The Southbound <I>SOUTHERN CRESCENT</I>

Southern Railway GP7 8300 was beginning to switch train No. 1 - the southbound <I>SOUTHERN CRESCENT</I> - in the Atlanta station by removing the locomotives which had brought the train in from Washington: E8A units 6910, 6909, 6906 and 6901. In the distance were the units which would power the train to New Orleans - the 6911, 6902 and 6913 - along with freshly-stocked diner 3869 and dome car 1613. After replacing the power, the 8300 would remove the last five cars which had come in from Washington and then add these two cars to the rear of the train. This was a regular procedure on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, when No. 1 ran all the way from Washington to New Orleans. Dome cars did not run north of Atlanta because there wasn't enough clearance in the tunnel leading into Washington Union Station.