It was only a matter of time before the 4-8-4 emerged. The lyrics are as follows: Now this here's a story about the Rock Island Line, Well the Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleans, And you know, if you got certain things on board when you go through the tollgate, Well you don't have to pay the man no toll, Well a train driver he pulled up to the tollgate. 844, holds the distinction of being the only U.S. steam locomotive never to be retired from service. Engine 1000 former Bismarck, Wasburn and Great Falls Engine - a Vauclain Compound. 1830 vanished from the roster some time between 1908 and 1911. There is an amazing amount of right-of-way still being used that once belonged to the Rock. Mike Bledsoe photo. = Cooke Locomotive Works: Data from RI to 1951 Combined Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. The first Northerns built were intended for passenger service, and were supplied to the Santa Fe, Great Northern, Southern Pacific, and Lackawanna (which called them Poconos), to name a few roads. Union Pacific was the wealthiest railroad in the country at the time (and still-so today); in 1966 its net income, before taxes, was an impressive $109.7 million. It could not afford the entry feet to join what became the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) on May 1, 1971 and continued operating what was dubbed thePeoria RocketandQuad Cities Rocketuntil service was finally suspended on December 31, 1978. The train carried a very similar appearance to the famous "Aerotrain" and was originally used on the Chicago-Peoria run. (Many thanks to Chris Hohl for his 22 September 2017 email reporting unlikely boiler pressure values for 177 entries. They were absorbed into the Guilford roster in 1981 when Guilford purchased the MEC. Also, thanks to Chris for his 1 February 2022 email noting this batch's original tender weight and capacities.) It operates today as part of Union Pacifics steam program. This locomotive spent the majority of it's working life pulling passenger trains on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Kansas City Rocket: (Minneapolis - Kansas City). http://www.simpson.edu/~RITS/equipment/EhniSlides/EhniSlides.html">http://www.simpson.edu/~RITS/equipment/EhniSlides/EhniSlides.html</A>. Nearly a decade passed before the ICC officially granted approval on November 8, 1974. Richard Overton points out in his authoritative book, "Burlington Route: A History Of The Burlington Lines," predecessors of the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs (1870) provided the Burlington its initial link to Council Bluffs, opening on November 25, 1869. The fabled Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a legend in its own time. It was just 21 miles in length although its connection to the Rock Island at Marble Rock allowed for interchange service and some local online freight customers, which sustained the line after passenger traffic dried up and it discontinued such in 1952. . By 1952, the Rock was dieselizing fast, and steam was virtually gone. Join Today! engine, windows and controls at one end, baggage cmpartment and steam generator. See also DeGolyer, Volume 21, p. 81. Classic Railroad Scenes: Railroads at Work. During a power shortage in the early '70s it also picked up elderly F9's from Union Pacific while even first-generation Alco road units, re-engined with Electro-Motive model 567 prime movers, continued to see service throughout that decade. There were negotiations with Arkansas and Oklahoma to purchase 866 miles of the corridor to be operated as the Arkansas-Oklahoma Railroad. The Rock Island TAs were the last units assembled with the 16-201A engine. As the 1960's dawned the Rock was showing signs of trouble; in a region overbuilt with railroads it relied heavily on dwindling agricultural traffic. ROCK ISLAND All-Time Diesel Roster; Updated: 20 April 2023 Chris Edmonds photo @ LaSalle Street Station in Chicago; . An official, 1966 system map of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. This 100-page special issue covers the family of trains that introduced the modern era of rail travel. To find out more, go to Google and type in Rock Island Railroad. The 4-8-4 filled the same roles as the 4-8-2. 74" drivers, a boiler pressure of 200 psi, a tractive effort of 50,430 lbs The Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, founded in 1921, is the first organization to focus on railroad history. 3's purchased used from the Rock Island Ry. The modernization continued through the 1950's as steam was retired by 1954 and modern classification yards were built, most notably at Silvis, Illinois. Despite the traffic potential a connection there offered the M&M advanced little in the succeeding years and was further delayed by the Civil War. EW WO: Grate Area: Evap. Texas Rocket: Originally served Fort Worth and Houston, although later connected Kansas City and Dallas. Barely two decades later the picture had changed dramatically as the road carried a stunning annual deficit of $400 million when it was liquidated in 1980. 356-359. The Trustee set a price of $100 million although the states only wanted to pay $21 million, the salvage value. American Locomotive Company. These two oil Based on the P-31 4-6-2s delivered the year before, the new P-33 class had larger diameter fire tubes and was built with a superheater already installed (the P-31s were retrofitted with superheaters over the following years). 938 was under steam for the very last time on September 16th, 1953 just before proceeding to Chicago's LaSalle Street Station for a press announcement of the Rock Island Line attaining its 100% dieselization goal. Judge Frank McGarr, who headed the bankruptcy proceedings, had no experience with railroads. North American Steam Locomotive Information. Actually, these three little questions are good and it is certainly a place to start. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. 1 - Where can I find on the web a CRI&P final locomotive roster (1979)? In 1891 Rock Island boasted a network of nearly 4,000 miles and had blossomed into a major Midwestern system. This book contains 128 steam era photos from the Roy Campbell Collection of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. See also DeGolyer, Volume 19, p. 203 and J F Holden, "The Story of an Adventure in Railroad Building," Oklahoma Historical Society's Chronicles of Oklahoma, Volume 11, No. Unfortunately, his tenure was short-lived when he left for the Missouri Pacific. Illinois finally relented by at first providing a stipend but eventually took over the services entirely. Data from "Consolidation Locomotive," The Industrial Magazine, June 1907, pp.590-591. you can still see a freight car floating around still in the Rock paint, a bunch of the Rocks cars made it in lease sevice as well as some were given as payment to other Railroads that the Rock owed money, and still haven't been painted after 20 plus years. Combined research by the authors has produced the most comprehensive review of Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific's steam locomotive century. Rock Island SD40-2 #4798 with a westbound transfer run at the Hoffman Avenue interlocking in St. Paul, Minnesota, circa 1976. 1345To CV 3602:2 GC 3602 Rock Island's former "Jet Rocket" is seen here stopped in Blue Island, Illinois, circa 1958, after the trainset had been relegated to commuter service. Within only a few years the results were being felt; annual revenues increased from $66 million in 1934 to $82 million in 1937. They were designated as Class K-60. 7354-75. However, Don Strack rescued the data and transferred it over to his UtahRails.net site (another fine resource). Data from "Rock Island Consolidation (2-8-0) locomotive" Railroad Gazette, Volume XXXV [35], No 16 (16 April 1903), pp. 4 Jan 2004. When the "Choctaw Route," built by the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf, was completed to Tucumcari, New Mexico in 1910 the "Golden State Route" south of that point was leased to the EP&SW. He began by acquiring the aforementioned BCR&N and then set off for the Western Frontier via a new subsidiary known as the Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska. AbeBooks.com: Rock Island Steam Power: Combined research by the authors has produced the most comprehensive review of Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific's steam locomotive century. Farrington was a no-nonsense manager, always on the hunt for ways of increasing efficiency and cutting waste. After Council Bluffs was reached, Rock Island embarked upon a great expansion although playing second-fiddle throughout the Midwest became a common theme. Ridership was estimated at about 500 passengers in 1962. Locomotive Roster. Unfortunately, for all the Rock's fame it was not quite as glamorous in reality. Twin Mountain Rock number 602, painted blue and white, with white number 602 on cab side; sublettered as 57-602. Rosters . For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions A major rebuild occurred on numbers 4044 through 4061. 1342To TWRY 1342 Author's collection. similar to the others except for an increase in total weight. The physical plant was an equally sad situation with rotten ties, insufficient rail, slow orders, and derailments a common occurrence throughout the system. More than a roster, this is a class-by-class story of engines and facilities on a railroad that contributed generously to locomotive progress. Today, the E6 is preserved by the Iowa Northern Railway and cosmetically restored. Rock Island roster. The 4-8-2s, also from Alco's works ( Brooks and Schenectady) in 1913 to 1927 were numbered 4000 to 4056 and lasted until 1953. The USRA Light Mikado was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, . 2300-2308, 2309-2319. . My curiosity will not be satisfied until I see a complete story of what happened to all the Rock Island assets. Rock Island F7A #115 leads a westbound through Lincoln, Nebraska, circa 1960. In the absence of new power the company carried out its so-called Capital Rebuild Program on venerable Geeps to extend their service lives. One restored example, GS-4 No. The cylinder bore was reduced from 28" Data from DeGolyer, Volume 21, p. 81 and Volume 23, p. 275. Railroads & Locomotives Locomotives Steam locomotive profile: 4-8-4 Northern. axles and light weight running gear. In the United States, Northerns ran until the end of steam on most railroads, and several later became favorite fan trip engines in the post-steam era. Lima works numbers were 1125-1126 in November 2010. It has a section on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, has several pictures of the bigger classes of locomotives and has a listing of the types of steam locomotives the Rock purchased from 1900 to the end of steam. Equipment Roster Picture Gallery Live Webcams Rail & Wire Libraries. (Today, it is preserved.). 1 (March 1933), pp.637-666 at [], Data from RI to 1951 Combined Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. From the new "Remember the Rock" magazine (Vol 1, no 1, page 9): Found some more info ("Rock Island in Color, 1948-1964" by Stagner). 6497-9 651 Yd Slug - 4/53 17740; Ex-IC . Works numbers in 1906 were: Data from RI 1 - 1942 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. It proved an immediate success and promoters felt so good about their prospects expansion was underway before the C&RI's completion. Without question, Farrington was the Rock Island's greatest leader. Chartered as interurban Western Illinois Traction Company, it was reorganized as the Rock Island Southern Traction Company in 1905. what day does pilot flying j pay; western power distribution. These Class M50 coal burning locomotives had 28 x 28 cylinders, 74" drivers, a boiler pressure of 200 psi, a tractive effort of 50,430 lbs and weighed 372,850 pounds. 1 2-4-0 Total Built = 426. C&O book showcases photographer William M. Rittase, Battery-powered locomotives continue to gain momentum, High iron baseball exploring independent leagues. locomotives, designated as Class M50a, were given roller bearings on all Thomas the Tank Engine will make an appearance at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union. Boiler Press. According to Bill Marvel's wonderful title, "Rock Island Line," a group of businessmen spent an evening in June of 1845 planning a railroad of 75 miles to link Rock Island, Illinois (across the Mississippi River from Davenport, Iowa) with LaSalle. American-Rails.com collection. Within two years of reaching Rock Island the Mississippi River was bridged and direct service into Davenport, Iowa opened on April 23, 1856. They mostly run mixed freight but they have an old Chinese/American steam locomotive that runs a passenger service. If it is still in print, or if you can find one, I would suggest you get a copy of, "Guide to North American Steam Locomotives". burning locomotives had 28 x28 cylinders, 69" drivers, a boiler pressure of The 227, 233, 235, and 237 never ran again, they were used for parts by the MEC in the rebuilding of the rest. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific No. These eighteen The Choctaw was another important corridor, a southern gateway linking the Southwest and Southeast. While Reid-Moore's efforts saw the railroad balloon into a network of 8,328 miles they also embarked upon a disastrous scheme of trying to leverage Rock Island's strong earnings power in financing a true transcontinental network. In addition, E6A #630, continued working the commuter pool throughout the 1970s, a locomotive which had been outshopped in October of 1941! By World War II the Maine two-footers were out of business. 1942. Kevin Scanlon photo. Data from RI 1 - 1942 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange; and F Wesley Krameck, William D Edson, and Jack W Farrell, Rock Island Steam Power (Potomac, MD: Edson Publications, 2002). The 90-acre facility used to be the largest locomotive repair shop of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and once renovated, city and organization leaders think it could be largest steam . Cylinders Dia. Ex-P&LE 8747-8749; #4907 sold to Rail Switching Service #? 2662 storms up the 1.8 percent grade at Muir, Mont., in 1947. Des Moines Rocket: (Chicago - Des Moines). 28 were here. McGarr continued delaying liquidation as his team attempted to put together a profitable operation. Hardcover. Santa Fe 4-6-2 No. Look at the thread, up 15 down or so, titled "The Rocks SD40-2's". [4] However, by the early 1960s, it was starting to deteriorate due to vandalism and lack of regular painting. Under Tracy, the Rock launched a secondary extension heading southwesterly from Davenport. Raising money in this manner normally carried mixed results but enthusiasm for the railroad turned out to be quite high and by November of 1850 the needed $300,000 had been secured. Active. There was also an extension to El Reno, Oklahoma while a direct route from Denver to Omaha was established via Belleville, Kansas and Lincoln, Nebraska.