Illinois Central

IC9145_HammondLa_Sept76.jpg 186.93 Kb 1024 x 694 IC GP9 #9145 at Hammond,La - Sept 1976. Along the Illinois Central New Orleans-Chicago line (about 55 miles north of New Orleans). The track to the left was the start of a wye to the Hammond-Slidell branch. I was at this spot in January 2001 and the wye and a couple of miles of line are still there but the rest of the line to Slidell has been abandoned.

IC_hopper_atPonchatoulaLa_Nov00.jpg 281.74 Kb 1024 x 680 IC hopper at Ponchatoula,La - Nov 2000. Ponchatoula is about 50 miles north of New Orleans on the IC (now CN) New Orleans-Chicago line.

IC6005_6130_atMobileAl_Jan01.jpg 158.56 Kb 1024 x 694 Illinois Central #6005 & 6130 at Mobile,Al - Jan 2001

IC6005_atMobileAl_Jan01.jpg 166.15 Kb 1024 x 694 Illinois Central #6005 at Mobile,Al - Jan 2001

IC9604_atBatonRougeLa_April20_01.jpg 173.09 Kb 1024 x 662 IC #9604 at CN-IC yard in Baton Rouge,La - April 20 2001

IC9611_atHammondLa_April01.jpg 173.50 Kb 1024 x 546 IC #9611 at Hammond,La - April 2001. #9611 is on a connection track to the few miles remaining on the former IC Hammond-Slidell branch. The station is on the New Orleans-Chicago IC main - route of Amtrak City of New Orleans.

ICG9606_nearMcCombMiss_Sept76.jpg 171.29 Kb 1024 x 693 ICG #9606 near McComb,Miss -- September 1976. Northbound somewhere between Hammond,La and McComb,Miss on ICGs New Orleans - Chicago line while it was still double tracked.

ICG_atHattiesburghMs_Nov77.jpg 164.92 Kb 1024 x 612 ICG caboose at Hattiesburgh,Ms -- November 1977 During a break in a Southern #4501 New Orleans - Hattiesburgh excursion this ICG freight passed by - eastbound on the Natchez-Mobile line.

ICG8447_HattiesburghMs_Aug78.jpg 169.84 Kb 1024x630x24(RGB) ICG units (GP-10,GP-9) at Hattiesburgh,Ms -- August 1978. This was shot from the vestibule of the Southern Crescent.

ICG1_NewOrleansUnion_May78.jpg 201.15 KB 1024x683x24(RGB) Illinois Central Gulf business car #1 at New Orleans Union Station. This was during the period that Amtrak wanted the railroads business cars painted in Amtrak colors if they wanted to use them on their trains. #1 was built in 1956 by Pullman Standard and the Illinois Central shops. I believe this car is still in use by the CN. May 1978

ICG_LaurelMs_June78.jpg 232.56 KB 1024x579x24(RGB) (1) Illinois Central Gulf units at Laurel,Miss I believe this was Laurel. A pair of GP40 on the right -- probably on the ex-GM&O line from Mobile. GP10's and a GP8 on the left. I wonder if anything is left today? June 1978

ICG_LaurelMs_June78_2.jpg 241.20 KB 1024x648x24(RGB) (2) Illinois Central Gulf units at Laurel,Miss GP10's and a GP8 June 1978

ICG_LaurelMs_June78_3a.jpg 237.67 KB 1024x624x24(RGB) (3) Illinois Central Gulf units at Laurel,Miss #8351 was a GP10 June 1978

IC9606 in Louisiana_Sept76.jpg 312.56 KB 1024x710x24(RGB) Illinois Central Gulf freight near Hammond GP38-2 #9606 is northbound north of Hammond,La while the line was still double tracked. September 1976

IC at OrleansJct_July76a.jpg 219.24 KB 1024x600x24(RGB) (1) Illinois Central trackage at Orleans Jct -- July 1976 Out by the airport in New Orleans -- looking north on the Illinois Central (or ICG I guess) just before Orleans Jct (crossing of the KCS). A little over 5 years since the IC operated Panama Limited passed, the tracks are starting to look like they need some maintenance - not to bad but I wonder what the speed limit for Amtraks Panama was at this time.

IC at OrleansJct_July76-2a.jpg 294.34 KB 1024x636x24(RGB) (2) Illinois Central trackage at Orleans Jct -- July 1976 A short distance to the north (or west) is the crossing with the KCS line out of New Orleans which parralled the IC most of the way out of the city. I believe the KCS line (the Southern Belle used it from New Orleans) is abandoned from this point to New Orleans. Do KCS trains come out on the IC then transfer to the old line north to Baton Rouge? At this point in 1976 the KCS was looking very ragged itself at the junction.

The IC at ChampaignIll_June82a.jpg 266.20 KB 1024x663x24(RGB) (1) On the IC at Champaign,IL -- June 1982 I had an opportunity to ride an open platform private car on the back of the City of New Orleans roundtrip between NO and Chicago. Here are a few shots passing through Champaign,Illinois on the northbound City. All shots looking south -- just arriving - close to the station.

The IC at ChampaignIll_June82-3a.jpg 226.48 KB 1024x636x24(RGB) (2) On the IC at Champaign,IL -- June 1982 A couple of passenger cars back of the earlier IC station. The car on the left -- possibly a lounge with the radio antenna remaining on the roof. I guess it could be either an IC or GM&O car. The other looks like a rebuilt heavyweight of some sort.

The IC at ChampaignIll_June82-4a.jpg 243.73 KB 1024x649x24(RGB) (3) On the IC at Champaign,IL -- June 1982 A nice water tower remained (22 years after the last of the IC steam). The baggage had some lettering but I can't make it out -- narrow trucks on the car.

The IC at ChampaignIll_June82-5a.jpg 238.67 KB 1024x621x24(RGB) (4) On the IC at Champaign,IL -- June 1982 From what I've read the station to the right was built around 1898. In the 20's this station was moved about 100'north of its original position (remaining open during the move!). I would have liked to seen how they moved it. The larger station to the left was built while part of the tracks were elevated. Platforms were on the elevated and ground area. It looks like most of them remained.

The IC at ChampaignIll_June82-6a.jpg 253.28 KB 1024x636x24(RGB) (5) On the IC at Champaign,IL -- June 1982 Another nice signal bridge.

The IC at ChampaignIll_June82-7a.jpg 242.78 KB 1024x673x24(RGB) (6) On the IC at Champaign,IL -- June 1982 The Champaign tower crossing of the Wabash, the Illinois Traction and the Peoria & Eastern.

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