Memphis Central Station Track Assignments - CRIP, Frisco, Illinois Central, L&N (After 4/1/1964)

Frisco trains, as well as IC and RI trains, generally operated into the same station tracks at Memphis on each trip.

These track specifications do not appear in Employee Time Tables (ETT) or Division Special Instructions.

Do any pre-1967 files exist for Memphis terminal general orders or general notices?

And if so, do these documents provide any guidance on Memphis Central Station track assignments for Frisco trains?

Bill

 

Bill,

I have some old blueprints and track diagrams for the changes made at Memphis Central Station.

I believe these are around the time Memphis Union Station closed, 1961-1962.

 

At this point, I cannot remember how many tracks stubbed and how many were through.

There were 10 tracks all together and the low numbers were the stub tracks. Track 1 was adjacent to Main Street. I do recall the following:

No 105 and No 106 backed in on the easternmost through track so that the Pullman(s) were right at the concourse so that you had no walk on the platforms, at all. Otherwise, this track was used by the ICRR.

The Memphis - Birmingham trainset for the Sunnyland always spent the day on track 1.

I think, but am not sure that tracks 2 and 3 were used by the Frisco for the St. Louis and Kansas City trains, and tracks 4 and 5 were used by the CRIP.

After Memphis Union Station closed, I think that the L&N trains were handled on tracks 3 and 4. At the time Union Station closed, the trains at Central Station became:

SLSF
Kansas City Florida Special
Sunnyland - Memphis-Kansas City
Sunnyland - Memphis-St. Louis
Sunnyland - Memphis-Birmingham

ICRR:
City of New Orleans
Panama Limited
Louisiane
Creole - northbound only - Memphis-Chicago
Southern Express - southbound only - Chicago-Memphis
Chickasaw - to/from St. Louis
Delta Express - to/from Greenville, MS

CRIP
Choctaw Rockette - RDC
Trains No 111, No 112 - late night mail trains

L&N
Train No 98, No 99, Pan American - "Baby Pan" - Memphis-Cincinnati - day train
Train No 5, No 6, Humming Bird - "Baby Bird" - Memphis-Cincinnati - night train
Memphis-Nashville night train.

Within a few years all were gone except two ICRR trains.

 

Bill & George,

I'll have to dig out those old track diagrams and see if they actually have the designations on them. I think they did some track re-alignments around this time to accommodate the added movements.

When I find them, I try and scan them to the files section, or send them PM.

Thanks,

Durff

 

Mike and George,

The Memphis Historical Railroad Pages by Mike Condren contain several diagrams of Memphis Central Station and its trackage.

For more information see the following.

http://www.cbu.edu/~mcondren/MRP/MemphisCentralStation/MemphisCentralStation.htm

Edit 1/2/2024: https://condrenrails.com/

Edit 1/2/2024: https://condrenrails.com/MRP/Memphis-Railroad-Pages.htm

Unfortunately, we have still not located any document, probably an IC general order or general notice, which specifies certain tracks for certain trains using Memphis Central Station.

Bill

1/2/2024: Added current links to Mike Condren's railroad web site and Memphis home page.
MKD

 

I believe there's another aerial or bird's eye view of the station here among Mike Condren's webpages that gives some details as to which tracks were served the various railroads.

Sorry I can't locate it at the moment. I believe the written observations were by Ken McElreath.

Tom

 

Tom,

Thanks for the reminder.

I believe that the page/commentary that you were seeking is in the Frisco passenger train section.

http://www.cbu.edu/~mcondren/MRP/MemphisCentralStation/Frisco-Memphis-Pass-Pixs.htm

Edit 1/2/2024: https://condrenrails.com/frisco.html

Edit 1/2/2024: https://condrenrails.com/MRP/Birds-Eye-View-Central-Station.htm

Mike does not have the most recent commentary regarding this view. After more brainstorming, a group of regular contributors to the Memphis Railroad site decided that the steam powered train on track two was most likely the IC outbound Delta Express, not a Frisco train.

Bill

Edit 1/2/2024: Added current links to Mike Condren's railroad web site Main Frisco Page and Bird's Eye View Of Memphis Central Station image.
MKD