The streamlined glamour trains – The Texas Special – were ordered by both the Katy and Frisco systems in 1945. Katy’s #101 made its maiden voyage of regular service between St. Louis and San Antonio on May 15, 1948 . It was publicized and promoted as the glittering new “Flagship of the Southwest.”
The passenger cars were lavishly furnished with custom divans, reading and writing desks, refreshment lounges and observation areas. President Harry Truman enjoyed his excursions on the M-K-I when requiring transportation between his Missouri home and Texas points.
The longhorn steer lends a western flair and contrast to the flashy red and silver paint scheme of The Texas Special. Both are strong and majestic symbols of the west and are worthy to be called — “The Stars of Texas.
