Evening star., 1948-10-10
7 raveIef>s Notebook
New Train Schedule Cuts Mexico Civ Time
By Jacques FutreIIe, Jr.
The Stors Trovel Editor

By Jacques
The Stars
Daily train service to Mexico City
through the ST. Louis gateway"
will be speeded up November l under
schedule worked out by the Mis-
souri, Pacific Lines and the National
Railways of Mexico. A full nights
travel will be cut from the present
running time under the arrange
ment, which also provides more
luxurious equipment.
In jointly announcing the change,
the lines said the faster running
time lis expected to meet demands
of the increasing tourist traffic,
which has taken an upsurge with
devaluaion of the peso"
The speedier schedule results
largely from changes in the GUS
toms and immigration procedures at
the border, and by shortening the
running time between New Laredo
and Mexico City. To expedite bor-
der red tape, northbound immigra-
ton inspections will be made en-
route aboard the trains. The Ma
tional Railways also will assign at
tendants in both directions and ar
range for ticket agents to supply
passengers with declaration forms
to be filled out before the trains
reach the border.
Under the plan, the Missouri Pa
cific will put this equipment in the
pool for operation between Mexico
City and San Antonio: Four dining
lounge cars. four air conditioned, de
luxe coaches, and eight Pullman
cars, offering bedrooms. compart-
ments and drawing rooms as we'll
as sections. Reserved, reclining
chair coaches also will be available
Typical of the new schedule is this
weekend journey: Trains leaving
st. Louis at $50 pm. Saturday will
arrive in San Antonio at 11:45 am.
Sunday; leave San Antonio at 1905
pm; reach Laredo, Tex, at 6 pm.
and arrive in Mexico City at $50
pm. Monday.
+*&
In case you missed the Railroad
Fair, which dramatized the progress
of the Iron Horse" from the tea
kettle stage to futuristic stream
liners, you may be able to catch up
next summer.
The exposition on Chicago's lake
front closed last week with an at
tendance of about 2,500,000 persons
over the two-and-a-half month
span. The favorable response has
given weight to appeals by busi-
ness, educators and industries out
side the railroad field that the fair
be resumed in 1949.
The 38 railroads participating in
the show have left the decision up
to Maj. Lenox R. Lohr, exposition
president.
Natures paintbrush. now putting
it's bold, finishing strokes on foliage
over the Eastern Seaboard, has in
spired hundreds of calls to Wash
ington motor clubs in the last week
for advice on "quickie tours" Most
of the trips being mapped range
from a Sunday afternoon to three
or four days.
Perennially favorite drives being
recommended for spectacular views
of flaming leaves include the POGO
nos; closer home, Skyline Drive and
the foothills around Winchester,
Va; and closer yet, Sugar Loaf
Mountain, only IS miles away, near
Dickerson. Md.
The latest report from the Office
of Shenandoah National Park, at
Luray, Va, says the brightest colors
are yet to come. They probably will
appear about next week end, the
report states. adding:
"Splashes of red, yellow and russet
already are dotting the mountain
slopes. Along the roadsides, Vir-
ginia creeper and sumac in varying
shades of red and scarlet inter-
mingle with the yellow of goldenrod,
and the white and purple shades OF
multitudes of asters. Hickories and
black birch are slowly dropping
their yellow foliage, and some of the
red oaks are in the process of turn
ing from deep green to scarlet, with
! both colors present in bright in
tensity on many of the same leaves" ;"
Lasting through Skyline's show of
| flaming leaves, two of the famous
drives resorts are remaining open
for visitors: Skyland and Big Mead
oWs. The former. a cottage hotel
colony, is scheduled to accept guests
to October 81. The lodge facilities
at Big Meadows close November 3.
The Virginia State Travel Bureau,
which recently moved to new Offices
at 1871 K street NV, reports both
resorts are completely booked for
the remaining week ends, but &C
commodations are readily available
on other days. Weekend accom-
modations generally can be found
at hotels, inns and motor courts in
the valleys off the drive.
II u
At the southern end Of Skyline
Drive, another scenic highway picks
up. Color is appearing more in
tensely along the Blue Ridge Park
way, with naples, sourwoods, per-
simmons, sweet and sour gums, dog
wood and sassafras now almost in
the deepest hues of red" The
hickories, poplars, birches and syca-
mores have begun to turn golden
yellow, the State News Bureau re-