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Hold the Panama!
When I lived in Wesson, Mississippi, back in the sixties, I was able to ride the Panama several times, mostly between Brookhaven and New Orleans. I did not know personally the conductors, but the two men who held the job regularly were the Penn brothers, who were able see one another for a few minutes every morning as one came in from Canton and the other took the train on down to New Orleans–to return home twenty-four hours later.
One time when I rode it, the train was running a little late, to the point that I had to leave it in Hammond lest I miss my connection with the KCS, which I planned to take to Baton Rouge. As the result, I had a ride with “Panama Pinton,” who ferried passengers by car between Hammond and Baton Rouge. Since I had boarded #25 in Wesson, which was also late, I changed to #5 in McComb, and when I told the conductor that I would have to get off at Hammond, he seemed reluctant to endorse my ticket for a second stopover–and a few days later the agent in Wesson gave me my ticket so that I was able to get a refund on the unused portion (the conductor knew where I lived).
Twice, I ate breakfast on my way down to the Crescent CIty, and I ate dinner once out of Chicago–excellent meals every time.
My first ride in a dome came in the early spring of 1964, when I rode in an NP dome on #6 from Brookhaven to Canton (returning on #1). I greatly appreciated the opportunity to enjoy seeing ahead–and explaining the signals to a passenger who was wondering about them.
I lived just across the street from the IC in Wesson, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching #6 go by a few minutes before seven in the evening, blowing for two crossings in town.
I attended the University of Illinois in Champaign from 1966 to 1970. I lived in Chicago and would take the IC to and from school. Lots of fond memories
Around 1960, I helped arrange for Boston American Guild of Organist members to attend the inaugural concert on the new Charles B. Fisk organ in Westerly, R. I. via a chartered coach on the New Haven. I had served as acoustical consultant for the project, for my employer, Bolt Beranek and Newman. Bill Goodman, NYNH&H VP Passenger Service even visited the (still existing and worth a visit) Fisk organ shop in Gloucester ( reachable by the old B&M, now MBTA Purple-Line commuter service from N. Station).
Months later I was in Stamford, CT, on another church acoustics project. An evening meeting was scheduled with the committee, with what I though was plenty of time to catch one of the hourly mus back to NY well in time for the Owl’s departure, allowing me to sleep in a roomette to Boston. The meeting was running overtime. The chairman of the meeting called the NH dispatcher in New Haven, and after talking with him, put me on the line. I said, “Yes, Bill Goodman knows who I am, and you can check with him.” So, that specific evening the Owl made an unscheduled stop at Stamford, and as the train came into the station, headed by an EP-3, I spotted the light from the open door of the sleeper and hurried to delay the train as little as possible as I hoped on board with my one briefcase fat with change of clothes. Later, when the Narragansett was taken off and coaches added to the Owl, Stamford became a regular stop.
Leaving Mattoon 10 minutes late I asked W A Irwin ,my dad as he boarded if the Panama Limited would be on time. The conductor said yes this is the Panama Limited. Dad said they were 2 minutes early.