In the early 1900s, the Illinois Central's premier train on the Chicago-New Orleans route was the "Chicago and New Orleans Limited". On February 4, 1911, the Illinois Central renamed this train the "Panama Limited", in honor of the anticipated opening of the Panama Canal. The train included a St. Louis, Missouri, section that connected at Carbondale, Illinois. The train was first-class only north of Memphis, Tennessee. It carried through sleepers for Hot Springs, Arkansas, and San Antonio, Texas. It made the journey in 25 hours.