This photo was taken on Labor Day 1973 during the national convention of the National Railway Historical Society and depicts a southbound excursion train operating over the Southern Railway BACK BELT through New Orleans City Park. The train originated at New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal at 9 A.M., ran to Slidell, and was returning to NOUPT. In Slidell the locomotive and first car turned on the wye across from the depot; but the rest of the train was pulled back to New Orleans in reverse. The train consisted of the 2-8-0 722, auxiliary water tender W.T. 51, and 14 cars: combine 726, observation car 1056 LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, coaches 1069 MISSIONARY RIDGE, 1046, 1039, and 1038, baggage-commissary car 4061, and coaches 1034, 1036, 1037, 1068, 1067, 3659 and 1087. |