rotary Club, and it was suggested that if there is anyone else who would have accommodations available for one or more persons they call Mr. Ware so that he can make such no­tation on his record.

 

In event the trip can be worked out, it was also proposed that four or five representatives from Tal­lulah attend the luncheon at Mari­anna and accompany them on to Tallulah.

 

`Delta Eagle' Will Visit Tallulah

Madison Journal April 25, 1941

 

When the new Missouri Pacific streamline train, "The Delta Eagle" pulls into Tallulah on its exhibition tour Wednesday, a group of Tallu­lah citizens are planning to be abroad (sic).

 

R. N. Ware, manager of the Chicago ill and Lumber Company, W. P. Sevier, Jr., mayor pro-tern of Tallulah, and several other local persons have made plans to go to Marianna, Arkansas, April 29 to attend a luncheon to be given there for the 80 or 100 persons who will be aboard the train and to accompany the group of visitors here.

 

The local Luncheon Club and the Rotary Club discussed the trip at their meetings two weeks ago, and since then have been securing accommodations for the visitors and making plans for a barbecue that day. Several members of the clubs stated that there would be room in their homes for accommodating the group.

 

The Governor of Arkansas, mem­bers of his family, and staff, members of the Arkansas Corporation Commission, and officials of the Missouri Pacific will leave Little Rock, Arkansas, April 28 or 29 to arrive in Marianna at 11 o'clock that morning. Luncheon will be served there, and with 25 represen­tatives of various organizations of that town the train will proceed to Helena, where representatives of the county Chamber of Commerce will join the group.

 

The aluminum Delta Eagle is scheduled to arrive here early Wed­nesday, April 30. It will be on ex­hibit throughout the day at the depot and will leave next day for its return trip. After the exhibition tour the train will go on regular schedule between Memphis and Tallulah.

 

New Streamlined Train Comes Here Wednesday

Brings Over 100 Arkansas Business Men And Road Executives On Good Will Trip

Madison Journal May 2, 1941

 

With a passenger list of over 100 Arkansas state officials, Mo. Pacific officials and citizens of Marianna, Ark., the Delta Eagle, deluxe streamlined train slated to run be­tween Tallulah and Memphis, ar­rived here Wednesday afternoon.

 

Among those who were on the train were: Joe Hardin, State Rev­enue Commissioner of Arkansas; Herbert Graves, Insurance Com­missioner; M. B. M c L e o d, Comptroller; H. E. Sitlington, mem­bers of the Arkansas Corporation Commission; T. E. Wood, Commis­sion Clerk; Joe Wood, Cross Coun­ty Judge; DeLoss McKnight, Sheriff Cross County; S. C. Langston, Sheriff Lee County; J. W. Harring­ton, Clerk Lee County. R. E. Bul­lard, Assessor, Lee County; Mayor McClintock, of Marianna; Ray At­herton, District Revenue Commis­sioner; Henry Donham, General At­torney for Mo. Pacific; W. E. Lamb, General Supt.; Oscar Wil­liams, General Freight and Passen­ger Agent, and P. J. Neff, Assistant Traffic officer and many others.

 

The train was met at Tallulah by a large number of people, and cars were provided for a short run about town, after which the visi­tors were taken to a night club west of town where a barbecue had been prepared. After the barbecue, a number from Arkansas, Tallulah and the railroad company made short talks to the gathering which probably numbered three hundred people.

 

Under the direction of Major R. N. Ware, arrangements had been made in Tallulah to take care of this crowd over night, and conse­quently the train did not leave here until about eight o'clock the next morning.

 

This new train is to be placed in service between Tallulah and Memphis in a few days. When this is done it will be possible to leave Tallulah early in the morning, arrive in Memphis, spend about four hours, and get back to Tallu­lah early that night.

 

Local Group Takes Trip On New Train

Delta Eagle, New Streamlined Train, Admired By Tallulah People Who Take Trip To Memphis

Madison Journal May 9, 1941

 

Almost one hundred persons, mostly from Tallulah, got their first ride on The Delta Eagle, the new Missouri-Pacific streamlined train for service between here and Mem­phis, Tuesday. A one-day trip from Tallulah to Memphis and return had been arranged by company of­ficials, and the response of the people to the offer was indicated by the capacity crowd which took the trip.

 

Similar trips have been arranged for other points along this com­pany's right-of-way, and the trip from Tallulah was the first one going to Memphis. Last week a trip was arranged for a number of citizens of Marianna, Ark., to come to Tallulah for an overnight visit, when they were entertained here.

 

The new train will be placed in service between Tallulah and Mem­phis on May 11, and the schedule calls for it to leave Tallulah early in the morning and return the same night about ten o'clock, with about four hours in Memphis. The sche­dule has been speeded up and the roadbed improved to handle the new train and the faster schedule.

 

The train left Tallulah at 6:30 Tuesday morning and arrived in Memphis at 11:30. All those on the train were guests of the Rotary club in Memphis, at a luncheon at a Memphis hotel, after which they had a short while in Memphis. The return trip started at 4:30 and they arrived in Tallulah at 9:30. Stops were made at several places for servicing the train, and one stop at Sondheimer to take on passengers, this being the only one where passengers were taken on except Tal­lulah.

 

At Memphis the group was fur­nished transportation by various civic groups from the depot to the hotel and back to the depot in the afternoon. All who made the trip were more than pleased with the ride, and were particularly impress­ed with the service they received while on the train. It appeared that there was nothing which the crew had overlooked for the pleasure of their passengers. Particularly soli­citous of the welfare of the pass­engers was C. L. Ziervogel, who had charge of the "eats and drinks." Mr. Ziervogel, is inspec­tor of dining and parlor cars for the Missouri Pacific, and the way he handled the service showed that he knew his business. The only charges made for the trip was five dollars and this included meals and lunches and drinks while on the train, both going and return.

 

The new streamliner consists of the power unit and two cars, at­tractively painted in blue and sil­ver. The same motif carried out in the interior of the cars, with the ceiling and walls painted in silver and the seats upholstered in blue plush. Venetian blinds instead of the usual shades are used on the windows.

 

The engine room is a model of efficiency. The Diesel engine is capable of making more than 100 miles an hour but the present soft condition on the road bed limits the speed to 50 miles in some places and sixty in others. The motor unit consists of the control room at front, the engineer's room, the baggage compartment and mail racks. The second car, when the train is placed in regular service will ac­commodate negro passengers. The third coach is for white passen­gers. The latter has a buffet lunch counter and luxurious facilities for men and women. A radio is installed in each car.

 

Making the trip were the follow­ing: Mr. and Mrs. Hall Allen, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Mason, J. C. Stocks, C. E. Walker, Joe Hamilton, Elmer Dalfieume, Mr. and Mrs. George F. Ammons, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. McDuff, W. H. Erickson, R. D. Lee, J. B. Smith, mayor of Delhi ; Wil­liam Purdy, Lamar Bryant, F. R. Frazier, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Dickin­son, Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Ware, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Rountree, E. A. Rodrigue, J. M. Stevenson, Mrs. W. A. Montgomery, Mrs. M. M. Lewis, Mrs. W. S. Craig, W. A. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Frazier, P. S. Scurria, Miss Jennie Scurria, Miss Angelina Scurria, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Willey of Delhi, Mr. and Mrs. John Devine, A. M. Stewart, R. E. Brown, C. F. Hobson, Mr. and Mrs. Z. L. Cham­bless, Mr. and Mrs. Hal Perry, C. A. Shelton, Rev. and Mrs. Mrs. J. D. Maurer, Mrs. W. D. Buford, E. H. Ayers, Dave Kaufman, E. M. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Davis, E. D. Shipp, Jr., V. H. Davis, W. H. Hale, D. M. Kell, C. E. Wixson, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Calhoun, R. R. Spigener, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Ab­roms, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Loe, Mrs. M. A. Phillips, Mrs. Dean Moberley, Mrs. J. A. Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schwartz, Richard Almond, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Irving, Mrs. T. Ed Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Marion Washburn, Mrs. L. J. Kathan, Mrs. A. E. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. James Cosse, Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Watson, J. C. Keller, Miss Sylvia Minsky, Miss Irene Minsky and the following officials of the Missouri Pacific lines:

 

F.  McCaslin, St. Louis, inspec­tor of passenger transportation; G. C. White, St. Louis electrical in­spector; George R. Jackson, St. Louis, general car inspector; C. F. Long-Weth, St. Louis, specialty publicity representative; C. L. Ziervagel, St. Louis, dining car direc­tor; C. "Sky" Young, St. Louis, general road foreman; Al Speer, Little Rock, road foreman of engineers: Leland Bartlett, Memphis, passenger representative; Elmer Barlett, Little Rock, passenger representative. W. P. Huhner, Monroe, division freight and passenger agent ; Frank A. Campbell, Monroe, passenger traffic agent ; Earl Cundiff, Tallulah, general foreman ; Zack L. Chambless, Tallulah, agent ; H. E. Ellis, Wynne, Ark., special agent ; E. D. Bradshaw, Little Rock, electrician.

 

Conductor H. A. McAfee was in charge of the train. "Shorty" Hall was the engineer, Earl Fortner the fireman, and Joe Ragland the brakeman.

 

Especial mention should be made of the services rendered by the several colored porters.