Murder on the Southern Quarter was working title and early conceptual ideas for a game that later evolved into The Colonel's Bequest.
It was "co-managed" between adventure designer Roberta Williams and television screenwriter Jackie Austin. Jackie had been investing the concept since February 1988, when they met in New Orleans to discuss the concept. According to Roberta, "This will be a period piece, set in the age of flappers and "illegal booze". The graphics were intended to have the look of the period, and really set the tone for the game.