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I can't give you any great detail about the Panama Limited of the thirties beyond what two Official Guides of the period show. Other posters may well have more information, especially as to where to find accounts of riding this great train in that period.
In January of 1930, the Panama Limited was all-Pullman, and offered sections, compartments, and drawing rooms. "Ladies maid, also bath, barber and valet service" (not found on every train) were provided. An extra fare was charged. Besides the cars that were sleeper space only, it carried an observation car which had private rooms, a diner, and a buffet car.
It was scheduled to leave both Chicago and New Orleans at 12:30 p. m., and arrive at 9:30 a. m. Southbound, you could expect it to be dark by the time you reached Centralia, and you might see daylight from McComb on in to New Orleans. Northbound, you could expect the sun to set north of Canton, and to rise north of Champaign. Of course, in the summer you would have more daylight than in the winter. You would certainly see the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain and the comparatively flat land between there and New Orleans, and the hills and farming country north of Centralia.
Chicago to New Orleans was 921 miles, so the average speed was not quite forty-four miles an hour. Sixty miles an hour may have been the fastest it went.
In November of 1937, its services were not quite as posh, still all-Pullman with extra fare, of course, but with only bath and valet service shown, and a club car instead of a buffet car. The schedule was a little faster, leaving at 1:00 p. m., and arriving at 9:00 a. m., with an average speed of forty-five and a half miles per hour.
Johnny
