Tag Archives: Illinois Rail Museum

Once Upon The Wabash 1953

Condor Films, Inc., St. Louis

Corny. Even back THEN, this script dialogue was corny. But, oh, that pristine first-generation diesel, domed streamliner. Wabash’s Blue Bird. That WAS the way to travel.

This was the best color version I could find online — I had to chop off the bottom portion on many screen caps account frikken Periscope Films’ “counter” running through the entire picture. Spoilsports.

Anyway, color scenes of freight and passenger equipment from the postwar era are always a treat to look at, even though Wabash was a bit late to the streamliner game.

Follow the Flag!

Leading this Chicago – St. Louis domeliner (the Blue Bird, #21 southbound; #24 northbound) is EMD E8A WAB #1000 built in 1951 and producing 2,250 horsepower.

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