Illinois Central Railroad
Reporting marks	IC
Locale	central United States
Dates of operation	1851 – 1999
Track gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois

The Illinois Central (AAR reporting mark IC), sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, was a railroad carrier in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa (1870). There was a significant branch to Omaha, Nebraska (1899) west of Fort Dodge, Iowa and another branch reaching Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1877) starting from Cherokee, Iowa. Image File history File links Illinois Central Railroad Herald Heralds are logos or slogans used by railroad companies and displayed on their equipment. ... Reporting marks on two CP Rail covered hoppers passing Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, June 20, 2004. ... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... Rail gauge is the distance between two rails of a railroad. ... A foot (plural: feet) is any of several old units of distance or length, measuring around a quarter to a third of a meter. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... As railways developed and expanded one of the key issues to be decided was that of the rail gauge (the distance between the two rails of the track) which should be used. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... A World War II era print advertisement for the Association of American Railroads (AAR). ... Reporting marks on two CP Rail covered hoppers passing Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, June 20, 2004. ... A railway yard in Portland, Oregon. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... Nickname: The Crescent City, The Big Easy, The City That Care Forgot, NOLA (acronym for New Orleans, LA) Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area    - City 350. ... Nickname: The Magic City, Pittsburgh of the South, BHam, The Ham Location in Jefferson County in the state of Alabama Coordinates: Country United States State Alabama County Jefferson, Shelby Mayor Bernard Kincaid (D) Area    - City 151. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Nickname: Gateway to the West Location in Nebraska Coordinates: Country United States State Nebraska County Douglas Founded 1854 Incorporated 1857 Mayor Michael Fahey Area    - City 307. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Flag Seal Motto: Location Location in the State of Iowa Coordinates: Government Country State County United States Iowa Webster County Incorporated 1869 Mayor Terry Lutz Geographical characteristics Area 38. ... Sioux Falls (pronounced sue falls) is the largest city in the state of South Dakota. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Cherokee is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. ...

History

1850 map

The IC was one of the earlier Class I railroads in the US. Its roots stretch back to abortive attempts by the Illinois General Assembly to charter a railroad linking the northern and southern parts of the state of Illinois. In 1850 U.S. President Millard Fillmore signed a land grant for the construction of the railroad, making the Illinois Central the first land-grant railroad in the United States. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3536x5856, 3065 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Illinois Central Railroad ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3536x5856, 3065 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Illinois Central Railroad ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... A Class I railroad in the United States, or a Class I railway (also Class I rail carrier) in Canada, is one of the largest freight railroads, as classified based on operating revenue. ... The Illinois General Assembly convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Millard Fillmore (January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874) was the thirteenth President of the United States, serving from 1850 until 1853, and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the nations highest office. ... A land grant is a gift of land made by the government for projects such as roads, railroads, or especially academic institutions. ...

The Illinois Central was officially chartered by the Illinois General Assembly on February 10, 1851.^[1] Upon its completion in 1856, the IC was the longest railroad in the world. Its main line went from Cairo, Illinois, at the southern tip of the state, to Galena, in the northwest corner. A branch line went from Centralia (named for the railroad) to the rapidly growing city of Chicago. The Illinois General Assembly convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Cairo is a city in Alexander County, Illinois in the United States. ... Downtown Galena Galena is a city located in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. ... Centralia is a city located in Marion County, Illinois. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town, The City of Big Shoulders Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ...

In 1867 the Illinois Central extended its track into Iowa. Throughout the 1870s, and 1880s the IC acquired and expanded railroads throughout the southern United States. IC lines crisscrossed the state of Mississippi and went as far as New Orleans, Louisiana to the south and Louisville, Kentucky in the east. In the 1880s, northern lines were built to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Omaha, Nebraska. Further expansion continued into the early twentieth century. 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Nickname: The Crescent City, The Big Easy, The City That Care Forgot, NOLA (acronym for New Orleans, LA) Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area    - City 350. ... Louisville redirects here. ... Dodgeville is a city located in Iowa County, Wisconsin. ... Sioux Falls (pronounced sue falls) is the largest city in the state of South Dakota. ... Nickname: Gateway to the West Location in Nebraska Coordinates: Country United States State Nebraska County Douglas Founded 1854 Incorporated 1857 Mayor Michael Fahey Area    - City 307. ...

Illinois Central Gulf Railroad: 1972-1998

ICG logo

On August 10, 1972 the Illinois Central Railroad merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad to form the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. In the 1980s, the railroad spun off most of its east-west lines and many of its redundant north-south lines, including much of the former GM&O. Most of these lines were bought by other railroads, including entirely new railroads, such as the Chicago, Missouri and Western Railway and Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad. On February 29, 1988, the ICG dropped the "Gulf" from its name and again became known as the Illinois Central Railroad. Image File history File links Illinois_Central_Gulf_Railroad_Logo. ... Image File history File links Illinois_Central_Gulf_Railroad_Logo. ... August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio ( AAR reporting mark GMO) was a railroad carrier in the central United States, with its primary routes from Chicago to Mobile, Alabama and Kansas City, Missouri. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The Chicago, Missouri and Western Railway (CM&W), (AAR reporting mark CMNW) was a Class II railroad that operated in the midwest of the United States between 1987 and 1990. ... A Chicago Central train passes westbound through northern Illinois in 1993. ... February 29th, or bissextile day, is the 60th day of a leap year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 306 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

1892 map

Combined route map of the Chicago Central (red) and Illinois Central (blue) railroads in 1996.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (7744x11264, 13793 KB) 25% 50% 1892 map of the Illinois Central Railroad from [1]. File links The following pages link to this file: Illinois Central Railroad ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (7744x11264, 13793 KB) 25% 50% 1892 map of the Illinois Central Railroad from [1]. File links The following pages link to this file: Illinois Central Railroad ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (588x1068, 174 KB) Summary Combined route map of the Chicago Central Railroad (red) and Illinois Central Railroad (blue) as they existed in 1996. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (588x1068, 174 KB) Summary Combined route map of the Chicago Central Railroad (red) and Illinois Central Railroad (blue) as they existed in 1996. ... A Chicago Central train passes westbound through northern Illinois in 1993. ...

Canadian National Railway: 1998-present

On February 11, 1998 the IC was purchased by the Canadian National Railway; integration of operations began July 1, 1999, though the Illinois Central name continued to be used until after the railroad's sesquicentennial in 2001. As time passes, the IC identity is slowly fading through CN's maintenance and repainting programs, although some CN locomotives retain the IC reporting marks on their cabs. February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The Canadian National Railway (CN; AAR reporting marks CN, CNA, CNIS), known as Canadian National Railways (CNR) between 1918 and 1960, and Canadian National/Canadien National (CN) from 1960 to present, is a Canadian Class I railway operated by Canadian National Railway Company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ... An anniversary is a day that commemorates an event that occurred on the same day of the year some time in the past. ... The following are reporting marks assigned by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to rail carriers operating in North America and the companies (railroads and rail equipment owners/operators) to which they were assigned. ...

Passenger train service

The Illinois Central was a major carrier of passengers on its Chicago-New Orleans mainline and between Chicago and St. Louis. Illinois Central's largest passenger terminal, Central Station, stood at 12th Street east of Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Due to the railroad's north-south route from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes, Illinois Central passenger trains were one means of transport during the African American Great Migration of the 1920s. An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... The Great Migration was the movement of millions of African Americans out of the rural Southern United States from 1914 to 1950. ...

Illinois Central's most famous train was the Panama Limited, a premier all-Pullman car service between Chicago, St. Louis, Missouri, and New Orleans. In 1967, due to losses incurred by the operation of the train, the Illinois Central combined the Panama Limited with a coach-only train called the Magnolia Star. On June 1, 1971 Amtrak took over the operation of the service, but shortly afterword dropped the name in favor of the City of New Orleans, a daytime train that had been operated by the Illinois Central whose name was popularized by a song by Steve Goodman. The Panama Limited was a premier all-Pullman car service between Chicago, IL-St. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Amtraks City of New Orleans at the Memphis, Tennessee station. ... Steve Goodman (July 25, 1948 – September 20, 1984) was a Chicago folk music singer and songwriter. ...

The Green Diamond was the Illinois Central's premier train between Chicago and St. Louis. Other important trains included the Hawkeye which ran daily between Chicago and Sioux City and the City of Miami eventually running every other day between Chicago and Miami via the Atlantic Coast Line, The Central of Georgia Railroad and Florida East Coast Railway. The Green Diamond leaving St. ... Categories: Defunct railroad companies of the United States | Defunct railroads | Defunct companies | Florida Atlantic Coast Line Railroad precursors ... The Central of Georgia Railway was constructed to join the Macon & Western Railroad at Macon, Georgia to the Atlantic coastal railroads at Savannah, Georgia. ... The Florida East Coast Railway (AAR reporting mark FEC) is a Class II railroad operating in the US state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad. ...

The Illinois Central was always a major Chicago commuter line operating electrified trains from its Michigan Avenue stations to the southeast suburbs until this traffic was assumed by Metra. The Metra Electric Line (ME) is an electrified commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra, connecting Randolph Street Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois with its southern suburbs. ... Metra (officially the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation) is Chicagolands commuter rail system, serving over 200 stations on 11 lines across the Regional Transportation Authoritys six-county service area (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties) providing over 67 million rides annually. ...

Company officers

Presidents of the Illinois Central Railroad have included:

• Stuyvesant Fish, 1887-1906
• James T. Harahan, 1906-1911
• Charles H. Markham, 1911-1918
• Charles A. Peabody, 1918-1919
• Charles H. Markham, 1919-1926
• Lawrence A. Downs, 1926-1938
• John L. Beven, 1938-1945
• Wayne A. Johnston, 1945-1967
• William B. Johnson, 1967-1969
• Alan Stephenson Boyd, 1969-1972
• E. Hunter Harrison, 1993-1998

Stuyvesant Fish (June 24, 1851 - April 10, 1923) was born in New York City, the son of Hamilton Fish, and of his wife Julia Ursin Niemcewicz née Kean. ... Wayne A. Johnston (1897 – 1967) was president of Illinois Central Railroad (IC) from 1945 to 1966. ... Alan Stephenson Boyd was the first United States Secretary of Transportation, appointed by Lyndon Johnson. ... E. Hunter Harrison (born 1944) is the current president and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian National Railway (CN), being promoted to that position as of January 1, 2003. ...

Preservation

Some historic equipment owned and used by Illinois Central can be found in museums across the United States, including:

IC 201 preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum.

• 201, participated in the "Wheels A-Rolling" pageant at the Chicago Railroad Fair. Preserved on static display at Illinois Railway Museum.
• 790. Preserved on static display at Steamtown National Historic Site, believed to be in good condition that restoration to operations is feasible.^[1]
• 2500. Preserved on static display at Centralia, Illinois.^[1]
• 2542. Preserved on static display at McComb, Mississippi.
• A yard office and unique coal-fueling tower remain at the Illinois Central yards in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Image File history File links IC_201_20050716_IL_Union. ... Image File history File links IC_201_20050716_IL_Union. ... The only surviving EMD E5 is used regularly on the museums excursion trains, usually pulling the Nebraska Zephyr. ... Illinois Central 201 is a steam locomotive originally owned and operated by Illinois Central Railroad. ... The cover for the Chicago Railroad Fairs 1949 official program The Chicago Railroad Fair was an event organized to celebrate and commemorate 100 years of railroad history west of Chicago, Illinois. ... The only surviving EMD E5 is used regularly on the museums excursion trains, usually pulling the Nebraska Zephyr. ... Steamtown National Historic Site (NHS) is a heritage railway and museum located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (DL&W). ... Centralia is a city located in Marion County, Illinois. ... McComb is a city located in Pike County, Mississippi, about 80 miles south of Jackson, just off of I-55. ... Satellite photo showing Council Bluffs and Omaha, Nebraska Council Bluffs is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States on the east bank of the Missouri River. ...

Subject of song

The name of the railroad was popularized in the song "City of New Orleans" written and performed by Steve Goodman and covered by Arlo Guthrie among others. Amtraks City of New Orleans at the Memphis, Tennessee station. ... Steve Goodman (July 25, 1948 – September 20, 1984) was a Chicago folk music singer and songwriter. ... A press photo of Arlo Guthrie. ...

References

• Stover, John F., Purdue University, The Management of the Illinois Central Railroad in the 20th Century (PDF). Retrieved February 9, 2006.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Archives, Wayne A. Johnston Papers, 1945-1967. Retrieved February 9, 2006.

1. ^ ^{a b c} Steamtown National Historic Site, Illinois Central Railroad number 790. Retrieved February 10, 2006.

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• David L. Gunn

ː:For other persons also named David Gunn, see article David Gunn. ...

External links

• Illinois Central Historical Society
• Illinois Central Railroad On-Line
• Illinois Central Resource Page
• STB decision, docket number FD_33556_0 (granting CN control of the IC)