October 6 has been a significant day in Illinois history for various reasons. Here are five interesting facts about this day:

1. On October 6, 1917, the deadliest train wreck in Illinois history occurred near Sycamore. Two trains collided on a single-track line, killing 45 people and injuring over 300 others. The cause of the accident was a miscommunication between railway employees.

2. In 1941, the first issue of Ebony magazine was published in Chicago on October 6. The magazine, which was founded by John H. Johnson, helped to promote African American culture and played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement.

3. The first successful single-lung transplant operation was performed on October 6, 1983, at Loyola University Hospital in Maywood. The patient was a 58-year-old woman with emphysema, and the surgery was performed by Dr. Joel Cooper.

4. On October 6, 2003, students returned to classes at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb after a shooting incident in a dormitory. A student was killed and another injured in the incident, which remains one of the most tragic events in the university's history.

5. The Illinois Marathon, a popular annual event that brings thousands of runners to Champaign-Urbana, was first held on October 6, 2009. The marathon features a variety of races and attracts runners from across the country and around the world.

Overall, October 6 has been a day of both tragedy and triumph in Illinois history, with significant events in transportation, journalism, medicine, education, and sports.