This is a very strange name for a train. Amtrak currently runs this between Kansas City and St. Louis MO. Does anyone know what the “Mule” is in reference to?
Missourians have always been known to be stubborn as a mule.
Had a great Uncle who raised mules for US Army near Barnard, Mo in WW II over 500 at a time. I believe I read somewhere that Missouri was the mule capital of the US at one time don’t know if it is still true or not.
My dad is from Missouri and believe me he has always been stubborn as a mule, but love him dearly anyway.
When he raised horse’s he also always had a few mules as well for pack animals for the mountains. His numberr one son yopurs truly took to riding one of the mules and soon found it far more comfortable than a horse and much smarter than any horse. No mule will ever step in a gopher hol;e and break his leg as a horse is prone to do. When we brought in the range cattle each fall everyone rode horses except for yours truly who earned the nickname Jackass. I never had to hobble the mule at night like they did their horses, he was always right next to me in the morning near the remains of the camp fire. For two years in a row we brought in more range cattle than any of the horse teams. Old Danny just had a nose for where the range bulls were and the cattle always followed the range bulls back to the sorting pens. The one thing the mule never likes was anyone trying to shoe him and more than one shoe man found out how hard he could kick.
Of course passengerfan’s answer is correct but maybe there is a “double entendre” at play here. If you will check the St. Louis to K.C., Mo time table, you might think the AmTrak “Mule” also refers to the average speed for that “run.” [;)] I once was planning an AmTrak trip from Tampa, Fl. to KC., Mo. When I saw the motor coach connections out of Memphis, Tn and the glacier like speed of the “Mule,” I determined my vacation wasn’t long enough for the adventure.