Chicago Great Western Railway Company
Chicago Great Western Railway Company
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- Inventory on the way
Product Details
Certificate Type
Common/Preferred Stock
Date Issued
November 15, 1965 (purple)
October 1, 1964 (brown)
Canceled
Yes
Printer
Columbian Bank Note Company
Signatures
Machine printed
Approximate Size
11 3/4" (w) by 8" (h)
Additional Details
NA
Historical Context
Built by imaginative and energetic Minnesotan, A.B. Stickney, the Chicago Great Western Railway began in 1885 as a 110-mile pike from St. Paul to the Iowa state line and the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad. Instead of selling the short line to another railroad, as Stickney had done with previous roads that he constructed, he retained ownership and quickly extended the tracks to Chicago and Kansas City. By connecting these important gateways the railroad became a respectable carrier.
In 1887, the M&NW was acquired by another Stickney road, the more appropriately titled Chicago, St. Paul, & Kansas City Railroad, which was acquired in 1892 by yet another Stickney road, the Chicago Great Western Railway. Because the three lines radiated out from Oelwein, Iowa, Stickney logically chose this location to construct the system shops. At the time when the Oelwein shops were opened in 1899, they were the largest and best-equipped shops in the U.S. The final extension of the CGW was completed in 1903 as tracks were extended to Omaha.
Initially, the CGW relied heavily on rate cutting and efficient operations to compete with other railroads. Although its reputation as a rate cutter ended when Stickney retired in 1908, the railroad remained dedicated to flexible and innovative practices. Among the pioneering efforts for which the CGW is remembered are its early use of internal combustion equipment, extremely long freight trains, piggyback service, and welded rail. The railroad had little choice considering the competition from powerful neighbors, rubber-tired vehicles, and government subsidized aviation. The CGW was never financially strong, but managed to survive two receiverships and an episode of horrible mismanagement during the first few decades of this century.
The CGW enjoyed relative economic prosperity during the post World War II boom that funded badly needed modernization of the physical plant. Unfortunately, profits were ephemeral for the railroad as the constantly rising costs of labor and material sent the CGW into the red during the 1960's. Proposed mergers would also change the position of the railroad with other carriers. As a result, management believed that bankruptcy would ultimately result if the railroad did not merge with another carrier. The CGW found a mate in the Chicago & North Western Railway and officially merged on July 1, 1968. The C&NW subsequently abandoned most of the CGW.
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Additional Information
Certificates carry no value on any of today's financial indexes and no transfer of ownership is implied. All items offered are collectible in nature only. So, you can frame them, but you can't cash them in!
All of our pieces are original - we do not sell reproductions. If you ever find out that one of our pieces is not authentic, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and any associated shipping charges.
FAQ
Are the certificates offered on your site genuine or reproductions?
All of the certificates you see on our site are genuine pieces, we do not sell any reproductions.Are the certificates you sell negotiable on any of today's stock markets or indexes?
No. All of the pieces we sell are either canceled or obsolete and have collectible value only. Â
Are the images presented in your product listings of the exact piece I will receive?
It depends. We try to present images of the exact piece you will receive whenever possible. However, when we are offering quantities of a piece, this is impossible. Within every product page we detail whether or not you will be receiving the exact certificate listed, or if the image is a representative example of the one you will receive. Â
How will you ship my order and how much do you charge?Â
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Can I return my purchase?Â
Absolutely. You may return any merchandise, for any reason, within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund of the purchase price.
We guarantee all of our pieces to be authentic. If you ever determine that a piece is not authentic, it may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price as well as any associated shipping charges.
Shipping
If your order exceeds $35, and the shipping address is within the United States, shipping via USPS Ground Advantage is FREE!
We make every effort to ship out all orders within 24 hours of receipt.
We ship the majority of orders via the USPS, with domestic orders using the Ground Advantage service.
Shipping is calculated during checkout. Upgraded services such as Priority and Express Mail, as well as UPS and DHL options, are also available.
As soon as your order is shipped you will receive your tracking information via email.
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Returns
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You can return anything we offer for an exchange, refund or store credit within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping costs may apply, and the item must be in its original condition and packaging.
Any shipping charges collected on the original order are not eligible for a refund.