The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio
The Alton Route
GM&O’s only E-8 unit is passing through Normal, Illinois just prior to making a stop at the Bloomington station. Once again, this is Train No. 1, The Limited, the most often photographed GM&O passenger train due to it’s mid-day schedule
GULF MOBILE & OHIO MEMORIES
GM&O Slideshow
Similar to the Chessie System in the east, the Gulf Mobile and Ohio of the Midwest and South was a short-lived railroad whose legend continues to live on today. The GM&O wasn’t created until the early days of diesel power and it was gone by the early 1970s. However, during its roughly 40 years of operation it was a fierce competitor and although always surrounded by giants it held its own in many of the markets it served, which is not surprising as the railroad is also known as The Rebel Route.
Aside from the GM&O’s maverick attitude the railroad is also well known for a number of its passenger trains including the Gulf Coast Rebel, the Alton Limited, and the Midnight Special. Its most famous trains, however, were the Rebel, Abraham Lincoln, and Ann Rutledge (which continues today under Amtrak). These trains carried a beautiful livery of two-tone maroon/red with yellow trim. Below is a brief history of a number of the GM&O’s notable accomplishments, especially regarding its passenger operations, courtesy of the Gulf Mobile and Ohio Historical Society:
(E7A) on train #1, The Limited, at Springfield, Illinois. (February 23, 1969)
(E7A) on train #1, The Limited, at Springfield, Illinois. (July, 1966)
(E7A) on passenger to Chicago leaves St. Louis, Missouri Union Station. (March, 1964)
The Limited, at Springfield, Illinois. (August, 1966)
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Shortly before being replaced with new RTA equipment, an inbound “Plug” arrives in late afternoon at Joliet, Illinois. Two boiler equipped F3′s were assigned to this run, GM&O 880B and 883A. Note the borrowed Amtrak coach used on this train.
Amtrak – Bloomington/Normal Illinois
Welcome to the GM&O Historical Society
GM&O in southern Illinois 1972
“Good mornin’ America, how are ya?
Hey doncha know me, I’m yer native son…” :)
My Grandpa was a bridge engineer for the GM&O.
Nice article, thank you.
thank you:)
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I remember going on a cross country train trip in the late 1960s or early 1970s, and we pulled into St. Louis’ Union Station during a heavy rain storm. While we were stopped there for about half an hour, I stuck my head out of the door on the platform under the train shed roof (which is still there today, covering the mall). About 1/3 of the filthy glass panels were broken, and rain was pouring through the roof in thick, dirty streams. It was an indelible memory of the severe decline and neglected squalor of a once elegant form of travel.
The Hiawatha’s in Minneapolis St Paul run were always cleaner looking that the GM&O trains, but the Twin Cities depot was run down too. The decline was sad, but they are still the Local passenger trains, but I loved the Hiawatha’s.
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My grandfather and father both worked for the Chicago&AltonR.R.and the GM&O R.R. in Roodhouse,ILL.I have great memories of a great railroad.