Illinois Central Railroad

FreightWaves Classics: Airmail helped build nation’s airlines

President and Mrs. Wilson were present at the polo fields near the Potomac River the morning of the first airmail flights. (Photo: Smithsonian Institution/Postal Museum)

By the 1920s, much of the nation’s commerce was handled by mail via the U.S. Post Office. By the 2020s, much of the nation’s commerce is handled via the internet. As different as “snail mail” and the internet are, there are some similarities as well…

The U.S. postal system was established by the Second Continental Congress, and Benjamin Franklin was the first postmaster general. He established the foundation for many aspects of the nation’s mail system.

These were the nation's first civilian airmail pilots. The These were the nation’s first civilian...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classicsairmail-helped-build-nations-airlines

FreightWaves Classics/Fallen Flags: Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad made key acquisition in 1940

There are many people interested in former transportation companies, whether they were trucking companies, railroads, airlines or ocean lines. They are called “fallen flags,” and the term describes those companies whose corporate names have been dissolved through merger, bankruptcy or liquidation.

On this date 81 years ago, the new Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad (GM&O) took control of the  Mobile & Ohio Railroad (M&O), which had declared bankruptcy.

This was a key railroad consolidation in the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classicsfallen-flags-gulf-mobile-ohio-railroad-made-key-acquisition-in-1940

FreightWaves Classics: Fallen Flags – Illinois Central Railroad (Part 2)

A new Illinois Central locomotive. (Photo: American Locomotive)

There are many people interested in former transportation companies, whether they were trucking companies, railroads, airlines or ocean lines. They are called “fallen flags,” and the term describes those companies whose corporate names have been dissolved through merger, bankruptcy or liquidation.

As reported in Part 1 of this article, the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) is among the most notable of the railroads that are now considered fallen flags. The IC’s slogan, “The Main Line of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classics-fallen-flags-illinois-central-railroad-part-2

FreightWaves Classics: Fallen Flags – Illinois Central Railroad (Part 1)

An Illinois Central freight locomotive. (Photo: familysearch.org)

There are many people interested in former transportation companies, whether they were trucking companies, railroads, airlines or ocean lines. They are called “fallen flags,” and the term describes those companies whose corporate names have been dissolved through merger, bankruptcy or liquidation.

The Illinois Central Railroad (IC) is among the most notable of the railroads that are now considered fallen flags. The IC’s slogan, “The Main Line of Mid-America,” described well its north-south...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-classics-fallen-flags-illinois-central-railroad-part-1

FreightWaves Classics: Central of Georgia Railway persevered (Part 2)

A Central of Georgia Railway locomotive. (Photo: American-Rails.com)

In Part 1 of this article, the early history of the Central of Georgia Railway was featured. In Part 2, the railroad’s history from the late 1880s until it was acquired by Norfolk Southern is featured.

The acquirer is acquired but continues to grow

The Central of Georgia was acquired by the Richmond Terminal Company in 1887. The new company issued overvalued bonds based on the good credit of the Central. This resulted in huge corporate debts. 

Under its new ownership, the Savannah & Western...