Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad - 1890's Railway Stock Certificate

Exceptional Graphics by American Bank Note Co. NY. A truly Great Stock! The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company (1852–1952), commonly known as TCI or the Tennessee Company, was a major American steel manufacturer with extensive interests in coal and iron ore mining and railroad operations. Originally based in Tennessee, the company shifted most of its operations to Alabama in the late 19th century. TCI owned several satellite towns around Birmingham, including Ensley, Fairfield, Docena, Edgewater, and Bayview, and held a substantial real estate portfolio.

Once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, TCI was included in the inaugural Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1896. However, in 1907, the company merged with its main competitor, the United States Steel Corporation. TCI then operated as a subsidiary of U.S. Steel for 45 years before becoming a division of its parent company in 1952.

The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company was initially established as the Sewanee Furnace Company in 1852 by Nashville entrepreneurs aiming to capitalize on Tennessee's abundant coal reserves and the railroad boom of the 19th century. The venture struggled financially, and in 1859, it was sold to New York investors and reorganized as the Tennessee Coal and Rail Company. However, the onset of the Civil War in 1860 led to the company being reclaimed by local creditors.