Walt,


The split rail scheme was adopted in January, 1967. FAR too new for you or this list!

 
Ray Breyer
Elgin, IL


________________________________
From: "WaltGCox@..." <WaltGCox@...>
To: STMFC@...
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 8:18 PM
Subject: Re: [STMFC] Main Line of Mid-America

I was wondering when the "split rail" herald first appeared on IC box  cars
and how quickly it was applied to 1937 and 1937 modified box cars. I model 
the summer of 1959.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I was wondering when the "split rail" herald first appeared on IC box cars
and how quickly it was applied to 1937 and 1937 modified box cars. I model
the summer of 1959.

Phooey! Every Illinois Central car listed on the Landmesser hot box list is found in the April 1947 ORER meaning that any IC freight car appearing on my September 1950 layout would have had to have been repainted in 1948, 1949 or the first 8 months of 1950 for it to carry the Main Line of Mid-America slogan. Not too likely considering that at least 12 of the 34 cars listed are of composite construction. Ah well, only one decal on hand that can't be used.
Gene Green

Thank you Don Burn, Ray Breyer and Ed Hawkins for answering my questions. I am often astonished and always very pleased at the quality of answers received from this group.

For my September 1950 modeling purposes I'll have to restrict the use of the slogan to those few models which represent cars built after adoption of the slogan.

Gene Green

On Aug 17, 2012, at 9:51 AM, Gene wrote:

When did the Illinois Central first use the slogan "Main Line of
Mid-America?"

Gene,
Per IC marking arrangement drawing T426, dated 2-6-41, applicable to IC
40' box cars, stencil #529 (Mainline of Mid-America) was added per
revision D on 12-3-47. This was in accordance with an IC letter dated
11-18-47. A copy of this drawing is available from the Museum of
Transportation.
Regards,
Ed Hawkins

Hi Gene!
 

When did the Illinois Central first use the slogan "Main Line of Mid-America?"

1947.

Was there ever a point in time pre-ICG that the slogan could be said to be in widespread use?

That IS a bit subjective. But by 1955 it was basically everywhere on steel cars.

Was its use restricted to new cars purchased and built after the slogan's introduction?

Nope. The slogan was added to all STEEL cars, including the prewar ones.

Were older cars repainted with the slogan when rebuilt?

Yes, if they were all-steel. And they didn't have to be rebuilt to get repainted. Back in the good old days railroads were still concerned about public image, and had money to repaint cars. Like I said above, by 1955 the slogan was everywhere, so it only took the IC about seven years to repaint their entire freight car fleet (which was something like the 10th largest in North America).

Was the slogan ever applied to double-sheathed wood cars or single-sheathed cars?

No. By 1947 all of the double sheathed boxcars had dropped off the IC roster (most were actually gone by 1940). And I don't have any photo evidence of ANY wood IC freight car getting the new slogan (that includes boxcars, gons, reefers and hoppers).


Hope this helps!
Regards,
Ray Breyer
Elgin, IL

Well I remember the slogan while growing up in Elmhurst, Il and then going
to Champaign for college years before the merger. Doing a quick web search
found timetables for sale with the slogan from the late fifties and a Time
magazine article with that title about the IC from 1951.

Don Burn

When did the Illinois Central first use the slogan "Main Line of Mid-America?"

Was there ever a point in time pre-ICG that the slogan could be said to be in widespread use? (Is the answer too subjective?)

Was its use restricted to new cars purchased and built after the slogan's introduction?

Were older cars repainted with the slogan when rebuilt?

Was the slogan ever applied to double-sheathed wood cars or single-sheathed cars?

Does anyone wish to comment on the accuracy or its lack on any particular decals or dry transfers?

Gene Green