Western Railroad Discussion > Rock Island train questions

I am getting a train simulator and wanted some more info on some Rock Island trains I may try to recreate electronically.

First off, train #57, the hot auto parts train. I want as much info on it as anybody wants to share. What was typical power, types and number of cars, length, tonnage, etc?

Next, the Laffayette coal train. What kind of coal cars were used? How long was a typical coal train? Other than the famous GP9, F7B combo, was any other power used? I'm looking at modeling a hypothetical 1980s RI coal train, too. What kinds of coal cars did the Rock Island have in their fleet already, and what might they have acquired in the 1980s?

Did the Rock Island ever run any unit grain trains on its Denver mainline? Did they ever run any unit wheat trains?

Dylan VanAntwerp
Jesup, IA

RI_SD40-2_4790 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm looking at modeling a
> hypothetical 1980s RI coal train, too. What kinds
> of coal cars did the Rock Island have in their
> fleet already, and what might they have acquired
> in the 1980s?


The Rock Island shut down in 1980.

RI_SD40-2_4790 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am getting a train simulator and wanted some
> more info on some Rock Island trains I may try to
> recreate electronically.
>
> First off, train #57, the hot auto parts train. I
> want as much info on it as anybody wants to share.
> What was typical power, types and number of cars,
> length, tonnage, etc?

Four B-B G units, less than 4,000 tons. About a dozen or so pigs and maybe a mechanical reefer or two on the point, followed by the various shapes and sizes of parts cars (everything from 50-foot boxes to 85-foot high cubes), followed by 10-20 loaded auto racks.

For photos, see [u]http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,1709674[/u] .

>
> Did the Rock Island ever run any unit grain trains
> on its Denver mainline? Did they ever run any unit
> wheat trains?

Grain trains typically would have turned south at Herington.

Best regards.

Rob L.

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RI_SD40-2_4790 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm looking at modeling a
> > hypothetical 1980s RI coal train, too. What
> kinds
> > of coal cars did the Rock Island have in their
> > fleet already, and what might they have
> acquired
> > in the 1980s?
>
>
> The Rock Island shut down in 1980.

I'm well aware of that fact, which is why it would be HYPOTHETICAL.

Dylan VanAntwerp
Jesup, IA

rob_l Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RI_SD40-2_4790 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I am getting a train simulator and wanted some
> > more info on some Rock Island trains I may try
> to
> > recreate electronically.
> >
> > First off, train #57, the hot auto parts train.
> I
> > want as much info on it as anybody wants to
> share.
> > What was typical power, types and number of
> cars,
> > length, tonnage, etc?
>
> Four B-B G units, less than 4,000 tons. About a
> dozen or so pigs and maybe a mechanical reefer or
> two on the point, followed by the various shapes
> and sizes of parts cars (everything from 50-foot
> boxes to 85-foot high cubes), followed by 10-20
> loaded auto racks.
>
> For photos, see
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,
> 1709674 .
>
> >
> > Did the Rock Island ever run any unit grain
> trains
> > on its Denver mainline? Did they ever run any
> unit
> > wheat trains?
>
> Grain trains typically would have turned south at
> Herington.
>
> Best regards.
>
> Rob L.

Thanks for the info Rob!  You said grain trains typically turned south at Herington.  So unit grain trains on the RI between Denver and KC or Omaha were pretty rare then?

Dylan VanAntwerp
Jesup, IA

I remember seeing 100T ribside ACF style hoppers in bankruptcy blue on The Rock doing single car loads. No rotary or air dump options. It seems the choice is yours. Whatever was popular with DRGW, BN or UP would work.

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