Does anyone here have any tips or anything on where I might be able to search out ICC abandonment documents as well as merger decisions. I have the filing numbers, but have turned up blanks (this is stuff in the 80's for what its worth).

Thanks

ICC decisions were published in the Federal Register, which is available on line:

https://www.govinfo.gov/features/digitized-federal-register-1980-1989

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/search?conditions%5Bagencies%5D%5B%5D=interstate-commerce-commission

Otherwise, you may need to consult with the National Archives to see what is available from them.

- Alan Maples

Doing some digging myself - I came across this. I'm convinced not everything is in here, but a lot is.... you may get lucky and at least get a date and a docket number to help your search.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Co ... frontcover

Depends how far back in time you're trying to go.

The STB has a website which has copies of all filings and decisions in the digital era. Here's the address:

https://www.stb.gov/proceedings-actions ... b-records/

For pre-website materials, it's a little more complicated:

The first place I would look for the old stuff would be a legal research database (like Westlaw) if you have access to one. I haven't used Westlaw for years (I'm retired), but I recall that Westlaw contained ICC/STB decisions going pretty far back (but not filings).

Prior to the digital age, STB and it's predecessor (the ICC) typically published notices of decisions and some filings in the Federal Register, which is available on line. I haven't checked lately, but I believe the Federal Register website goes back before WWII (for a short time, the old ICC used it's own website called "ICC Register". I've never looked for stuff on this for decades, so I don't know if the ICC Register is available on line). STB/ICC Federal Register notices in major proceedings would typically just contain a summary.

If you're really a glutten for punishment, go to a big law library that has ICC/STB Reports (hard copies of ICC/STB decisions bound into law books), and look for a finding service called "Hawkins Index/Digest". These books are a summary of all reported ICC decisions going pretty far back. They also have citations to the actual decisions (like "319 ICC 43") which takes you to the "hard copy" law books where the decisions are published, which are published in book form (ICC Reports" or "STB Reports). The books will not have copies of the parties' filings, but the reported decisions often have a summary of them. These books aren't as obscure as you might think. Quite to my surprise, I stumbled on a relatively complete set in the San Diego public library while looking for something else. Major RR law departments probably have complete sets as well.

More than you probably wanted to know