I worked for another Class 1 when the Rock Island ceased operations in 1980. It was a sad day for the employees. Quite a story how the Rock Island cleaned up all revenue loads in interchange and liquidation of equipment and property, not to mention collecting all the revenue on any outstanding freight bills.
In the late 1960s I worked on the Rock Island Line as a brakeman. The office was based in Dallas but assignments were throughout north Texas and Oklahoma.
Great commentary on the Rock Island. I did not some of the history right at the end of the railroads life. That two parts of the Rock that I lived nears (Saint Louis line and the Colorado Springs line) both ended up in UP's hands in the end.
Good video and research. Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that UP was so initially confident the merger would go through. In 1966, UP purchased and leased to the Rock modernized equipment, ranging from GP40s, U28Bs, ALCo C415s, and 150 cabooses. When the era of the standing derailments came to an end on the Rock and bankruptcy ensued, the leased equipment went back to UP. Some of the formerly leased equipment maked into UP paint. Utah Rails has more information complied by Don Strack on the disposition of Rock equipment into the UP.
Very nice. if you take the Red Line into downtown Chicago, there are concrete bridges on the parallel Metra line that have New York Central and Rock Island Lines molded into the concrete sides. I hope that if they ever upgrade those bridges that they save that part of them.
I always wanted to know more about the Rock. Thanks ADguy! Appreciated. With all the major fallen flags there is always a dark and strange conspiracy afoot. RI is no different. I was shocked to learn they lasted as long as they did. One of the things I've always like about the Rock Island is their many varied paint schemes over the years. Arguably some of the best paint for any railroad of the day.
Nice overview. I can name one more competitor, both between Chicago and points west (Omaha, Kansas City) and the Twin Cities in Minnesota: the (somewhat confusingly named) Chicago Great Western.
I'm from Brooklyn, NY but lived in Iowa City for 5yrs. Nothing wrong with Desmoanies! 😅 BTW Iowa also has a "Brooklyn" right between Iowa City & Desmoanies! I was one of the seven original volunteers on the "Hawkeye Express", a Saturday football shuttle between the Coralville Mall and Kinnick Stadium. It ran on home games to relieve terrible traffic jams as Kinnick sat 50K+ but had parking for 8 cars!! 🤣. It ran on the RI->IAIS mainline. The tracks ran so close to Kinnick you probably could jump onto a train from the back of the upper level. We had a blast! For two years we used the rented "Ski Train" from Denver out west (painted in Rio Grande colors). Iowa Northern's CEO then bought 6(7?) retired METRA double deckers and had them painted black and gold with HUGE Hawkeye emblems. (Even if you were a fan it was kinda gross!)
A bit of added perspective here: The Rock's drive to invest in new diesel engines earlier than other similar railroads had more to do with how worn out the Rock's steam engine fleet was than making a strategic look forward. Railroads that did a great job of maintaining their steam fleet, like the C&O, waited on the new technology until it was clear what would and wouldn't work with the new technology. Rock Island made the 1960's mistake when it decided to merge with other rail lines to seek a parallel partner to try to eliminate duplicate service instead of looking to enhance it's position in the mid-west by merging with an eastern rail road like N&W or C&O that could have offered an enhanced and streamlined avenue to eastern markets. They weren't the only railroad to make this mistake. You only need to look at Penn Central to see this in full blown failure mode.
I really love these informative videos you continue to produce. I'd really like to hear you go more in-depth on MLW's Exports (like the DL500 or DL531) at some point. A;ways had an interest in exports and would love to hear more. Love the videos, keep it up man :)
The Rock Island went to St.Paul, not Minneapolis... The M & M only reached Iowa City before construction was stopped by the Civil War. The Rock Island conducted a new survey & was re-routed across western Iowa, bypassing several towns on the original route...
Have extended family that.live 95 miles southwest of Chicago so while CNW was the hometown road multiple trips to visit family I grew up with the Rock Island as well. Yes the end came shockingly fast. Visiting for Christmas 79 the sound of an air horn would have me grabbing my jacket and walk through the church yard across from my grand aunt's house to great gram's house across from the the RI main and from my 18 year old perspective everything seemed business as usual and then 3 months later it's gone. Family visit for Easter had nothing but dead rail and the quiet of the town only disturbed by horn blasts by a tow on the Illinois River or a truck on route 6. And a trip down for Memorial Day of 80 the tracks were quiet all day but as the sun was nearing sunset an air horn sent me running to catch a dog's breakfast of Elgin Joliet &Eastern equipment heading east for what I would later find out was the equipment for the failed Elgin Joliet & Western that was to have handled Peoria to Chicago services. A trip there with my wife in 2011 had us walking downtown and passing the local historical society had a mural in the window with CSX engines representing the railroad in the town history and started to give an exasperated sigh about not knowing the town history but then had the thought dude it has in fact been 41 years since the Rock Island has blown through this town and to the high school students credited for painting the mural the Rock Island exists to them only as stories told to them by their grandparents and childhood memories of their parents and a sign on the dentist office that looks like an old depot. Yes the Rock Island's commuter service was literally a working museum and through the good fortune of just pure dumb luck of the RI mechanical department choosing old but mechanically sound enough to handle Chicago to Joliet route locomotives to convert to HEP for the new at the time Budd and Pullman bilevels we at least have a functional E6 and original Rock Island E8 in museums( though someone never bothered to see if any museum was interested in the rare one off AB6 ) and the old Harriman Caponeliner coaches comprises museum fleets across the country.
At 13:50 thats the Sampson of the Cimarron! I go out there every once in a blue moon to catch UP trains going over it. That is rare footage. Where can one find this?
I commend you for using approiate pictues for your video. All too often stock photos sre used which have nothing to with the subject. Its apparent that you used the effort to select photos that actually match your commentary,
that shade of blue is better known as bankrupt blue.
I worked for another Class 1 when the Rock Island ceased operations in 1980. It was a sad day for the employees. Quite a story how the Rock Island cleaned up all revenue loads in interchange and liquidation of equipment and property, not to mention collecting all the revenue on any outstanding freight bills.
In the late 1960s I worked on the Rock Island Line as a brakeman. The office was based in Dallas but assignments were throughout north Texas and Oklahoma.
Great commentary on the Rock Island. I did not some of the history right at the end of the railroads life. That two parts of the Rock that I lived nears (Saint Louis line and the Colorado Springs line) both ended up in UP's hands in the end.
Good video and research. Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that UP was so initially confident the merger would go through. In 1966, UP purchased and leased to the Rock modernized equipment, ranging from GP40s, U28Bs, ALCo C415s, and 150 cabooses. When the era of the standing derailments came to an end on the Rock and bankruptcy ensued, the leased equipment went back to UP. Some of the formerly leased equipment maked into UP paint. Utah Rails has more information complied by Don Strack on the disposition of Rock equipment into the UP.
Very nice. if you take the Red Line into downtown Chicago, there are concrete bridges on the parallel Metra line that have New York Central and Rock Island Lines molded into the concrete sides. I hope that if they ever upgrade those bridges that they save that part of them.
I always wanted to know more about the Rock. Thanks ADguy! Appreciated. With all the major fallen flags there is always a dark and strange conspiracy afoot. RI is no different. I was shocked to learn they lasted as long as they did. One of the things I've always like about the Rock Island is their many varied paint schemes over the years. Arguably some of the best paint for any railroad of the day.
Thanks'!
Good video. The Rock Island was one of my favorite railroads. 😁👍
Glad you liked it!
@@alcobufff Yeah thanks
Let’s not forget the CB&Q as well… Burlington Route
Excellent Video, love the commentary and the pictures
Thanks!
Nice overview. I can name one more competitor, both between Chicago and points west (Omaha, Kansas City) and the Twin Cities in Minnesota: the (somewhat confusingly named) Chicago Great Western.
The CGW was bought by the C&NW which is now UP.
@@trainglen22A lot of CGW tracks were torn up by CNW after the merger, so not much survived into the UP merger.
Love the history and the Rock Island thank you for doing such a great job on all the research. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Desmynies Iowa? Did you live in the United States long?
Google is your friend...
Des Moines, IA.
I'm from Brooklyn, NY but lived in Iowa City for 5yrs. Nothing wrong with Desmoanies! 😅 BTW Iowa also has a "Brooklyn" right between Iowa City & Desmoanies! I was one of the seven original volunteers on the "Hawkeye Express", a Saturday football shuttle between the Coralville Mall and Kinnick Stadium. It ran on home games to relieve terrible traffic jams as Kinnick sat 50K+ but had parking for 8 cars!! 🤣. It ran on the RI->IAIS mainline. The tracks ran so close to Kinnick you probably could jump onto a train from the back of the upper level. We had a blast! For two years we used the rented "Ski Train" from Denver out west (painted in Rio Grande colors). Iowa Northern's CEO then bought 6(7?) retired METRA double deckers and had them painted black and gold with HUGE Hawkeye emblems. (Even if you were a fan it was kinda gross!)
@@williamh.jarvis6795 But can you pronounce it?
@@harrymallory7963 Yes! I can! It's OK! We all have our differences.
aside from the IC, CNW, Wabash, and SP, the Rock is my third favorite behind the IC and CNW.
Excellent video as always, please, keep them coming.
Thanks!
A bit of added perspective here: The Rock's drive to invest in new diesel engines earlier than other similar railroads had more to do with how worn out the Rock's steam engine fleet was than making a strategic look forward. Railroads that did a great job of maintaining their steam fleet, like the C&O, waited on the new technology until it was clear what would and wouldn't work with the new technology. Rock Island made the 1960's mistake when it decided to merge with other rail lines to seek a parallel partner to try to eliminate duplicate service instead of looking to enhance it's position in the mid-west by merging with an eastern rail road like N&W or C&O that could have offered an enhanced and streamlined avenue to eastern markets. They weren't the only railroad to make this mistake. You only need to look at Penn Central to see this in full blown failure mode.
Thanks for a intresting video.
👍👍👍👍🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪
MO PAC.. i.e. Missouri Pacific
You give alot of information. Thank you for your research. Your speed reading your dialogue. Slow down a bit a take a breath. Des Moyenies?
I really love these informative videos you continue to produce. I'd really like to hear you go more in-depth on MLW's Exports (like the DL500 or DL531) at some point. A;ways had an interest in exports and would love to hear more. Love the videos, keep it up man :)
I recognized the big bridge east of Liberal Kansas over the Cimmaron river. See it often
Now this here's a little story about the rock island line,
Another great documentary!
Thanks!
The Rock Island went to St.Paul, not Minneapolis...
The M & M only reached Iowa City before construction was stopped by the Civil War. The Rock Island conducted a new survey & was re-routed across western Iowa, bypassing several towns on the original route...
It's Joliet not juliet
And to think there's a town named Romeoville nearby!
1:30 The pronunciation of Des Moines 💀
Also, why weren’t Omaha or Lincoln, NE mentioned, they would fit in that section.
Harley Staggers, WV Congressman!
Have extended family that.live 95 miles southwest of Chicago so while CNW was the hometown road multiple trips to visit family I grew up with the Rock Island as well. Yes the end came shockingly fast. Visiting for Christmas 79 the sound of an air horn would have me grabbing my jacket and walk through the church yard across from my grand aunt's house to great gram's house across from the the RI main and from my 18 year old perspective everything seemed business as usual and then 3 months later it's gone. Family visit for Easter had nothing but dead rail and the quiet of the town only disturbed by horn blasts by a tow on the Illinois River or a truck on route 6. And a trip down for Memorial Day of 80 the tracks were quiet all day but as the sun was nearing sunset an air horn sent me running to catch a dog's breakfast of Elgin Joliet &Eastern equipment heading east for what I would later find out was the equipment for the failed Elgin Joliet & Western that was to have handled Peoria to Chicago services. A trip there with my wife in 2011 had us walking downtown and passing the local historical society had a mural in the window with CSX engines representing the railroad in the town history and started to give an exasperated sigh about not knowing the town history but then had the thought dude it has in fact been 41 years since the Rock Island has blown through this town and to the high school students credited for painting the mural the Rock Island exists to them only as stories told to them by their grandparents and childhood memories of their parents and a sign on the dentist office that looks like an old depot.
Yes the Rock Island's commuter service was literally a working museum and through the good fortune of just pure dumb luck of the RI mechanical department choosing old but mechanically sound enough to handle Chicago to Joliet route locomotives to convert to HEP for the new at the time Budd and Pullman bilevels we at least have a functional E6 and original Rock Island E8 in museums( though someone never bothered to see if any museum was interested in the rare one off AB6 ) and the old Harriman Caponeliner coaches comprises museum fleets across the country.
What town are you describing?
@@billbaum1706 Marseilles
At 13:50 thats the Sampson of the Cimarron! I go out there every once in a blue moon to catch UP trains going over it. That is rare footage. Where can one find this?
Cool video
Rolling Flat cube
I am thinking that this was done by AI.
I commend you for using approiate pictues for your video. All too often stock photos sre used which have nothing to with the subject. Its apparent that you used the effort to select photos that actually match your commentary,
Is this a computer generated voice?
Buzz...click
🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃👍
Nope, its me. 😊Alco Diesel Guy 1000; "What are you doing Dave? I'm afraid cant do that."
@@alcobufff 🤣
🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃😊👍