Nostalgia & History > WAG Wednesday: Rock Island at South Jct

In the summer of 1974 the Rock Island was into its 10th year of operational red ink. But sometimes you would see a freight consist with freshly painted power. Pinch-hitting this week for his Pop, Art Gibson shot this train rolling into Wichita with a pair of F9s recently acquired from Union Pacific. Hence, the optimistically bright new paint. But looks are deceiving! The Rock Island had a scant 6 years left to live…

1. 2. & 3. CRI&P F9 4164 leads a northbound manifest past the vacant control tower at South Jct in Wichita, KS in the Summer of 1974. Trailing is F9 4161 with a veteran “one-one-something” F7 in the middle.
Three original Kodachrome slides by William A. -Art- Gibson (WAG) Jr.

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

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Great photos Lance.
Kudos to Art.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Another three historical treasures. Thank you.
Bob

Yellow and red was a good paint scheme.

Certainly a bright scheme when clean. Glad Gibson made so many trips to Wichita. So really interesting railroading there.

Thanks for posting , Lance!aa

Randy Lundgren

King_Coal Wrote: > ... Glad Gibson made so many trips to Wichita ...

Art & his wife Pat (+ family) lived in Wichita many years, while he worked for KG&E. Of course Bill & Lillian would make regular visits down from Topeka. So "Team Gibson" amassed a considerable body of photographic work in or near Wichita over the decades! And that's a happy thing for us railfans... :^) 

Lance



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/20 10:27 by santafe199.

Great shots....thanks for posting.   Once we(my Foreman and I) were standing near that spot on the ATSF side when a northbound Rock Island crawled by.  My Foreman took off his hat and put it over his heart in mock sympathy(so did I) and the head brakeman smiled and waved and then crossed himself.

Finally got to see South Tower in a slide. Thanks Art and Lance. --Kelly

UP951West Wrote: > ...  Finally got to see South >>JUNCTION<< (tower) in a slide...

It's your lucky day: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,3036859,3036859#msg-3036859

:^)

Great shots by the tower.
Gary

Spent a lot of time sitting at the base of that tower in the late 60's watching trains. Occasionally riding with the Santa Fe switch crew working the small yard there.

Very enjoyable series!

Larry