| On 10 August 1972, the day of the Illinois Central-Gulf Mobile & Ohio merger, the ICG discontinued the regular operation of former GM&O trains 32 and 33 between Bogalusa and New Orleans; but the trains continued to run occasionally to serve a customer at the south end of the former GM&O Canal Yard. In this view taken shortly after the merger, No. 33 was entering the main line of the Southern Railway just south of the Slidell depot, to continue its trip to New Orleans. The roof of the depot can be seen right behind the loco.This ICG trainman had previously lined the spring switch (SS) for the siding, to comply with the "Five-Minute-Rule" and once the time was up he threw it again just as his train was about to enter the main line. Setting the switch for the siding five minutes before the train entered the main line made nearby signals go red, and this prevented mainline trains from colliding with No. 33. We know this was shortly after the ICG merger because the train was short and it wasn't running extra. Once Nos. 32 and 33 were removed from the Southern timetable, these occasional trains would have to run as extras. (approximate date) |