Association of American Railroads Code of Rules, 1939-1944

Inclusive date range: 1876-1973

Bulk dates: 1898-1968



This collection is comprised of records from the Illinois Central Railroad [ICRR]. The bulk of the materials are rule books, schedules of wages, car-builder manuals, rules and regulations, codes of rules for the interchange of traffic, agreements with predecessor and subsidiary railroads, agreements with railroad unions, and telegraph codes used by the company. There are rule and regulation books and wage schedules for the various classes and crafts of railroad employees; they are also divided geographically. For example, a conductor on the Chicago passenger line had a different set of rules and wage schedule from a yardman in New Orleans. Some books also predate ICRR's absorption of other subsidiary roads and as such are specific to the employees of those smaller lines. Also found are rules and regulations from the United States Railroad Administration during its control of American railroads during World War I.



Also found in this collection is an internal document outlining the ICRR's plans for its centennial celebrations in 1951. The pamphlet describes the various celebrations, commemorative items, such as plaques, medals, monuments, and books, and advertising strategies to capitalize on the occasion. The pamphlet contains photographs of many of these items, some of which may be found in collection 5197 MB.



Of particular interest are the pamphlets for the Gold Pass Luncheons. These annual celebrations feted railroad employees who had been with the company for fifty years. Each program contains the name of each veteran employee along with a photograph and a brief biography of the employee.