While I waited for a bus today, I saw on the side of a rail the following11525 RE CC USS Illinois 1982. Could this be a reference to use of steel from the Illinois to make these rails?
That's exactly it. US Steel, rolled in 1982. IIRC, CC stands for continuous cast. Gladly corrected, though.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Just to add--that rail was rolled at the USS South Works, in the Calumet area of Chicago. It was shut down in the 1980s.
Steel from Illinois, but not (probably) from THE Illinois: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Illinois_(BB-65)
There was also a steel mill in Granite City, Ill. (across the river from St. Louis), which I believe was also US Steel.
I remember seeing a poster on sheet metal provided USS's Granite City facility in my uncles' sheet metal shop. Would surmise that the primary productat that site was sheet steel.
The US is down to only three rail mills---Cliffs Steelton (Bethlehem), Evraz Pueblo (CF&I) and Steel Dynamics in Columbia City, IN.
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