Texas Special

Texas Special
Name	Texas Special
Caption	Rock Island Railroad poster for the Texas Special
Type	Inter-city rail
Status	Discontinued
Locale	Midwestern United States, Southwestern United States
First	1911
Last	1965
Formeroperator	Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad
Start	Chicago
End	Houston
Distance	1,100 mi
Frequency	Daily
Trainnumber	1/2
Seating	Reclining seat coaches
Sleeping	Sleeper cars
Catering	Dining car
Observation	Lounge car

Texas Special

The Texas Special was a named inter-city passenger train jointly operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad that provided daytime and overnight service between Chicago and Houston via Dallas and Fort Worth. Introduced in the early 20th century, the train became notable for its streamlined equipment, onboard amenities, and promotional image, linking major urban centers such as St. Louis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Waco while serving midwestern and southwestern markets. Its operations intersected with national developments involving the Interstate Commerce Commission, postwar passenger trends, and the transition to diesel motive power exemplified by Electro-Motive Division locomotives.

History

The Texas Special traces origins to joint services organized by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad in the 1910s. Passenger demand in the Upper Midwest and South Central United States during the interwar period prompted the railroads to consolidate through-train branding to compete with rivals such as the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Chicago and North Western Transportation Company, and Missouri Pacific Railroad. Post-World War II prosperity and the streamliner era saw the train re-equipped and marketed alongside contemporaries like the Super Chief and the 20th Century Limited. Regulatory oversight by the Interstate Commerce Commission influenced routing and fare structures. The train’s history reflects broader shifts in transportation policy involving the Federal Highway Act of 1956 and competitive pressures from airlines including American Airlines and Trans-Texas Airways.

Route and Operations

The Texas Special operated over trackage rights and coordinated schedules of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad north of Dallas and the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad southward to Houston. Key intermediate terminals included St. Louis, Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Waco, and Austin on special sections. Timetables emphasized daylight sections through the Midwest and overnight runs across Texas; connections were timed to link with trains such as the Rock Island Rocket and MKT's Katy Flyer. Onboard staff included crew accredited under rules by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Transport Workers Union of America in later years. Operational coordination required dispatching interplay with freight units of the Union Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Transportation Company on shared corridors.

Equipment and Rolling Stock

The postwar Texas Special acquired streamlined cars from American Car and Foundry and Pullman-Standard, presenting stainless-steel and painted consists similar to contemporaries like the Pennsylvania Railroad’s streamliners. Motive power transitioned from ALCO and Baldwin steam locomotives to diesel-electric units such as EMD F-units and later EMD GP series. Amenities included dining cars prepared under standards comparable to Fred Harvey Company contracts, parlor-observation cars with panoramic windows, and sleeping cars with sections, roomettes, and bedrooms built by Pullman Company. The train’s livery and interior design were promoted in advertising alongside artists such as Norman Rockwell in era publications and featured on posters produced by Litho Art Studios.

Ridership and Cultural Impact

Ridership peaked in the late 1940s and early 1950s as passenger rail remained a primary inter-city mode for travelers between Chicago and Houston, including business travelers affiliated with corporations like ExxonMobil’s precursors and government personnel from agencies such as the Department of Defense on reassignment. The Texas Special entered regional popular culture through mentions in newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and the Houston Chronicle, appearances in radio programming on networks such as the National Broadcasting Company, and film cameos coordinated with studios including Warner Bros. Pictures. Rail enthusiasts and photographers from organizations like the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society documented the train, which inspired modeling groups affiliated with the National Model Railroad Association.

Decline and Discontinuation

The Texas Special’s decline followed national ridership decreases in the 1950s and 1960s driven by the expansion of the Interstate Highway System and the growth of commercial aviation via carriers such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Financial strains on private railroads led to service reductions imposed under rulings by the Interstate Commerce Commission and restructuring plans similar to those faced by the Penn Central Transportation Company. By the mid-1960s, the Rock Island and MKT curtailed amenities and frequencies; final discontinuance occurred amid coordinated filings with the ICC and route abandonments that affected communities served by the train.

Legacy and Preservation Efforts

Preservationists and museums have sought to conserve Texas Special equipment and memorabilia. Surviving cars and locomotives entered collections at institutions such as the National Railroad Museum, the Illinois Railway Museum, and the Museum of the American Railroad. Archives holding timetables, posters, and corporate records include the Library of Congress and the Newberry Library, while oral histories feature interviews housed at the Smithsonian Institution and university special collections at Rice University. Heritage rail excursions and model recreations organized by regional groups such as the Mid-Continent Railway Museum and the Texas State Railroad commemorate the service, and advocacy by organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation has supported candidate artifacts for restoration.

Category:Named passenger trains of the United States