Nostalgia & History > How About some Rock Island from IL and IA

I bought some Rock Island pictures when I was a youngster some 30 years ago and thought I would share.

First, is a MILW Detour on the Rock Island at Silvis, IL. There is no date, but my guess would be during the spring floods of 1965. I bought this pic at Galesburg RR Days in 1981 from a guy named Bob Bell, who was a railfan in the Quad Cities and contributed to the old MIDWESTERN RAILS magazine.

The next two are photos from the late Bill Kuba. First is RI 360 and 307 with two FA's at Cedar Rapids, IA in February of 1968. The second is RI 637 with two F's laying over at the Cedar Rapids enginehouse in August of 1970.

Thank you for looking and enjoy.

MILW86A

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The E is joined by 1964 Chevy, I see.

I didn't know Bill had passed away. I first met him when he accompanied our group on what was fully expected to be 844's last trip on October 17, 1965. He had a high-quality camera and later sent me some prints he'd taken of RI steam. He was a good photographer and gave a number of great programs to the Camerail Club members at their Omaha monthly meetings. I'm sorry to learn he's gone. I sure hope his collection's been seen to.

John Bush
Omaha

4-12-2 Wrote:
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> The E is joined by 1964 Chevy, I see.
>
> I didn't know Bill had passed away. I first met
> him when he accompanied our group on what was
> fully expected to be 844's last trip on October
> 17, 1965. He had a high-quality camera and later
> sent me some prints he'd taken of RI steam. He
> was a good photographer and gave a number of great
> programs to the Camerail Club members at their
> Omaha monthly meetings. I'm sorry to learn he's
> gone. I sure hope his collection's been seen to.
>
> John Bush
> Omaha
John, BobE had a post on this a couple of weeks ago.
Search "William S. Kuba" to find it.

Bill's collection went to the Iowa Chapter of the
NRHS.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

Very cool, Milw #62 in Silvis with lots of perishable on the head end (including TOFC meat). Wonder how they got from the Rock up to Bensenville.

Didn't know Rock ran E units in freight to Cedar Rapids. The huge line of ice reefers in the background is amazing.

Thanks for sharing,

Rob L.

Nice ones Dave! Thanks for posting.

Andy

rob_l Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Very cool, Milw #62 in Silvis with lots of
> perishable on the head end (including TOFC meat).
> Wonder how they got from the Rock up to
> Bensenville.

Up The IHB from Blue Island. They had to have
a Cab signalled unit as leader on the line from
Silvis to Blue Island.
>
> Didn't know Rock ran E units in freight to Cedar
> Rapids. The huge line of ice reefers in the
> background is amazing.

Most likely a weekend shot. On friday nights the
Rock would send suburban power out west and have
them returned by Sunday night for Monday morning
service.

> Thanks for sharing,
>
> Rob L.


Yes, thanks much for posting these. Dan

dt8089 Wrote:
> rob_l Wrote:
> > Very cool, Milw #62 in Silvis with lots of perishable on the head end (including TOFC meat).
> > Wonder how they got from the Rock up to Bensenville.
>
> Up The IHB from Blue Island. They had to have a Cab signalled unit as leader on the line from Silvis to Blue
> Island.

Anyone care to venture a guess as to how far west this train's detour started? I've always wondered if the MILW ever detoured over the RI in western Iowa, especially in the 1970s, but have never found evidence of it.

Joe Atkinson
Council Bluffs, IA
www.iaisrailfans.org/../Sub4WestEnd

Cool lettering on the E units.