These are 500 hp Whitcomb/Canadian Locomotive Co. Model Number 75DE12C. Note lack of symmetry at top of hood. Was this pair coupled this way on a long-term basis?

CRI&P 486 with Inbound Morning Commuter

The Engineer Enjoys the Ride Accelerating Out of Englewood Union Station This is Rock Island's version of EMD's BL2. BL stood for "branch line" because the unit was lighter and more functi... (more)

One of five BL2s the Rock had inbound with commuters on an April morning.

See first comment below. The tall building is the Board of Trade and the darker closer building is the long-gone headhouse replaced by the new Board of Trade building.

An EMD intercity failure ends its days at age 10 downgraded to commuter service, not a good application of a train with few and narrow doors. There are actually three additional RI trains in the d... (more)

This is Rock Island's version of EMD's BL2. BL stood for "branch line" because the unit was lighter than an F-unit and much easier to work with (i.e., steps on all corners). In a sense they were a... (more)

A rare Alco plus GP7 #1276 and 2 SW8s

On May 4th, 1980, The Rock Island ran their last train out of Council Bluffs, Iowa. This train was powered by RI 4355, RI 4352 and RI 4513. It consisted of all RI-owned equipment out of CB in tow ... (more)

Light engine move crossing the diamond WB probably going to the commuter car yard west of the diamond as I recall. Ex UP unit in a really nice paint job maybe #275 or was it 276. Joke!

We allotted the time, drove all the way from CA to VA avoiding the interstate. Hey, there's scenery, it was great. This freight was rocking and rolling EB. Notice the mix of cars, virtually unk... (more)

Apparently still in service up to the end of the Rock. They was po!

Ubiquitous on the RI it seemd. I like that type of spark arrester.