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GULF MOBILE & OHIO

RAILROAD


HISTORY

The GM&O came into existence in 1940 with the merger of the GM&N (Gulf Mobile & Northern) and the M&O (Mobile & Ohio). Both Railroads were based in Mobile, Al. and their merger was the natural culmination of events that could be expected of competing Railroads in the financially troubled times of the late 1930's. The M&O, a subsidary of Southern Railway, was chartered in the 1830's, making it one of the oldest railroads in the nation. It suffered through many hardships, including the Civil War and a reorganization in 1876. When the merger took place the M&O was devoid of diesel-electric equipment and had an aging fleet of steam power, mostly 2-8-2's, the most recent being built in 1928. The GM&N was formed in 1917 and it's predecessors dated back to only 1870. In 1933 the GM&N acquired an access route into New Orleans when it absorbed the New Orleans Great Northern. The GM&N was a pioneer in the field of streamlined trains with the debut of the REBEL in the mid 1930's.

The new railroad (GM&O) was forward looking and became the first major railroad in nation to become completely dieselized. The GM&O absorbed the former Chicago & Alton in 1947 and with the Alton came a needed route into Chicago. The young railroad continued to grow and prosper through the 1940's and early 1950's and ran five trains a day between St. Louis and Chicago (The Alton Limited, The Abraham Lincoln, The Mail, The Midnight Special and The Ann Rutledge). South from St. Louis to Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf Coast Rebel made its daily run. Motor trains ran between Chicago and Bloomington Ill. The railroad also owned the Gulf Transport Company and operated a parallel bus service.

Sadly, because of a decline in demand, passenger service was discontinued south of St. Louis in 1958. In 1972 the GM&O merged with its parallel competitor, Illinois Central, and the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) was born.



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