Nostalgia & History > Some For Maroon Monday

OK so Im home today due to the ice storm in Iowa so thought I would share some Rock Island stuff with you all.

1. Rocky Mountain Rocket at Iowa City, 1963. W.V. St. Peter Photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection''

2, SB between Cedar Rapids and Ely, Iowa November 1979. Highway 30 in the background. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection

3. Rock Island Train, with leased Western Maryland Power at Cedar Rapids Yard, July 1973. Probably the local to Burlington. Bill Kuba photo, Iowa Chapter NRHS Collection.

Thank you,

MILW86A 

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Priceless shots, Dave!  Keep them coming and thank God for the ice forcing you to send these.

Nice shots!  Train crews on the old Rocky Mountain Rocket, based out of Rock Island, IL and worked between Rock Island and Omaha. Rock Island based engine crews worked between Rock Island and Des Moines.

Amazing images. Photo one includes the front of one of only two EMD AB6 locomotives!
Bob

Great stuff along with good memories of the Rock Island!

Seemed like the Rock Island was always leasing power from someone. Sure would be fun to know if any of those leases were a one time deal when the owner got the engine (s) back and saw just how unmaintaned was. IN 1972 Kansas City Terminal leased one engine to Rock Island for use at Armourdale Yard. KCT took real good care of their fleet as the engines were clean inside and out. After the several month lease was over the unit came back filthy inside and out and needed work on the mechanical innards. KCT refused further requests from Rock Island.

Love that first shot across the Iowa River bridge.  Most pictures of trains on that bridge are from the south side whereas this was from the north.  Probably taken from the back of the DQ that was there for many many years.