CN Launches History of Illinois Central on its Web Site

CHICAGO, Feb. 12 -- Canadian National announced it is launching a new section on its web site (www.cn.ca) to mark the 150th anniversary of the Illinois Central Railroad (IC).  During its long history, IC made its mark on the nation as a vital transportation route through the heartland of America - the "Main Line of Mid-America."

"The history of Illinois Central is the story of extending the reach of customers," said CN President and Chief Executive Officer Paul M. Tellier. At first, the reach was from Cairo to Galena, Illinois, with a branch line to Chicago. By 1870, the network reached Sioux City and, in 1878, it reached the Gulf of Mexico. In 1999 IC merged with CN, becoming the only railroad in North America to reach three coasts: Pacific, Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

The CN-IC Story section is an easy-to-read account of the history of IC. Illustrated with photos, this section also describes, with the click of a mouse, what was happening at CN during the same period. The Historical Highlights section provides a quick look at the most important events in IC's history. The IC Presidents section offers a brief, yet fascinating, biography and photo of each of the 24 men who once ran the railroad. Another section worth looking at is the story about the Evolution of IC's Logo, from the first logo in 1851, that was simply a black diamond, to the "Big I" that first appeared in 1972.

Tellier said: "The merger of IC with CN redrew the railroad map of the continent. Together, we have become North America's railroad. Since the merger, reliability has improved, transit times have improved, and we run a tightly scheduled railroad over the entire CN-IC network. The merger of IC and CN has created what is arguably the best railroad in North America.

"The success of the merger," added Tellier, "is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Illinois Central's employees, and their commitment to respond to new challenges of the future."

Canadian National Railway Company spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key cities of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, St. Louis, Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America.