Nostalgia & History > Rock Island Near the End In Oklahoma

Here's some action my dad captured on the Rock Island near their last days in 1980 in Oklahoma.

1) GP35 321 leads a freight through El Reno, OK in January 1980

2&3) In Yukon, OK 3 GP9s load up a rock train Feb 1980 with a smiling leader



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/25/16 13:59 by BNSF-6432.

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4) Still in Yukon, OK a GP35, U33B, and GP40 power an eastbound Feb 1980

5) Over in El Reno, a northbound switches in Feb 1980

6) And the same day, a GP35 and GP40 take a southbound out of El Reno

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7) And the sad side of the post, In March 1980 my dad captured his last movement on Rock Island before the shut down on March 31, 1980. A red and yellow SW9 pulls up to the El Reno yard office with a transfer caboose on a gloomy day, parks, and the crew leaves after a day of switching

8) GP7 1504 powers a northbound ghost train through Enid, OK August 1983

All shot by Daryl McGee
PQM

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when did the last trustee train run?

The 1504 I believe was the ex P&LE unit purchased by the Trustee for moving of cars throughout the system for asset disposition, and wrecked in a grade crossing accident but continued to be used. At some point it rec'd the traditional Rock Island red herold.

M.A.Denis 

Nice stuff to look back at PQM.  Sure do lik the maroon parts.
Brian Stevens

Good pics but sad conditions at that time.  In pic #1 I notice the semaphore in the distance.  This is the first I knew there were any such signals used by the RI other than in the eastern sections like Illinois.  All I've ever seen in the Great Plains areas are the typical US&S tri-color or searchlight typees.  Can anyone give me more specifics on where such semaphores were used in the Great Plains area on the RI?

I like the comic face on the 4485's nose herald.

rrman6 Wrote:
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> Good pics but sad conditions at that time.  In
> pic #1 I notice the semaphore in the distance.
>  This is the first I knew there were any such
> signals used by the RI other than in the eastern
> sections like Illinois.  All I've ever seen in
> the Great Plains areas are the typical US&S
> tri-color or searchlight typees.  Can anyone give
> me more specifics on where such semaphores were
> used in the Great Plains area on the RI?

This may have been a fixed aspect distant signal for an interlocking.  At 
least that's what I thought it was.  Fairly common here in the upper Midwest.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:
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> This may have been a fixed aspect distant signal
> for an interlocking.  At 
> least that's what I thought it was.  Fairly
> common here in the upper Midwest.
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA

Rock Island had those fixed aspect signals in several locations. McAlester, OK in advance of the Katy crossing was another one.

Bill Gillfillan
Tulsa, OK

A very poignant look at the Rock's end days. Your image #7 says it all! How depressing that last day scene must have been for local Rock Island employees (& fans)...

Lance/199