Nostalgia & History > Amtrak Blackhawk #370

Amtrak ran the Blackhawk from Chicago to Dubuque, Iowa for a few years back in the 1970's.   Trackage was the Illinois Central Gulf.

First photo has train #370 at the Rockford, Illinois S. Main Street station.  1976  was the year.

2nd photo has #370 on the East Side of Rockford, Il.  1976

Last photo is from the Winnebago Street Viaduct,  just west of the Rockford  Depot.  1976.

That is ICG's  Rockford freight yard.  Today, there are 3 tracks left mainly used for interchange with the Illinois Railnet  with the CN Local from Freeport, Ill  that comes to Rockford twice a week.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/25 20:27 by Quakerengr.

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#370  West of Rockford, Il.

2nd photo is #370 at the Dubuque, Iowa,  Illinois Central  Depot,  now  ICG.  2 brand new F40's power  the Blackhawk today.

Last one is an outlier.  I as a retired rail, will speculate that this is train #10,  The North Coast at Winona,  Minnesota.  I love the fireman looking back through the steam for the Conductor's highball so they can continue  on way to Chicago.

Happy Trails.

PWM



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/25 20:21 by Quakerengr.

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Interesting variety - I like photo three's scene best.
Bob

When Amtrak began the Black Hawk service in February 1974, RDCs were initially used.  Here is the Black Hawk at Berwyn IL, slide mount says AUG 74.  AMTK RDC 32 was ex-BN 32, ex-NP B-32, nee WP 376 "Zephyrette".

mike woodruff
north platte ne 

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There were 4 of us who would ride The Blackhawk every Friday to Elmhurst, then walk to the North Western station to continue the trip to our respective destinations.  I'm not sure what caused it, but the C&NW filed a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission citing "loss of revenue" because Amtrak was selling tickets locally between Chicago and Elmhurst  The ICC agreed forcing Amtrak to stop selling local tickets.  With the he[p of a lawyer friend and some friendly Amtrak personnel, we filed a response providing proof that the North Western was not losing revenue  because of Amtrak selling tickets between Chicago and Elmhurst.  Despite that, the ICC refused to reverse their decision and in the timetable Elmhurst had a "d" listed by the station name indicating that it was a discharge only station and that passengers could be carried locally between Chicago and Elmhurst.  

Even though it ended our regular riding, the crew would occasionally let us ride anyway.  It was fun while it lasted.

I lived in Rockford when the Blackhawk started service and took the RDC to Chicago a few times. The crew was good about letting you stand up front and look out the window. It was an intereresting trip.

Bruce Stikkers
St. Joseph, IL

I rode the Blackhawk as a youngster in 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979 and right before the end in 1981. 
The 1974 trip had RDC's and as a 5 year old I got my first "cab ride" somewhere on the ICG east of Rockford. 
Lots of good memories. 
MILW86A 

BruceStikkers Wrote:
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> I lived in Rockford when the Blackhawk started
> service and took the RDC to Chicago a few times.
> The crew was good about letting you stand up front
> and look out the window. It was an intereresting
> trip.
>
> Bruce Stikkers
> St. Joseph, IL

I grew up in Freeport and rode the Blackhawk a couple of times in about 1977.  I also spentsome time standing in the front looking out the window.  UI was surprised when the engineer slowed down but then ran a red signal without stopping.  And then the next red one.  And then two more,  Then a green signal and back up to speed.  I knew nothing about APB block signaling at the time.   But a fun ride. 

Too bad the CN is putting up such a fight about restoring passenger service on this ex-IC line that once hosted many times more freight trains (plus 2 pasengers trains), given the few trains CN runs on it now. :(

Norm