Missouri Pacific Train at St. Louis

A Missouri Pacific freight heads south out of St. Louis.  Today's train carries freight bound for Memphis and New Orleans.
Missouri Pacific was known as the "Route of the Eagles."  Missouri Pacific connected the agriculture, industries and communities of the Southern Midwest states and the Gulf Coast.  Midwest became a part of Union Pacific in 1982.

Illinois Central-The Mainline of Mid America

Illinois Central was known as the Mainline of Mid America.  Illinois Central served states along the Mississippi River, the Gulf Coast and the Upper Midwest.
Illinois Central was known for its City of New Orleans passenger train that operated between Chicago and New Orleans.  "The City of New Orleans" entered pop-culture with the well known Steve Goodman song. Amtrak's City of New Orleans train between Chicago and New Orleans takes its name from the famous Illinois Central passenger train.

The City of New Orleans-America's Love For The Train

The Amtrak of today we all ride is rooted in a rich legacy of America's historic railroads.  When we ride today's trains such as Amtrak's City of New Orleans between Chicago and New Orleans, we see the heritage of the Illinois Central in the the right of way we ride along, in the communities we pass through and many of the stations along the way.
Many of us know of The City of New Orleans from the Steve Goodman song made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Johnny Cash and many others.  Through its songs and literature, America truly does have a love for the train.