The Rock Island ceased operation 40 years ago today. Less than two years earlier, old and new Rock Island commuter trains are being cleaned after dropping off morning commuters.
The Rock Island ceased operation 40 years ago today; less than two years earlier, the Peoria Rocket waits for its return trip to Chicago.
I was too young, and Rock Island was just out of reach, for me to have photographed the railroad in its last days. I sure wish I could have, but only saw bits and pieces of it as the years wore on... (more)
This group of employees of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific are working their last day at the Silvis shop. At 3PM second shift will go on duty and punch out at 11PM. At 11:59PM the Rock was gone... (more)
Silvis Shop: In this photo of the back shop recently completed GP7 4508 is on the far end of the track to the left. The next unit in process 4509 has had it's white electrical cabinet set on the f... (more)
The Rock Island Lines Silvis Shop main bay was divided in half. East was called the ramp. This is where running repairs and FRA inspections were done. West was the back shop where heavy repairs an... (more)
Rock Island Lines Silvis Shop is busy place in this picture. In the foreground four GP7 frames for the Conrail rebuild program. GP38-2 4309 is on one of the frame straighteners for an engine chang... (more)
Rock Island 4710 has a daily inspection preformed at the "mini pit" in the summer of 1978
This is the answer to the seldom-asked question, "If an Alco RS2 mated with an EMD GP7, what would the kids look like?". The Rock Island re-engined five RS2s and an RS3 with EMD prime mo... (more)
Rock Island 4506 leads a train past Johnson siding.
RI 4334, now a MP unit (note blue out name on unit side) but otherwise unchanged and not renumbered, sits at Emma, MO, Sept 15, 1980.
The caboose train is making its westbound run back to the museum with another outstanding lash-up put together by the Illinois Railway Museum. CRIP 4506 and ITC 1605 have the honors.
CRIP 4506 idles at the Illinois Railway Museum before being used for throttle time during Diesel Days to raise funds for operations at the venue.
The Route of the Rockets! The Manly Junction Railroad Museum's CRIP E units are posed under a fading sunset.