The Illinois Central Railroad (reporting mark IC), sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, was a railroad in the Central United States. Its primary routes connected Chicago, Illinois, with New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, and thus, the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.

Oct 16, 2024 · With a unique north-south route linking the Gulf with Chicago and interchanging with virtually every major American railroad in the process, Illinois Central had established itself as one of the country's preeminent carriers by century's end.

May 17, 2022 · Until the merger with the Canadian National, the Illinois Central was the only major rail carrier in the United States still operating essentially under its own name without interruption after nearly a century-and-a-half since its founding.

Jul 5, 2021 · Illinois Central Railroad dated from 1851 when it was chartered by its home state to build a line from Cairo, at Illinois’ southern tip — the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers — to Galena, in the northwestern corner of the state and at the time a mining center.

The Illinois Central Railroad (reporting mark IC), sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, was a railroad in the Central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois, with New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, and …

The Illinois Central Railroad profoundly affected the economic and physical development of Illinois and Chicago. It was the primary link between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico, providing access to the South for Chicago products and culture and a route north for millions during the “ Great Migration .

It was established in 1969 to preserve and promote the history of the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). The society collects documents, photographs, artifacts, publications, and other items related to the railroad's history. The ICRHS also operates a museum dedicated to the IC and its history.

The Illinois Central Railroad connects the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, running through the length of Illinois. Founded in 1851, the Illinois Central Railroad played a vital role in American industry, commerce, labor, and tourism, especially in Illinois.

The Illinois Central was a major carrier of passengers on its Chicago to New Orleans line and between Chicago and St. Louis. The IC reached Bloomington in May 1853 (followed by the Chicago and Alton Railroad that October.)

The Chicago Branch of the Illinois Central Railroad was completed from Chicago to Centralia in 1853, passing through Monee, Will and Peotone townships, with stations located in the Will County communities of Monee and Peotone.