Nancy Hanks II
The Nancy Hanks II near Atlanta in 1968
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleGeorgia
PredecessorNancy Hanks
First serviceJuly 17, 1947
Last serviceApril 30, 1971
Former operator(s)Central of Georgia Railway
Route
TerminiAtlanta, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Distance travelled293.7 miles (472.7 km)
Average journey time5 hours, 55 minutes, southbound
6 hours northbound (1954)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)108 (southbound), 107 (northbound)
An advertisement for the Nancy Hanks II

The Nancy Hanks was a popular Central of Georgia Railway and later Southern Railway passenger train in Georgia running between Atlanta and Savannah. It was named after a race horse that was named for Abraham Lincoln's mother. The name is even older than the mid-20th century train derived from that of a short-lived but famous steam special, the Nancy Hanks. The earlier Nancy operated in 1892 and 1893.

History

Nancy Hanks II made its first trip on July 17, 1947. The new train's cars were painted blue and gray and, like the first Nancy, each bore a likeness of the famed trotter on the side.[1]

"The Nancy", as it was affectionately known, was an all-coach, reserved-seat train with grill lounge service. The train had an average speed of 48 mph (including stops) and made the 293.7 mi (472.7 km) journey in 6 hours. It left the Central of Georgia Depot in Savannah daily at 7 a.m., running to Atlanta Terminal Station via Macon Terminal Station, and returned from Atlanta at 6 p.m. (18:00).

Black and white passengers were separated on this pocket streamliner until the 1960s. Four "divided" segregated coaches were built by American Car & Foundry (ACF) for Nancy, and African-Americans were not allowed to eat in the grill-lounge car. The Central of Georgia was the last major Southern railroad to desegregate. Since it ran only in Georgia and did not engage in interstate commerce, it was not subject to the Interstate Commerce Commission's 1961 order to desegregate.[2][3]

In the 1960s the Central leased a dome car from the Norfolk and Western-Wabash line, where it had operated for a number of years; the car was thoroughly renovated for service on the Nancy Hanks II. The dome parlor-lounge car was 85 feet (26 m) long, made of steel and originally was built by Pullman-Standard. It had a dark-blue exterior and interior upholstery in royal blue and gray. In keeping with the racehorse theme, the lounge beneath the dome was branded the "Saddle & Stirrup."[4]

Despite its popularity in Middle Georgia, the Nancy suffered a marked decline in ridership during the 1960s, in tandem with the larger decline of rail service during this period. While Southern opted to stay in the passenger business when Amtrak took over most passenger service, the Nancy was not among the routes retained. As a result, the Nancy made its last run on April 30, 1971, the day before Amtrak came into being. Atlanta's Terminal Station was demolished the following year.

Some folks say that the Nancy can't run;
But stop, let me tell you what the Nancy done:
She left Atlanta at half past one
And got to Savannah at the settin' of the sun.
The Nancy run so fast
She burnt the wind and scorcht the grass

Author unknown

References

  1. ↑ McKay, Archie (May 1, 1971). "She burnt the wind: Last ride of the Nancy Hanks". The Macon Telegraph. Aboard the Nancy. Archived from the original on 1999-09-01.
  2. ↑ Kornweibel, Theodore Jr. (2010). Railroads in the African American Experience: A Photographic Journey (print). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9780801891625.
  3. ↑ Arsenault, Raymond; Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice, p. 438
  4. ↑ "Dome Car brings new look to Nancy Hanks II". southern.railfan.net.
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