One of several railroads that once had served the city of Chicago Illinois many years ago, was the former Illinois Central Railroad.

Begining during the mid 1800's, the Illinois Central was basicaaly a north and south route. In 1926, the Illinois Central had electrified their commuter lines that served Chicago's south suburbs. Although the Illinois Central had a fleet of diesel locomotives, this railroad would also be one of the last railroads in the United States to operate steam locomotives in regular daily service until 1960.

The Illinois Central was always one of My favorite railroads I had grew up with in Chicago during the 1960's and 70's era. I lived approximately one mile north of the Illinois Central's Iowa Division Mainline in My old neighborhood on the near southwest side of Chicago. When things were very quietly still around 2 in the morning...I could hear their trains a mile south of Me hitting the crosstracks near the former Santa Fe Corwith Yard back in the day.

Eddie K.