MAIN LINE OF MID-AMERICA: The Story of the Illinois Central

The story of the great iron road, serving the entire Mississippi Basin, which will reach the century mark next year. As complete as any history of so large a rail system can be, this book covers the entire development of the line, from 1850 when President Fillmore signed the ""Central Railroad bill"", through the first slow expansion in Illinois, the Civil War, the era of tremendous industrial expansion following Appomattox, the new century, the two world wars, and plans for the future. Great figures connected in one way or another with the line were: Lincoln, Douglas, Mark Twain, who piloted one of the Central's steamboats, Stuyvessant Fish, Edward H. Harriman, and the immortal engineer who stuck to his throttle--Casey Jones. For all iron horse enthusiasts.