Mobile and Ohio Railroad

The Mobile and Ohio Railroad (M & O ) was an American railway company. It was founded in early 1848 in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee to the to connect the port in Mobile ( Alabama) Ohio River near Cairo ( Illinois). On 13 September 1940 the company merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad to the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad.

History

The idea of ​​the Mobile and Ohio Railroad came on after the economic crisis of 1837, when reigned for trade in Mobile hard times. The port did not bring the desired income after the economic crisis. The businessmen of the city decided a railway project to the city's economy moving again.

The first section was opened in 1852 between Mobile and Citronelle ( Alabama), the portion to Columbus (Kentucky) followed in 1861. From there, steamboats were used to create a connection with the Illinois Central Railroad in Cairo.

Was the " Mobile and Ohio " By the outbreak of the Civil War, shortly after the completion of the line and the associated new uses for military purposes soon become the targets for both sides. After the conflict had the track almost completely rebuilt and the company was close to bankruptcy as debt in the amount of $ 5,228,562 pending, which have been taken up by the Confederate government.

In 1870, the need for completion of the line was detected until after Cairo as the northern terminus, due to money problems, however, this project could not be opened before May 1, 1882. Shortly thereafter, the Company acquired the St. Louis and Cairo Railroad, a narrow gauge railway. The line was converted to standard gauge and opened as a route from Mobile to St. Louis ( Missouri).

1896 was decided that a railway line from Columbus ( Mississippi) to Florida to build. 1898 a distance of Tuscaloosa ( Alabama) to Montgomery (Alabama ) was opened together with two short branch sections. Opened in 1899, the Company and the Mobile Bay Shore Railway, the Port of Mobile to Alabama Bayou La Batre and (Alabama ) led.

The shareholders accepted in 1901 a plan of the Southern Railway to take over the company. For 1902 a merger of the two companies was provided, which was, however, by the Governor of Mississippi, James K. Vardaman, contradicted. After that, the Mobile and Ohio led the operation continued under the supervision of the Southern Railway. From 1908 to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was considered very successful railroad company. However, the income from 1926 began to fall, 1930 the railroad had already debt in the amount of one million dollars. In 1932, the company again in bankruptcy. The Southern Railway was accused of the Clayton Antitrust Act violated by laying down the revenue of the M & O for its own benefit, but to the detriment of these used. The process, however, was dropped in 1933.

The Southern Railway sold its shares to the M & O 1940, the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad. This resulted in the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad.

Swell

• James H. Lemly, " The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio "
• Companies pedigree

• Former Railroad Company ( Alabama)
• Former Railroad Company ( Mississippi)
• Former Railroad Company ( Kentucky)
• Former Railroad Company ( Illinois)
• Former Class 1 railway company