Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad

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Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
Reporting marks	GMO
Locale	central United States
Dates of operation	1938–1972
Predecessor line	Mobile and Ohio Railroad; Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad
Successor line	Illinois Central Gulf
Track gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters	Mobile, Alabama

The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio (AAR reporting marks GMO) was a railroad carrier in the central United States, with its primary routes from Chicago to Mobile, Alabama and Kansas City, Missouri.

Contents 1 History 2 In the media 3 References 4 External links

[edit] History

The Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad was a result of the reorganization of the New Orleans, Mobile & Chicago in 1917. The GM&O incorporated in 1938 to take over and merge the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad and the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, which it completed in 1940. The railroad also merged with the Alton Railroad in 1947.

On August 10, 1972, the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad was merged into the Illinois Central Railroad, forming the 9600-mile north/south Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. In 1996 Illinois Central spun off some of its redundant trackage, including most of the former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio. Most of this trackage was acquired by other railroads.

[edit] In the media

GM&O engines and passenger cars were featured in the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night. Although the film's opening and ending shots of the GM&O are implied to be in Mississippi, where the film's fictional small town, Sparta is located, GM&O had ceased all passenger service south of St. Louis, MO eight years before the film was made (1966). The fictional Mississippi town in the film is actually Sparta, Il. And the city where the GM&O engines and cars are filmed is actually Alton Il.

[edit] References

• Corporate Family Tree/Flow Chart. The GM&O Historical Society, Inc.. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.

[edit] External links

• The Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Historical Society
• The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio (book)