The Amtrak Crescent Celebrates its 75th Birthday.

Business & Lifestyle Editors/Travel Writers

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 2000

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Amtrak(R) Crescent, a long-distance train that travels daily between New York and New Orleans.

Since April 26, 1925, the Crescent has upheld the tradition of luxury travel that was inaugurated more than one hundred years ago. Although the Crescent is only 75 years old, it has a rich history that began in 1891 with the Richmond & Danville Railroad Company for the Piedmont Airline Routethe train that connected the Northeast with Atlanta and New Orleans. It was known then as the Washington & Southwestern Vestibuled Limited.

Inaugurated as the pioneer train from New York to New Orleans in 1891, the Washington & Southwestern Vestibuled Limited offered passengers a full range of amenities, including covered walkways and the first operating dining cars. Over time, the name was shortened to the Vestibule and new routes, connections and railway companies were merged with other lines.

After 15 years of operation, two cars of the Vestibule were pulled and formed the New York and New Orleans Limited. Following that, car No. 38 alone was pulled to form the Crescent Limited, in honor of its host city, New Orleans. However, due to hard times during the Great Depression, the Crescent Limited name vanished from the timetables, yet continued to run. Coaches were added to allow for affordable fares and the train was known only as "Nos. 37 & 38."

On April 30, 1938, the name was officially shortened to the Crescent. It was an occasion for much excitement as the Crescent was streamlined and completely equipped with modern stainless steel all private-room sleeping cars, a luxurious lounge, observation cars, a new diner, air-conditioning and reclining seats in coach between Atlanta and New Orleans.

Eventually, the Crescents steam locomotives were replaced by diesel engines in 1941. Concurrently, the Southern Railway Company introduced an all-coach, diesel-powered streamliner known as the Southern between New York and New Orleans over all Southern Railway lines, via Birmingham and Anniston, Ala. The Amtrak Crescent operates over this route today.

By 1950, the innovations offered riders such features as sleeping berths, clothes closets, luggage space, individually controlled lighting, air-conditioning and heating, a private lavatory and moveable lounge chairs. However, during the 50s, airplanes and automobiles began to erode passenger train travel, forcing the consolidation of routes.

With the consolidation of the Crescent and the Southern in 1970, the train was renamed the Southern Crescent. Effective February 1, 1979, Amtrak assumed operation of the train and once again renamed it the Amtrak Crescent. Statements by presidents of both Amtrak and the Southern Railway System recognized the Crescent as the "flagship" of the Southern line, and on January 4, 1991, the train celebrated a century of service to customers along the New York to New Orleans route.

The Crescent then, as it does today, carries on a tradition of catering to passenger comfort. The Amtrak Crescent offers coach and sleeping accommodations, a full-service dining car with meals comprised of freshly-prepared entrees and a lounge car with comfortable, casual seating for sightseeing. There are plenty of other amenities, too. Seventy-five years of operation has resulted in a travel experience that compares to no other.

Entering the new century, the Crescent has its own web sitewww.amtrakcrescent.comand an office dedicated to creating a seamless travel experience. The Crescent Promotional Office can be reached at 877/276-2767 or via e-mail at [e-mail]. For route and ticket information call 1-800-USA-RAIL or visit the Amtrak web sitewww.amtrak.com.