Royal Palm on the Southern Railway

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Southern Railway Royal Palm

Royal Palm - Southern Railway

The Southern Railway’s Royal Palm was a named passenger train with a storied 57-year history, serving as a crucial link between the Midwest and the sunny climes of Florida. Operating from 1913 to 1970, the Royal Palm transported generations of vacationers, business travelers, and families between bustling Midwestern cities and the palm-lined beaches of Miami and Tampa.

The route began in Cincinnati, where passengers from connecting railroads like the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads could board. From there, the train journeyed through the picturesque landscapes of Kentucky and Tennessee before continuing on Southern Railway’s tracks through Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Macon.

At Jacksonville, Florida, the train was passed to the Florida East Coast Railway for the final leg to Miami. For those heading to Florida’s Gulf Coast, connections were available to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad at Jacksonville.

Throughout its history, the Royal Palm provided high-quality service, evolving with the times while maintaining its core appeal. Initially using steam locomotives and heavyweight cars, the train entered a new era after World War II. In 1949, Southern introduced the seasonal, streamlined New Royal Palm to meet demand during the peak winter travel season. This new version featured new EMD diesel locomotives and modern equipment from the Budd Company, including sleepers, dining cars, and observation cars. The original, year-round train, also updated with new equipment, continued to serve passengers, with its cars sometimes used interchangeably with the streamlined equipment during the off-season.

Photo by Roger Puta: The Royal Palm in 1963 near Sunbright TN

Royal Palm Passenger Train on the Southern Railway

Despite its enduring name, the Royal Palm experienced gradual service reductions in its later years due to declining passenger demand. Segments of the route were dropped over time, and amenities were scaled back. By the time of its final run in 1970, the once-proud “sunliner” was a shadow of its former self, operating as a basic coach-only service. A year later, Southern Railway opted not to join the newly formed Amtrak national passenger rail system, and the Royal Palm was officially a part of history.

Royal Palm Stats

  • Route: Chicago/Detroit to Miami/Tampa
  • Cities: Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Lexington, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Macon, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami
  • Numbers: 3 southbound & 4 northbound
  • Years in Service: 1913 to 1970
  • Partner Railroads: New York Central, Florida East Coast, Seaboard Air Line
  • Dieselized: Late 1940s (EMD Es and Fs)
  • Streamlined: 1949
  • Distance: 1489 miles
  • Scheduled Time: 38 hours 5 minutes (1952)
  • Average Speed: 39 MPH (1952)
  • Equipment: Coach, Sleeper, Diner, Lounge and Observation in variation throughout its history. Diner: Cincinnati to Jacksonville, Lounge: Cincinnati to Jacksonville, 1 Sleeper: Detroit to Jacksonville, 2 Sleepers: Chicago to Jacksonville (1952)
  • Predecessor: Florida Sunbeam, the New Royal Palm

Royal Palm Schedule 1952

Royal Palm Timetable - 1952 - Southern Railway

Royal Palm Ad

Royal Palm Ad - Southern Railway

Southern-Railroads.org Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Southern Railway and its predecessors. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Southern-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

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