Rock Island

RI4597atHoustonTx-April77.jpg 153.99 Kb 1024 x 688 Rock Island #4597 (w/4 Santa Fe B units & GP7) at Houston Belt & Terminal shops in Houston,Tx - April 1977

RI660_JolietIll_Sept77.jpg 168.89 Kb 1024x559x24(RGB) Rock Island E8 #660 at Joliet,Ill. A Santa Fe freight with FP45 #5946 heads south in the background. September 1977

RI4586_ATSF2583_HBTshops_Houston_Aug77.jpg 193.05 Kb 1024x580x24(RGB) Rock Island U30C #4586 and ATSF CF7 #2583 at HB&T (Houston Belt & Terminal) shops in Houston -- August 1977. The Rock Island units are coming out of the lead track from the shops.

RI1304atTeagueTx-Oct76.jpg 204.77 Kb 1024 x 673 Rock Island GP-7 #1304 (and a few cabooses) at Teague,Tx - Oct 1976. Teague is about 153 miles north of Houston on the Fort Worth & Denver (Rock Island and Burlington joint line) now the BNSF. This part of the line was originally the Trinity & Brazos Valley and I assume the yard structures date from then.

RI4597atWaxahachieTx-Oct76-1.jpg 190.32 Kb 1024 x 672 (1) US - Rock Island U30C #4597 at Waxahachie,Tx - Oct 1976. Waxahachie is about 30 miles south of Dallas on the Fort Worth & Denver. The MKT GP-7 barely seen at the middle left is on the MKT Dallas-Hillsboro line. Looking north less than a mile away the two routes joined up.

RI4597atWaxahachieTx-Oct76-2.jpg 220.39 Kb 1024 x 672 (2) US - Rock Island U30C #4597 (and a UP) at Waxahachie,Tx - Oct 1976

RI301_TomballTx_Aug77.jpg 144.56 Kb 1024x623x24(RGB) Rock Island GP35 #301 at Tomball,Tx -- August 1977 Northbound on the Ft.Worth & Denver about 30 miles north of Houston.

RI_onFWD_nearTomballTx_Aug77.jpg 219.34 Kb 1024 x 693 Rock Island northbound on FW&D near Tomball,Tx - August 1977

RI456_atChicago_Dec76.jpg 154.16 Kb 1024 x 717 Rock Island RS3 (EMD repowered) #456 at Chicago -- Dec 1976. Re-engined by EMD in 1957-58 #456 was working next to LaSalle St Station.

RI4504_LaSalleStStation_Chicago_Dec76.jpg 219.54 Kb 900 x 883 Rock Island GP-9 #4504 (and a couple E-8) at LaSalle St Station in Chicago - Dec 1976

RI_Eunits_Chicago_Dec76.jpg 130.53 KB 1024x632x24(RGB) "hidden" Rock Island E units at Chicago There really are a couple of E units behind all the steam on an inbound RI commuter train at LaSalle St station. December 1976

RI_boxcar_atLittleRockAr_Jan81.jpg 146.96 Kb Rock Island boxcar with "adult" artwork at Little Rock,Ar -- January 1981

RI_boxcars_atLittleRockAr_Jan81.jpg 147.86 Kb Rock Island boxcars at Little Rock,Ar -- January 1981

RI_QuadCityRocket_JolietIll_Sept77.jpg 120.17 Kb Rock Island commuter trains and the Quad City Rocket at Joliet Union Station (Illinois) -- September 1977 It was a little dark for decent shots but in between the Harriman cars and an E-8 is the just departing Quad City Rocket (bound for Davenport/Rock Island).

RI4422_HoustonTx_Dec78.jpg 137.97 Kb Rock Island GP-9 #4422 & 4483 at the Houston Belt & Terminal shops in Houston,Tx -- December 1978

RI17008_onMKT_atHoustonTx_May79 .jpg 160.93 Kb Rock Island caboose on BN freight at Houston -- May 1979. There must have been a problem on the Ft.Worth & Denver line out of Houston because this BN freight is westbound on the MKT Houston-Smithville route (now abandoned at this point) - a mile or two west of Eureka Yd .

RI259_atHouston_Dec79.jpg 150.23 Kb 1024x653x24(RGB) Rock Island U28B #259 at Houston,Tx -- December 1979

RI4592_nearWaxahachieTx_Oct76a.jpg 210.95 Kb 1024x706x24(RGB) Rock Island U30C #4592 south of Waxahachie,Tx -- October 1976. Southbound on the Ft. Worth & Denver between Waxahachie and Corsicana.

RI435_FtWorth_July78.jpg 231.88 KB 1024x587x24(RGB) Rock Island GP7 #435 at Ft.Worth On the north side of town working a string of cars from the yard. July 1978

RI630_JolietIl_Sept77.jpg 229.27 KB 1024x693x24(RGB) Rock Island E6 #630 at Joliet,Ill #630 is headed to the yard after delivering the evening commuter run. The Rock Island main -- rough!

RI641_JolietIl_Sept77.jpg 121.68 KB 1024x677x24(RGB) Rock Island E7 #641 at Joliet,Ill Late in the evening, #641 is ready to head to the yard after delivering the evening commuter run. September 1977

RockIsland_LittleRockshops_Dec79.jpg 215.25 KB 1024x621x24(RGB) NW2 #766 and GP-7 #4425 at the RI Little Rock,Ark shops in the waning days of the Rock. December 1979

RI655_LaSalleSt_station_Chicago_Dec76.jpg 249.90 KB 1024x652x24(RGB) Rock Island E-8 #655 at Chicago Inbound to La Salle St. Station with cars built in the 20's. In the background a tower can be seen above the E unit. The still marked for the Erie RR freight station is on the left. Between this building and the one on the far left was where the trackage from Dearborn station ran. The RI engine in the yard was ex-RS3 #456. It was re-engined by EMD in 1957-58 -- just like the MKT did. December 1976

RI662_LaSalleSt_station_Chicago_Dec76.jpg 185.09 KB 1024x654x24(RGB) Rock Island E9 #662 at LaSalle St station in Chicago -- when the station,tower,freight building and sheds were still there. December 1976

RI661_atChicago_Dec76.jpg 197.59 KB 1024x626x24(RGB) Rock Island E8 #661 at Chicago leaving LaSalle St station December 1976

RI4599_SouthYd_Houston_Oct76a.jpg 254.31 KB 1024x607x24(RGB) A couple of mostly clean units -- U30C #4599 and GP40 #4704 at South Yard in Houston October 1976

RockIsland E units at Joliet_Sept77.jpg 206.56 KB 1024x641x24(RGB) Rock Island E units at Joliet An E8 and E7 lead a 12 car commuter train to the end of the evening run at Joliet,Ill. The cars were built in the 20's. September 1977

RockIsland 4902 at Joliet_Sept77.jpg 215.54 KB 1024x670x24(RGB) Rock Island NW2 at Joliet #4902 (blt '47) passes the tower with a few RI boxcars September 1977

RI units at Houston_Sept 76.jpg 248.11 KB 1024x651x24(RGB) (1) Rock Island GE units at Houston At New South Yard in Houston, a couple of GE engines #242 was a U28B September 1976

RI 291 at Houston_Sept 76.jpg 257.16 KB 1024x692x24(RGB) (2) Rock Island GE units at Houston #291 was a U33B September 1976

ex-RI Golden State car at Corpus Christi_Feb86a.jpg 237.52 KB 1024x603x24(RGB) (1) Partially hidden ex-Golden State car -- February 1986 I was surprised to find this ex-Rock Island (?) still lettered for the Golden State car in a salvage yard at Corpus Christi along the Tex-Mex. I didn't see any other ID on the car. It looks like a coach to me.

ex-RI Golden State car at Corpus Christi_Feb86-22.jpg 291.54 KB 1024x657x24(RGB) (2) Partially hidden ex-Golden State car -- February 1986 I was surprised to find this ex-Rock Island (?) still lettered for the Golden State car in a salvage yard at Corpus Christi along the Tex-Mex. I didn't see any other ID on the car. It looks like a coach to me.

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