My Mom recently saw an “old, beat up” boxcar that had the following slogan: “A Southern route for Southern people”. My guess is it was an old Southern Railroad boxcar, but I have never heard of this slogan. Any ideas? Thanking y’all in advance, Chris in Texas.
You sure stumped me. “Southern Railway Serves the South” and later variations are all I remember since the 1960s.
Would you consider giving your mother a disposable camera?
[8D]
I don’t think it’s a Southern Railway slogan. I’ve been studying the Southern for a number of years and I’ve never seen it associated with the Southern. I’d be interested in whose slogan it was, though.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins
When did your mom see that “beat-up boxcar”? 20th century? The slogan sounds like it might have applied in 1870s to construction of the Southern Pacific/T&NO/ Galveston, Houston and San Antonio “Sunset Route” as a southern alternative to the Central Pacific/Union Pacific “Overland” transcontinental route. But I’ve never heard that specific slogan.
Actually, she saw it just a few days ago. This one sure has me stumped!
You sure it was a printed or painted slogan and not just a joke somebody chalked or grafittied on the side?
Is it a Northern Route for Northern People?
What then does it make the UP? A western Railroad for western People?
Simple really. 4 railroads for each part of the USA all interchanging at one place. St. Louis.
I strongly suspect someone put grafitti on that boxcar as a joke.
“Graffiti” was the first thing I thought of, but she insists it looked like it was “professionally” painted on at the factory. I am beginning to think this may not be solved until someone else sees the boxcar in question & observes the reporting marks, etc. I do appreciate everyone who responded - thank y’all kindly.
From the W&H site are the following for Southern Railway:
Look Ahead - Look South
Southern Gives a Green Light to Innovation
Southern Railway Serves the South
Southern Serves The South
The Southern Serves The South
some of which are similar.
Enjoy
Paul
IRONROOSTER seems to have the last word on slogans. Just yesterday afternoon in Rochelle I was lucky enough to catch a “SOUTHERN GIVES A GREEN LIGHT TO INNOVATIONS” brown boxcar. Despite graffiti, the slogan was clear enough–but it did not have the first “O” in the slogan filled in with green as I remember. Probably the green “O” weathered its color away but the slogan kept enough of its white lettering to endure despite the graffiti.
[:I]
Allen smalling_60626@yahoo.com