Brochure and Timetable for Wabash Railroad's Blue Bird or Cannon Ball Streamliner, "Modern Service in the Heart of America," 1953

The Wabash Railway, with origins dating back to 1838, was a strong Midwestern carrier until Amtrak took over the national passenger railroad system in 1971. The legendary song "The Wabash Cannon Ball" told of a mythical "death coach" for hobos. The song became so popular that, in 1950, the Wabash Railway gave that name to its Detroit-to-St. Louis day train.

The Wabash Railway, with origins dating back to 1838, was a strong Midwestern carrier until Amtrak took over the national passenger railroad system in 1971.

The legendary song "The Wabash Cannon Ball" appeared in a 1904 sheet music revision of the early song, "The Great Rock Island Route," based upon a tall tale about a mythical "death coach" for hobos. Multiple versions of this song were recorded, beginning with the Carter family's version in 1929, and into the 1930s and 1940s by such artists as country music singer Roy Acuff, blues artist Blind Willy McTell, and crooner Bing Crosby. The song became so popular that the Wabash Railway finally exploited the name recognition and christened its Detroit-to-St. Louis day train the Wabash Cannon Ball in 1950. This efficient, diesel-powered train was not of an integrated streamlined design but offered comfortable seating and reasonably priced dining. This popular train ran until 1971.

This 1953 brochure features two of the Wabash's major Midwestern lines, both offering "modern service in the 'Heart of America'" -- the modern diesel-powered Blue Bird streamliner and the comfortable diesel-powered Cannon Ball.