The Humming Bird, The L&N's Connection To Chicago and New Orleans

The Louisville & Nashville is not well remembered for its passenger services although one of its more notable trains was the Humming Bird. The train was a low key, no frills operation affordable to most of the general public although it did receive streamlining and a classy livery of dark blue and silver. The Humming Bird originally operated only between Cincinnati and New Orleans but later a later partnership with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois connected the train with Chicago and St. Louis. Interestingly the train continued to receive good patronage through the early 1960s for intermediate connections. However, by the latter years of that decade interest in rail travel by the general public was fading all across the industry and the L&N wanted to rid itself of the money-losing operation axing the Humming Bird in 1969.

The Humming Bird had its beginnings dating to 1947 when the L&N inaugurated it as an all-coach streamlined operation between New Orleans and Cincinnati. The equipment for the train came from American Car & Foundry and was most certainly nothing fancy including only coaches, diners, and lounges. Onboard the train featured none of the amenities often found on other long distance trains like sleepers, observations, or stewardesses. However, this low-key operational approach is partly what the train popular as it was a fast, efficient, and a low-cost means of transportation (the train did receive Pullman service by the early 1950s).

Originally, the train's locomotives were bedecked in L&N's handsome deep blue and cream with red trim while the cars featured a combination of deep blue and stainless steel. In later years the railroad changed to a general livery of grey, yellow, and red for all its equipment, including freight. While the passenger trains still carried a level of good looks the new paint scheme was simply not as catching as the original. It should also be noted that the Humming Bird had a sister train, the Georgian. This train operated between Atlanta and St. Louis, and because it provided the only direct connection between St. Louis and Atlanta proved to popular with travelers through the 1960s.

According to the Louisville & Nashville's 1947 timetable the Humming Bird, listed as trains #5 and #6, could make the jaunt between Cincinnati and New Orleans in exactly 19 hours averaging a speed of just a touch over 48 mph. The train's original consist including five coaches, a tavern-lounge, and a diner (it later featured through sleeper service to St. Louis and Montgomery, Alabama). For more information regarding the Humming Bird's timetable and consist please click here.

As with the rail industry in total, the 1960s were not kind to L&N passenger operations in general and the railroad began looking for ways to exit the business entirely. Interestingly, the railroad was so quick to call it quits on the Humming Bird that it discontinued the train in the middle of its run in 1969, stranding passengers and making news all over the country! Needless to say when Amtrak began operations a few years later it opted not to include any of the L&N’s former passenger trains within its skeletal system.

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