Passenger Cars

Modeling Katy Passenger Trains

Katy passenger trains have a long and storied history starting with the early days of truss rod wood-sided passenger cars to the ultra modern stainless steel streamline cars of the famous Texas Special. There were a number of name trains of the Katy starting with the Katy Limited, The Katy Flyer, The Texas Special, The Bluebonnet, 11 Daily Limited, O’Clock Katy and a few others. Passenger service on the Katy was for outstanding service throughout the Southwest and for the finest meals on rails served in its dining cars. Following are name trains listed on timetables from different decades of passenger service on the Katy Railroad.

• 1874 – Train Nos. 1 & 2, Texas Express; Train Nos. 3 & 4, Kansas Express.
• 1880 – Train Nos. 1 & 2, Day Express; Nos. 3 & 4, Night Express.
• 1910 – Train Nos. 9 & 10, The Katy Limited; Nos. 4 & 5, The Katy Flyer; No. 7, Fast Mail.
• 1920 – Train Nos. 1 & 2 Texas Special; Train Nos. 3 & 4,The Katy Limited; Train Nos. 5 & 6, The Katy Flyer.
• 1930 – Train Nos. 1 & 2, Texas Special; Train Nos. 3 & 4,The Katy Limited; Train Nos. 5 & 6, The Katy Flyer. The Texas Centennial Flyer.
• 1936 – Train Nos. 7 & 8, The Bluebonnet; Train Nos. 9 & 10, The 11 O’Clock Katy and also an unnumbered train, The Alamo Special.
• 1940 – Train Nos. 1 & 2, Texas Special; Train Nos. 3 & 4, The Katy Limited; Train Nos. 5 & 6, The Katy Flyer; Train Nos. 7 & 8, The Bluebonnet; Nos. 9 & 10, The 11 O’Clock Katy; Train Nos. 23 & 28, The Sooner and also an unnumbered train, The Alamo Special.
• 1950 – Train Nos. 1 & 2, Texas Special; Train Nos. 5 & 6, The Katy Flyer; Train Nos. 7 & 8, The Bluebonnet; Train Nos. 9 & 10, The 11 O’Clock Katy; Nos. 23 & 24, The Katy Limited; No. 28, The Sooner.
• In 1964, only Nos. 1 & 2, Texas Special remained and when the Texas Special arrived at Waco, Texas on May 24, 1964 all passenger service on the Katy Railroad ended. KRHS Katy Flyer Magazines and Calendars feature many rare and historic photographs of the Katy Railroad that are great for collecting and research