New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in 1967.

(Portal to Texas History)

THE ACADIAN

The Acadian was the name of a passenger train of the Southern Pacific which ran daily as a night train between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas. The Acadian was one of several passenger trains, including the Sunset Limited and Argonaut, which operated over the eastern end (east of Houston) of the "Sunset Route". The 1956 iteration of the Acadian (which ran as No. 4 eastbound and No. 3 westbound) departed Houston at 9:45 pm and arrived in New Orleans at 7:20 am the following morning, while the westbound train departed New Orleans at 9:20 pm and arrived in Houston 7:10 am. The Southern Pacific ended the Acadian in 1956.

Equipment

Late in its career, during the diesel era, the Acadian ran with a variety of locomotives including PA-1's and assorted F-units.

Train 3: New Orleans-Houston Standard Sleepers: *New Orleans to Houston. (Sections, Drawing-Rooms, Compartments.) *Observation-Lounge: New Orleans to Galveston, (Sections.) On S. P. No. 171, Houston to Galveston. (Sleeper occupancy at Houston until 8:00 a.m.) Chair Car and Coaches:*New Orleans to Houston.

Train 4: Houston-New Orleans Standard Sleepers:*Houston to New Orleans. (Sections, Drawing-Rooms, Compartments. *Observation-Lounge: Galveston to New Orleans. (Sections.) On S.P. No. 172, Galveston to Houston. *Lake Charles to New Orleans. (Sections, Drawing-Rooms.) (Open for occupancy 9:30 p.m.) (Sleeper occupancy at New Orleans until 7:00 a.m.) *Chair Car and Coaches: Houston to New Orleans.

Overview

Service type: Inter-city rail
Status: Discontinued
Locale: Southern United States
First service: 1936
Last service: 1956
Former operators: Southern Pacific Railroad, Texas and New Orleans
Route Termini: New Orleans, Louisiana /Houston, Texas
Distance traveled: 363 miles (584 km)
Average journey time: 9½ hours
Service frequency: daily
Train numbers: 4 (eastbound), 3 (westbound)
Line(s) used: Sunset Route
On-board services
Seating arrangements: Chair cars and coaches
Sleeping arrangements: Open sections, drawing rooms and compartments (1947)
Observation facilities: Observation lounges
Technical
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Route Stops
New Orleans
Boutte
Des Allemands
Raceland Junction
Lafourche
Schriever
Gibson (flag stop)
Bouef (flag stop)
Morgan City
Berwick
Patterson
Bayou Sale
Franklin
Baldwin
Jeanerette
New Iberia
Cade
Broussard (flag stop)
Lafayette
Rayne (flag stop)
Crowley
Midland
Mermentau
Jennings
Roanoke
Welsh (flag stop)
Iowa (flag stop)
Lake Charles
Sulphur
Vinton
Orange
Beaumont
Nome (flag stop)
Devers
Liberty
Dayton (flag stop)
Crosby (flag stop)
Houston

See also:

Named Passenger Trains A-K

Named Passenger Trains L-Z