1971 IC Illinois Central Railroad ticket stub - Chicago to Effingham, Illinois

The Illinois Central Railroad (IC) is a major railroad in the central part of the United States. Owned and operated now by the Canadian National Railway (CN) since 1998, the IC was one of the earlier US lines, operating from Chicago through Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to the Gulf Coast. The IC had major financial issues, due to part to track redundancy and to maintenance issues. In 1972 it merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad (GM&O) and formed the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG), but its issues were not resolved by this merger, as the two served similar areas and had common problems. After a period of non-public ownership, the ICG was acquired by the CN.

For auction is a passenger train ticket stub for one-way coach travel between Chicago and Effingham, Illinois. It is dated May 5, 1971. The ticket measures appx 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 inches and is printed on light-weight paperstock. It is in very good condition. All markings are from its issuance and use. It has no rips or tears and has the customary cancellation punch holes.

A nice item for the IC collector.