Illinois Central Railroad (Mbi Railroad Color History) - Hardcover

Murray, Tom

9780760322543: Illinois Central Railroad (Mbi Railroad Color History)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0760322546 ISBN 13: 9780760322543

Publisher: Voyageur Pr, 2006

One of America's greatest railroads, serving the Midwest and the South for more than 150 years before being acquired by Canadian National in 1999, the Illinois Central ran some of the nation's most famous passenger trains (most notably the City of New Orleans), as well as a freight service renowned for its quality. This comprehensive and beautifully illustrated history of the "Main Line of Mid-America"-the railroad that brought us engineer Luther "Casey" Jones-looks at Illinois Central's motive power and rolling stock, its good old reliable passenger service and crack freight operations, and its most interesting routes. Drawing on archival records and interviews with former employees, and illustrated with photographs from collections around the country, this volume brings to vibrant life a rich chapter of American railroad history.

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From the Inside Flap:

In an east-west world, the Illinois Central carved out a niche by running straight down the gut of a nation, from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico. In this illustrated history, Tom Murray recounts one of the nation’s greatest railways, from its inception in antebellum America right through its 1999 acquisition by Canadian National.

In its first half-century, Illinois Central boasted associations with key players like young Illinois attorney Abraham Lincoln and up-and-coming financier E. H. Harriman. In the early twentieth century, IC undertook a massive electrification project in Chicago and, thanks to conservative management, avoided bankruptcy during the Depression. Against the backdrop of such figures and events, Murray presents a history of the railroad that billed itself as the "Main Line of Mid-America.” In addition to exploring the historical context against which the IC was formed, Murray examines its motive power and rolling stock, acclaimed passenger operations and crack freight services, the players who guided IC through nearly 150 years, competitors, and the routes and facilities that made up the system.

Wonderful photography from collections and photographers around the nation represent every corner of the railroad’s operations in the Midwest and South. The result is a fitting tribute to a railroad whose spirit is today kept alive by a new generation of railroaders working the same rails under a different banner.

From the Back Cover:

Even casual observers of railroad history are familiar with the legend of Illinois Central engineer Casey Jones’ ride to glory, and have likely heard of that railroad’s most famous passenger train, City of New Orleans. Indeed, Illinois Central was one of America's greatest railways, and in this history, author Tom Murray presents a gorgeously illustrated account of the self-proclaimed "Main Line of Mid-America.” From the IC’s early years, when it garnered support from a young Illinois attorney named Abraham Lincoln, right through to its 1999 acquisition by Canadian National, Murray recounts IC's motive power and rolling stock, the roles of major players in the railroad’s development, its acclaimed passenger and freight operations, and its routes throughout the Midwest and the South. Always an astute historian, Murray draws on archival records and imagery from collections and photographers around the nation.

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