Nostalgia & History > Rock Island 630 and 652 on train 6, Blue Island, IL

Here's a Paul C Hunnell early view of CRIP power at Blue Island, IL May 6, 1973.  Note the Butterworth tours , "Big Ben" car in the consist!!

Note: Errata fixed-- i.e. Eng #-- thank you, NZ! 652 was painted by 20th Cent RR club into bicentennial colors, too, with a big star covering its nose-- one of the most original and well executed of all the RR's who did this. And, I have a slide of E-7 642 w/ Al Capone cars-- will post that in a couple of days!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/15 08:40 by IC_2024.

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That's the 652 trailing the 630. RI 642 was an E7A.

Who knew then these two would be the last two RI E units in existence, and again under the same ownership (Manly Jct. RR Museum)?

Truly a case of Back to The Future! Thanks for sharing this.

NZ

Fortis Bysso, Mark.

Thanks for the post.  Was it unusual for the 630 to operate on the intercity trains?  I only remember seeing it in suburban service in later years.  

That was a valiant effort by Butterworth to keep those trains going by the additional revenue of his operation and tours, including updating with the mod gold shag carpeting inside “Big Ben”.   An incredible train for the time, with a dome obs and full dinner.   The Rock Island operated a classy parlor car service prior to Butterworth, using club-lounge cars (anybody know what year Butterworth took over?).    We were too young to ride, but I remember the porter letting us onboard to look around prior to departure from LaSalle Street, and the beautiful interior (including cloth “Golden State” antimacassars) of La Mirada, the by-then squared off observation built for the “Golden Rocket”.
 
 

Beautiful locomotives and photo!!  That's a fantastic shot, the Rock Island at it's best!!

It wasn't unusual for the 630 to operate on inter city trains.  Once it was converted to HEP though it stayed in commuter service.
zr190

Old RI Lines operating crews were b ased out of Blue Island, IL and worked between Chicago and Rock Island, IL.