It was a failure, but in 1851 the state chartered the illinois central railroad ic and selected a consortium of eastern capitalists to construct and own the railroad. Hofsommer examines how this plain vanilla railway was an example of the life cycle of the american railroad industry. Founded in 1851, the illinois central was the first land grant railroad in the united. When depression era illinois traction was in financial distress and had to reorganize, the illinois terminal name was adopted to reflect the lines primary money making role as a freight interchange link to major steam railroads at its terminal ends, peoria, danvill. Since illinois central railroad began operations before 1860, it was operating at a very early time as a us railroad. Page 1 cover page 2 index 200 page 3 index 300 page 4 index 401. Railroad wrecks before 1980 history photo galleries. Appeals from the circuit court of the united states for the northern district of illinois syllabus. Central station was the illinois central railroads attempt to replace an aging station that was simply outdated and could not handle the increased capacity demanded of it. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Being the grandson of a former superintendant of the illinois central railroad, this book brought back some great memories and solidified some of the stories my grandfather had told me growing up about the ic. See more ideas about illinois, train and old trains.
A tribute to a great road still running to this day via the. Browse maps, pictures and histories of abandoned railroad lines in the state of illinois. In the 1830s, illinois began a program of internal improvements to open its prairie to agriculture and settlement. A line also connected chicago with sioux city, iowa. This book celebrates the past operation of the new york centrals adirondack division as well as portions of the ogdensburg and ottawa divisions and the current service being provided by the adirondack scenic railroad into, through, and out. The illinois terminal railroad company, known as the illinois traction system until 1937, was a heavy duty interurban electric railroad with extensive passenger and freight business in central and southern illinois from 1896 to 1982. After the completion of the illinois central railroad, fugitives were shipped north on the river before being transferred to railroad lines headed toward chicago more than a century and a half later, in june 1998, cairo city workers discovered what appeared to be storage bins under. History of the illinois central railroad to 1870 book.
Illinois central railroad company publisher urbana, ill. When the illinois central railroad was completed in 1856, which connected cairo to galena, illinois in the northwest corner of the state, the town really began to grow. The south water freight depot of illinois central railroad in 1943. Assignment of locomotives from february 1953 furnished by charles v. The illinois terminal railroad company reporting marks itc, known as the illinois traction system until 1937, was a heavy duty interurban electric railroad with extensive passenger and freight business in central and southern illinois from 1896 to 1982. Scope and contents note about 3500 letters in 5 letterpress copy books to. Federal land grants of nearly 2,600,000 acres provided the economic incentive. Illinois central railroad companys most popular book is history of the illin. Illinois central railroad company has 59 books on goodreads with 5 ratings.
Illinois central railroad mbi railroad color history. Beck, general manager 1890 2 mason brayman, solicitor 185155 2 w. The illinois central railroad reporting mark ic, sometimes called the main line of midamerica, was a railroad in the central united states, with its primary routes connecting chicago, illinois, with new orleans, louisiana, and mobile, alabama. President gilman and his iowa backers long since had been forced to yield financial control of the central railroad company of iowa in order to gain capital sufficient to see the road built.
This is one of the most superb collections of photos of postwar illinois central locomotives and rolling stock ive ever seen, the text is fantastic, and the photos themselves are absolute works of art. Analyzing the origins, growth, and eventual dismantling of the iowa central railway, don l. At that time, expectations were still running high when cairo was predicted to surpass st. Illinois central gulfcn, etc trains magazine trains. A line also connected chicago with sioux city, iowa 1870. Upon foreclosure, illinois property went to leroy and eastern rr. In july, 1943, the illinois central railroad deposited in the newberry library. Find 4 listings related to illinois central railroad in homewood on. There was a significant branch to omaha, nebraska, west of fort dodge, iowa, and another branch reaching sioux falls, south dakota, starting from cherokee, iowa. Canadian nationalillinois central railroad canadian national ill centl rr canadian national railway co illinois central division illinois central railroad company canadian national ill centl illinois central railroad.
Indeed, illinois central was one of americas greatest railways, and in this history, author tom murray presents a gorgeously illustrated account of the selfproclaimed main line of midamerica. Illinois central railroad 20 historic books on cd d253. Illinois central railroad company the online books page. History of the illinois central railroad to 1870 by brownson, howard gray, 1886publication date 1915 topics illinois central railroad company publisher urbana, ill. If you are a rail fan, i strongly recommend this book. History of the illinois central railroad book chicago. Since illinois central railroad began operations before 1860, it was operating at a. Illinois central steam these photos are from the archives of the ic.
But, in looking at the book s chapter on iowa, it appears that the illinois central changed directions in the 1860s, from being a north south route to building west from chicago. The railroad was basically worth scrap value, harrison said. There was a significant branch to omaha, nebraska 1899, west of fort dodge. History of the illinois central railroad company and representative employes. With its charter in 1851, the illinois central railroad was the first of many railroads to receive a grant of land upon completion of its line.
In july, 1943, the illinois central railroad deposited in the newberry library the bulk of its central office papers from february, 1851, the date of its charter, to november, 1906, the end of the presidency of stuyvesant fish. The illinois central railroad book collection is a collection of 20 late 19th century and early 20th century books concerning the illinois central railroad. This book celebrates the past operation of the new york centrals adirondack division as well as portions of the ogdensburg and ottawa divisions and the current service being provided by the adirondack scenic railroad into, through, and out of the. A wide variety of classified ads buy, rent, sell and find anything railroad ties listings. The illinois central railroad, sometimes called the main line of midamerica, was a railroad in the central united states, with its primary routes connecting chicago, illinois, with new orleans, louisiana, and mobile, alabama. Its unique northsouth route handled 30 percent of all war material, supplies, and troops to civil war battlegrounds in the south.
Many relate to the of the railroad or specific events in its growth. Notable to illinois centrals future was a project to link cairo, at the states southern tip along the ohio river to galena near the mississippi river and not far from dubuque, iowa. In 1855, the illinois central railroad crossed the northwestern corner. History of the illinois central railroad to 1870 book, 1967.
The pictorial sketch book of pennsylvania, or, its scenery, internal improvements, resources, and agriculture, populary described, pictorial sketch book of pennsylvania its scenery, internal improvements, resources, and agriculture, populary described the fourth part has separate t. Notable to illinois centrals future was a project to link cairo, at the states southern tip along the ohio river to galena near the mississippi. The sioux falls branch has been abandoned in its entirety. Canadian national railway cn through subsidiaries chicago central and pacific railroad cc, elgin, joliet and eastern railway eje, grand trunk western railroad gtw, illinois central railroad ic, and wisconsin central ltd. The illinois watch company produced watches under contract for several different brands, including burlington watch company chicago, illinois which operated primarily as a mailorder business, and santa fe watch company topeka, kansas. Nycshs announces another new silver rails through the heart of the park new york central railroads adirondack division by john taibi. If you have even the most remote interest in the illinois central railroad, this book is a must have for your library. Illinois central railroad company letters by individual writer or recipient. Illinois central railroad company archives newberry modern. Illinois central railroad, safety rules, 1956 illinois central railroad on. The illinois central railroad started operations in 1851 and stopped service in 1972 for a total period of operations of 121 years.
Full online access to this resource is only available at the library of congress. Illinois central railroad historic book collection on cd. Part of the illinois central railroad at chicago library. Find 1 listings related to canadian national railway in centralia on. The last group, numbers 24402459 were built by alco in 1926. The illinois central railroad owned a total of sixty 2400class 482s. I have the history of the illinois central railroad, by john stover.
Number 24002414 were built by alco in 1923, and numbers 24152439 were built by lima in 192425. History of the illinois central railroad company and. Prior to the civil war, the city also became an important transfer station on the underground railroad. Known as the illinois central depot it was a stubended design that featured about a halfdozen staging tracks and was located in the heart of downtown chicago. Chicago and the illinois central railroad covers the railroads operations within the city of chicago, plus the outlying suburbs, from the late 1800s to 1960. When depression era illinois traction was in financial distress and had to reorganize, the illinois terminal name was. Constituting a part of the state internal improvement system of 1837, it was abandoned in the general collapse of the project after some work on the line had actually been done. List of shareholders and bondholders on london books. Founded in 1851, the illinois central was the first land grant railroad in the united states. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, he said, the owners wanted to sell it. Part of the illinois central railroad at chicago library of.
Books by illinois central railroad company author of. Ackerman, 3 books edwin sherwood stowell sunderland, 3 books illinois central railroad company, 3 books robert mize sutton, 2 books lincoln financial foundation collection, 2 books james f. This book features the locomotives, depots, and memorabilia of the mainline of midamerica, dating from 1875 to 1970. By 1993, he was ceo of chicagobased illinois central railroad, where he made it the most efficient class 1 railway in north america. A history of the growth and development of one of the leading arteries of transportation in the united states, from inception to its present mammoth proportions, together with the biographies of many of the men who have been and are identified with the varied interests of the illinois central railroad.
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