Nostalgia & History > WAG Wednesday: Double-headed Rock Island steam!

Doubled-headed CRI&P steam rolling through the Kansas prairie. Was this everyday stuff 70 some-odd years ago? Probably not. But the Rock Island did have a pretty steep hill between Volland & Dwight, KS that was once a helper district back in the even older days. For those of you who “know the turf” at Alta Vista; can you imagine the spectacle both sight & sound that this train will exude for a couple of railfans perched on the Sea St overpass? You know, that rickety ol’ thang that gives my friend “lilwes” contemplative nightmares…

A pair of modern Rock Island steam engines straining for all they’re worth, and not necessarily in sync. Two steam engines blasting their individual exhausts straight up into the Kansas sky. If ever there was a time to swipe a ride in Sherman & Mr Peabody’s time machine this is it. I would grab TO member Wes Chiles and we could go back and take a brave stance on the aptly named “lilwes’ overpass” at Alta Vista. Whuddya think Wes, would you be up for an opportunity like that?

1. CRI&P 4-6-2 #964 with another engine (4-8-2?) presumably at the point of a string of ballast hoppers coming off UP rails in North Topeka, KS sometime in the summer(?) of 1945. Between this image & arrival at the crew change terminal in Herington is a steep, 14 mile-long grade called Volland Hill.
Image from an original negative by William A. Gibson (WAG) Sr.

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels (santafe199)
Art Gibson (wag216)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/22 01:05 by santafe199.

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The  second engine is one of the 5000 class 4-8-4s. wag216

NICE, CLEAN ENGINE IN THE LEAD...

Coulda’ been recently..
Many RRs consistently ran good, clean and wiped engines...
Good hot stacks, too .

Got a good fight ahead of them, too..

W.

Posted from iPhone

A mighty fine road-Awesome image-!

Looks like a break in run for the 4-6-2.  She looks fresh out of an overhaul.

I agree, Frisco1522. wag216

Double-headed Rock Island and a McKeen car on the far right - WOW!
Bob

That McKeen car is the T-19. It was used on overflow on the 3rd car on train #537. It returned on #538 in the afternoon. I do not remember what motorcars was used, but at the time the M-69 was the usually   power.. wag216

wag216 Wrote: > ...  McKeen car is the T-19. It was used on overflow on the 3rd car on train #537.
> ... It returned on #538 in the afternoon...

You might have to refresh my memory but wasn't Union Pacific #537 & #538 the motor car train up to Lincoln, NE & back, or did it stub and turn around at Marysville?

Lance



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/19 12:11 by santafe199.

Nice photo, guys, thanks.  Interesting tender behind 964.

nycman Wrote:
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> Nice photo, guys, thanks.  Interesting tender
> behind 964.

The famous Rock Island  "loaf-of-bread" tender.

Break in  run was also my thought.

I believe I would overlook my fear of that old bridge and get up there in a heart beat!!!
Wes

Wes Chiles
Topeka, KS

A four star photo ! Thanks for posting it Lance and sharing it Art !  --Kelly

UP951West Wrote:
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> A four star photo ! Thanks for posting it Lance
> and sharing it Art !  --Kelly

Second that! A wonderful RI image.
MC
Muskegon, Michigan