Right, the Illinois Central was the "City of New Orleans" from Chicago but as I understand it went through Carbondale and not Benton, West Frankfort. It was the C&EI Railroad that went from Chicago through Benton, West Frankfort etc. I road the latter a couple of times to Chicago and return in 1948 but was never on the Illinois Central. They may have shared ltracks north of Champaign. I was too young to remember what railroads were farther east in Eldorado, Carmi, Harrisburg. I believe Eldorado had four, IC, New York Central, L&N and one other. It was the mines that attracted them. I'd love to hear a more accurate version. Ernie