Was thinking of that some myself.

Well technically it’s been back since 2017 as a short line owner, took over the midland railway in Kansas not too long ago as another line under their belt. Edit: I am NOT affiliated with them but Rock Island Rail (RILX, RI, CRI&P reporting marks) have the Mississippi Delta Railroad, Great River Railroad, Gulf and Ship Island Railroad, and the Ottawa Northern Railroad (Midland Railroad). Locomotives list: NW2 #767 (ex BN) GP38-2 #4310, 4373 (not the originals), GP15-1 #1106, SD38-2 #1555, 1559, C40-8 #2127 (upgraded to C42-8 prior to purchase), all locomotives owned by the Midland Railroad and a few more that I may have missed. They also have at least 6 cabooses (cabeese) that they use regularly as shoving platforms. Personally I waiting for them to see what they do about the THIRTY some odd hoppers that were being stored for another railroad by the previous owner that are now very much trapped due to the sate of Mississippi paving over a grade crossing. Though I can unfortunately only watch my my home in Tennessee but I hope to make a trip sometime soon.

​@@retr0bits545you seem to really like Rock Island Rail, I think you'd be a great employee for them.

did not have to go bankrupt it was the clerks 1st. they were stupid and ask for back pay after get a raise. JImmy carter 2nd ended the strike when the rock was doing fime and making money. have the fed gov run it a year untill\ the dumb fed gov lost more money in 1 years then it gave the rock island in 40 years. over 60% of the rock island still in use today

Well it’s a different company that named itself after the original.

@@deepspire ditto that

Iowa Interstate ain't The Rock but they trying. They got nice heritage units as a salute.

😂

There used to be a rockisland 53' trailer off a semi here in my hometown of leesburg va never knew why it was here didn't think the rock came to VA

@@kurt8986 you will find bits of the Rock Island scattered around the country. Usually in the form of hopper cars still serving.

My grandfather was probably the engineer. IDOT wants to revive the QC and Peoria Rockets. IMO, both would be bad investments, but you'd be the second passenger on the Rockets maiden voyage cuz I'd be its first. But I want the good old dirty dingy passenger cars. Let's really bring it back! LOL

A company called Unique Art made lithographed o scale FP7s in about 1950 in the original rocket paint scheme. Pity hey never made any cars to go with them. If you search unique art rock island here on KZfaq you’ll find videos about them.

I presume he would be even more pleased that the line has been revived as a short line holding company and is doing well (and looking for new employees due to their expansion).

was turning around the Fe Gov mess over the rock island 2 times

I meant the Golden State limited pardon me.

Holy

Yes, it would. Unfortunately I am from the east coast so I have no idea on most of them.

Lehigh Valley, for one. I think they were desperate for an image that would turn their fortunes around.

That's where I got them from.

@@fmnut A ahane that John Farrington worked so hard to put the Rock Island back together and those that followed let it fall apart again :(

Nope, that's all I have for now . At least until I come across more.

Hey Jeff you sound like you know a lot about that area. My father worked for the Rock 22 years until shut down mostly Blue island, 95th street and I think it was 12th street I got to ride in the funny looking switch engines that looked like caboose. I wanted to work for the Rock but after a 8 year hitch in the Army it was gone. Man them were good people all.

Thank you video brings alot back. By the way I still own property where the Rock is mainly where it passes the Auburn Lagoon and Hamilton Park. Alot of the viaducts are still marked ROCK ISLAND.

@@gmac8852 Yes, so many good people indeed. I was a fixture on the last remaining Rockets in 1977 and 1978. Often times, the crew outnumbered the passengers. It was like having our own full sized toy train then. Once the crew got to know you, you could stand in the open Dutch door and enjoy the liberty. I was once asked why I even bothered to buy a ticket, as they would just let you on near the end just to have some company I think. Cheers!

@@gmac8852 That's awesome! I understand they are building a replacement station for the old Hamilton Park stop (71st & Stewart?). I search the web for interior shots of Englewood Union Station and they are more than scarce.

Correct.

Yes, Fairbanks Morse.

Push pull set. The engineer runs from a control cab in the end car in one direction. Eliminates running around the train at each end of the run

I don't think the Rock used the Fort Madison bridge. That was the Santa Fe mainline.

Yes, it is an E6 B unit with a control cab in one end, designated an AB6. RI had two custom built for the Rocky Mountain Rocket. At Limon, Colorado, the train would split into two sections, one for Denver and one for Colorado Springs. The E6A would take the Denver section while the AB6 would go on to Colorado Springs. This meant that while the train was running from Chicago to Limon, the train's streamlined lines would be unbroken by a second A unit in the power consist. Of course, by the 60's all that attention to aesthetics went out the window and most consists were a "dog's breakfast" of power and paint schemes. In later years after most long distance trains were discontinued, the AB6's were demoted to Chicago commuter service, as seen in the film.

Yes, it is an E6 B unit with a control cab in one end, designated an AB6. RI had two custom built for the Rocky Mountain Rocket. At Limon, Colorado, the train would split into two sections, one for Denver and one for Colorado Springs. The E6A would take the Denver section while the AB6 would go on to Colorado Springs. This meant that while the train was running from Chicago to Limon, the train's streamlined lines would be unbroken by a second A unit in the power consist. Of course, by the 60's all that attention to aesthetics went out the window and most consists were a "dog's breakfast" of power and paint schemes. In later years after most long distance trains were discontinued, the AB6's were demoted to Chicago commuter service, as seen in the film.

the rock island was turning around in 1979 but Jimmy carter mess it up

@@dknowles60 that as well as the harsh winter of 79, the fuel prices and just inflation

Wrong. the Fed gov Mess over rock island 2 times

@@dknowles60 Downing Jenks was Prez in the late 1950's and Jervis Langdon was Prez mid to late 1960's, no Giv, takeover until 1980

@@Robbi496 wrong. fed gov mess up the UpRR merger

@@dknowles60 So Downing Jenks and Jervis Langdon had nothing to do with letting track and trains fall below standard? How old are you??

@@Robbi496 Jimmy carter was the final nail in the coffin. the stupid clerks were the other Nail. Google it its on google. rock island was moving 87% of its traffic with 3% of its workers. After Carter got Spanked by the !978 N&W Rr clerks strike he was hoping not to get spanked again. He got spanked again and By IRAN for 444 days. again how young are you