The Monon Railroad , also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railway from 1897 to 1971, was an American railroad that operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana. The Monon was merged into the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1971, and much of the former Monon right of way is owned today by CSX Transportation. In 1970, it operated of road on of track; that year it reported 1320 million ton-miles of revenue freight and zero passenger-miles. (It also showed zero miles of double track, the longest such Class I railroad in the country.) Timeline 1847: The New Albany and Salem Railroad (NA&S) is organized with James Brooks as president. 1854: The NA&S trackage stretches from the Ohio River (at New Albany) to Lake Michigan (at Michigan City). 1859: The overextended and struggling NA&S is renamed the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railroad (LNA&C). April 30, 1865: The LNA&C becomes one of twenty railroads to haul Abraham Lincoln's funeral train, its portion being from Lafayette to Michigan City, Indiana. 1873: The LNA&C Railroad is reorganized as the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago Railway. 1881: The LNA&C consolidates with the Chicago and Indianapolis Air Line Railway, and the trackage of the new division is soon extended to reach into its namesake cities. July 1, 1897: The LNA&C is reorganized as the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Louisville Railway. 1932: The 300 pound (136 kg) Monon Bell is first presented as the trophy of the annual football game between DePauw University and Wabash College. 1946: John W. Barriger III becomes president of the Monon, bringing aggressive plans for modernization. June 29, 1949: Final day of steam locomotive service, as the Monon becomes one of the first Class I railroads to fully convert to diesel motive power. January 11, 1956: The CI&L officially adopts its longtime nickname, Monon, as its corporate title. 1959: The Monon's passenger service between Chicago and Indianapolis is discontinued. By 1965, only the Thoroughbred remained, with its single daily roundtrip from Chicago to Louisville. September 30, 1967: Final day of regularly scheduled passenger train service on the Monon. March 21, 1968: Merger with Louisville and Nashville Railroad announced to placate the Monon's fear of lost business due to L&N's acquisition of a competing route, the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad. July 31, 1971: The Monon is merged into the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. 1972-1979: Amtrak operates the Floridian Chicago-Miami