Rock Island E6A 630 and a drab E7B heads the Twin Star Rocket at Fort Worth, Texas in December 1960. Photo by R. Plummer, from my slide collection.

Built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in October 1941, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad E6A 630 was one of five E6As purchased by the railroad. The E6s earned their keep pulling ... (more)

Led by the uniquely painted E6A, a Rock Island passenger train heads south from LaSalle Street Station. Tom Golden photo.

With the Sears Tower under construction, a Rock Island passenger train departs LaSalle Street Station. Tom Golden photo.

The last slant nose cab unit in regular service is ready to take its train to Chicago.

Not only was 630 the only Shovelnose on the Rock Island painted with a golden nose, it was (and still is) the last operational E6 in the country. Just as several of The Rock's Early Cowl units ha... (more)

I had missed the "Christine" but I did get to ride behind this one-of-a-kind. I not just sure why they were not on a platform track. This may have been a deadhead move to storage for the night.

E6 #630 is headed to the yard after delivering the evening commuter run. The Rock Island main -- rough!

The distinctive slant of the E6 is on display as the Rock's last E6 takes a break from commuter service for the weekend.

Working commuter service RI 630 arrives in Joliet.

RI 630, with its unique gold painted nose, basks in the sun at Joliet's Union Station.