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E-NEWSLETTER OF THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC RAILROAD ISSUE NUMBER 29 FEBRUARY 2021
Cover: Rock Island Extended Vision Caboose # 17000 photographed at Eagle Grove, Iowa, in July 1981 by Dean Hearn. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 2
CONTENTS
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS PAGE 3 2. NEW PRODUCTS PAGE 5 3. ERIC HOPP PHOTOS OF ROCK ISLAND COMMUTER CAR 2604. PAGE 9 4. DEAN HEARN ROCK ISLAND PHOTOS PAGE 12 5. BILL SCHULTZ RECALLS DELAYING PRR PERISHABLES TRAIN PAGE 14 6. RICHARD GILL AND THE THREE ARS. PAGE 15 7. DEAN SCHIRF'S TRAIN OF THOUGHT PAGE 17 8. L. A. REED - ROCK ISLAND POSTCARD COLLECTION PAGE 23 9. ELDON DEPOT MUSEUM BY KEN VANDEVOORT PAGE 25 10. "PETTICOAT JUNCTION" AND THE ROCK ISLAND BY MARK PAGE 30 BAKER 11. HO SCALE ROCK ISLAND CABOOSE 17772 BY MIKE PAGE 33 ARMSTRONG 12. ROCK ISLAND FANS AND PHOTO SECTION PAGE 36 13 WANTED PAGE 42 14. OBITUARIES PAGE 45
THIS ISSUE - 51 PAGES THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 3
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SCHEDULE FOR FUTURE IOWA CHAPTER NRHS SLIDE SHOWS
Thank you to everyone that tuned in for our February slideshow. We set a new record for live viewers during Sunday's program. We also greatly appreciate Harold Ziehr who kindly made the Anglund collection available for use in this slideshow. Please also note this slideshow as well as all previous shows have been archived on the Iowa Chapter YouTube channel for viewing at any time.
As we look further down the road, we will be looking for people to submit material for future shows. Thanks to advances in technology, no one would be required to travel to Iowa and present a show. Shows can be pre-recorded or presented live, according to the preference of the presenter. I would be happy to do more than one per month if there is sufficient interest. Please send an email to [email protected] if you are interested in presenting. Here is the current schedule of programs:
March 14, 2021 - Rick Burn (2PM CST show) April 18, 2021 - Sam Bolte May 16, 2021 - Dave Kroeger June 13, 2021 - George Davison June 27, 2021 - Iowa Chapter Archives July 18, 2021 - Bradley Grefe August 14, 2021 - Larry Anglund collection September 19, 2021 - Duane Rapp October 17, 2021 - Keith Graber November 14, 2021 - Chris Lastovich December 12, 2021 - OPEN January 16, 2022 - Russell Lyon
Please reach out if you have any interest in providing a future show. Here are the ground rules for a presentation: THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 4
1 - We need to know the sources for all images. Photos provided by the photographer, purchased or otherwise acquired legally are all fine. Please do not submit anyone else's photos and claim them as your own. 2 - Notes are needed about the photos. Dates taken, train IDs, locations are all great. Anything relevant that can help fill in the backstory as I will be giving as much detail as time allows when presenting. 3 - Full shows should be 80-150 images in length. We are trying to fill about an hour of time, and this amount of photos with some descriptions works really well for the given time frame. Don't worry if you have a smaller amount of material, we can pair your program with another presenter to accommodate shorter programs. 4 - We need 100% digital content for these shows. As much as it would be great, there is no way presently to project traditional slides to a PC screen. Ideally a show would be burned to CD or USB and mailed/delivered to my address. I can also attempt to meet anyone that is nearby to Marion and execute a handoff if that works better.
Ultimately, we are trying to provide a meeting experience when meeting in person is not possible. I know many railfan groups have not met in person for quite some time, and we are going to do our best to fill in that void. Please share this email with anyone who is interested and we will hopefully make this a successful venture.
Thank you
Thomas A Hogan, Treasurer Iowa Chapter NRHS 3088 Newcastle Rd Marion, IA 52302 (319) 431-1181 THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 5
2. NEW PRODUCTS:
NEW AB6 BODY TO FIT PROTO E UNIT UNDERFRAME
I have successfully created an AB6 body shell using SLA process (AKA stereo lithography) which rivals injection molded plastic. These are made to fit a Proto E unit underframe (with only minor modification due to the attached pilot on the body shell.) These are ordered in small batches with a pre-order price of $89.00 each, which includes postage and handling.
I have attached one of the design images. This model depicts the 750 in its final configuration, as outfitted for suburban service, complete with twin external oil heat exchangers, exposed, enlarged radiator sections on the roof, and extra cooling fans on the rear roof for the Cummins engine/generator set below. Please feel free to mention the availability of this product in a future issue.
Tom Brandt Locomotive Engineer (retired) Rock Island Lines - Metra [email protected]
(815) 483-4000 Cellular (voice and text) THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 6
JELSMA GRAPHICS ROCK ISLAND JACKET
Jelsma Graphics has Rock Island jacket for sale they run from $89.95 to $199.95
We custom make each jacket http://www.jelsma.com/html/logopics_r.html see have caps shirts jacket and a lot more
Denny Jelsma 904-716-0436
I grew up in Pella Iowa and love the rock. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 7
STILL AVAILABLE
1925 ROCK ISLAND (CRI&P and CRI&G) GENERAL ROSTER BOOK
1925 ROCK ISLAND (CRI&P AND CRI&G) GENERAL ROSTER BOOK. 300-PAGE BOUND VOLUME reprint. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 8
*Individual numbers* and detailed statistics shown for each type of equipment as follows: Steam Locomotives, Motor cars, Passenger cars, Freight cars, MofW equipment, Stations, Shops, Engine houses, Turntables, Coaling stations, Stock yards, Junctions/Interchanges, Personnel ...and MUCH MORE. A wealth of fascinating information. You will not be disappointed! 300 pages: $12 + $3.50 media mail; $5.50 first class; $8.00 priority postage (lower 48).== Please email to
3. ERIC HOPP PHOTOS OF MINNESOTA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION'S MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ON ROCK ISLAND COMMUTER CAR 2604.
The Minnesota Transportation Museum has taken advantage of the covid shutdowns to do extended maintenance on Rock Island commuter car 2604. Work includes replacement of a worn wheel set and pedestal liner, rebuilding vestibule steps to address rust damage, repainting the interior, and window work to make the latches more reliable.
Some photos will follow in multiple emails - mostly of the portions I worked on.
Photos and text by Eric Hopp THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 10 THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 11 THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 12
4. DEAN HEARN ROCK ISLAND PHOTOS THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 13 THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 14
5. BILL SCHULTZ RECALLS DELAYING PRR PERISHABLES TRAIN AT WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
During the summer of 1959, I was a vacation relief operator at the Interlocking tower in Washington Heights, IL on the RI main line out of Chicago. One morning I was waiting for train number 501, the Peoria Rocket, to pass through the interlocking at Washington Heights. It was due around 10:05 AM. About 9:50 AM with no other traffic in sight I lined the signals for the Rocket. As luck would have it a Pennsylvania perishable train off the Panhandle line showed up at the red block. The engineer blew his whistle. I looked at the clock and realized the Rocket was due in about ten minutes. I did not have the luxury of changing the signal since once you set them up the only way to change them was a train to clear the interlocking.There was an emergency override available which required you to break a seal on a locked switch. I did not consider that an option since the regular operator who trained me warned me that to break that seal would result in a formal investigation and lots of questions, Furthermore, the worst thing an operator could do was drop a red signal on a speeding passenger train.
I decided to wait for the Rocket. In the meantime the Pennsy engineer was getting more and more impatient and kept blowing his horn. As luck would have it this was the morning the Rocket chose to be late. I never found out why but it was now 10:15 AM. The Rocket was 10 minutes late and showing no signs of arriving anytime soon. I continued to fret and the Pennsy engineer continued to toot. Finally at 10:30 AM the Rocket sailed through the interlocking at about 60 MPH. I breathed a big sigh of relief and gave the Pennsy a clear signal.
As the lead engine passed the tower the fireman stuck his hand out the window and gave me the universal one fingered salute. I made the appropriate notes on the OS sheet and thought the matter was closed. Not so.
About 30 minutes later the phone rang. It was the Pennsy trainmaster wanting to know why I had delayed his perishable train. I tried to explain the late Rocket but he was in no mood for logical explanations. He told me what he thought of me, the Rock Island and incompetent employees world wide in colorful four letter THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 15 words. All I could do was listen and when he finally ran out of steam and hung up I smiled and remembered who signed my paycheck.
Bill Schultz
6. RICHARD GILL AND THE THREE ARS.
MANIC ROCK Not long ago, while in a Rock Island frame of mind, I found myself flipping through Steam Powered Video’s “Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America.” Mindlessly browsing (something I am good at), I happened upon a map of Kansas City, Kansas. My guard was down, and the legions of trivia were lying in wait. Faster than I could say, “Next stop Clay Center,” my mind was seized, and I saw that the three major Kansas City rail yards—Armourdale (Rock Island), Argentine (Santa Fe) and Armstrong (Union Pacific) all begin with “Ar.” It was trivia on steroids.
Out of control and beyond help, my brain determined that the yards collectively should be dubbed THE THREE ARs. I flashed back to around 1970. I was at the Illinois Central, researching things like whether the IC ought to stop transporting unprofitable West Coast perishables as bridge traffic and whether they should buy a portion of the Chicago & Illinois Midland.
During those days, much company mail crossed my desk. Occasionally, the interoffice correspondence contained something important, such as a joke making the rounds. One anonymous memorandum proclaimed that the following day was to be designated Talk Like A Pirate Day. When the phone rings, it said, pick it up and growl, “ARRRRR.” We—most of us, at least—were smart enough not to. There was no Caller ID, and a person didn’t want to bark “ARRRRR” at, say, the Chairman and CEO. But we did it walking around the General Offices. It was more fun than analyzing California iceberg lettuce moving through Council Bluffs. And it certainly was more entertaining than poring over reports of C&IM traffic interchange. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 16
So, at some future date, when again I am vacuously contemplating the Rock Island’s Armourdale Yard and its Kansas City cousins, I may declare my own Talk Like A Pirate Day. Just for fun. I’ll answer the phone ….. “ARRRRR.” Or maybe not.
Suggestion for further study: A more penetrating analysis will reveal that both Armourdale and Armstrong start with “Arm.” So you have “Two ARMS and an ARG.” It sounds best if you pronounce the last letter of ARG as a hard G, as in “Good grief, Gill.”
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PLEASE HELP KEEP ROCK ISLAND REPORTER GOING Contributions by personal check are accepted at the publisher's address 128 Whittier Circle, Falls Church, VA 22046. Contributors wishing to submit via PayPal may use our PP address: [email protected]. Go to Paypal https://www.paypal.com/us/signin THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 17
7. DEAN SCHIRF'S TRAIN OF THOUGHT
A. THE COLOR SCHEMES OF THE CHICAGO ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC RAILROAD
In 1978, noted Rail Historian and Photographer Don Ball, Jr., authored “America’s Colorful Railroads” that depicted this nation’s transition of steam to the diesel era commencing in the 1950s. Don hailed from back east but would spend summer vacations with his grandparents in Lawrence, Ks., a great train watching community that was served by the Santa Fe, Union Pacific and the Rock Island. In his opening remarks he wrote that all three were among his favorites but singled out the Rock Island by stating: “and my favorite-of-favorites ROCKET paint schemes”……Don was not alone being an admirer of Rock Island’s first generation paint schemes. I would submit to you that no railroad in the land had more striking combination passenger and freight paint schemes as did the Rock Island. Mr. Ball passed away in 1986 at the age of 48. The eight railroad books he wrote (I have 5 of ’em) live on to give great testimony to his memory and purpose of life.
With this as a backdrop, I wanted to share, in HO Scale, the colors of what I consider the Rock’s primary paint schemes starting in the 1950s and ending in 1980.
1950s ROCKET PAINT SCHEMES - PASSENGER AND FREIGHT
No decade was more colorful on Rock Island rails than the 1950s with its passenger diesels painted in the maroon, cream and silver and the red, black and white wing scheme for its freight locomotives. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 18
THE MAROONS OF THE 1960s
The color schemes of the 1950s were too expensive to continue in there original colors, coupled with decreasing operating revenue and passenger traffic decline that led management to adopt a “maroon for all” to Rock Island’s approximately 650 locomotives.
THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 19
RED AND YELLOW HIT THE RAILS IN THE 70s
The Rock Island adopted an attractive red, yellow and large white speed letters paint scheme in the 1970s. It instantly became a favorite by Rock Island followers at the time. Looking at these diesels, there was no doubt as to what rail line these locomotives belong too.
THE BLUES OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS
When the feds finally gave its approval of the Union Pacific/Rock Island merger, that spanned ten plus years of unbelievable legal battles, with about every rail line west of the Mississippi, the UP said no thanks and vacated the merger leaving the Rock Island with no other alternative but to file its third and final bankruptcy (1915 and 1933). In 1975 management made one “gallant” effort to change the image of the Rock Island adopting a blue, white and large defining THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 20 black diamond “R” paint scheme…….but it was too late. Waiting on the long and drawn out U.P. merger had dealt a death blow to the once mighty fine line. A crumbling and revenue starved railroad, no longer capable of safely operating, forced the feds to finally pull the plug in March 1980…... ending 128 years of service to the nation’s heartland. Many Rock followers denounced the blue paint scheme including me, but over the years I have sort of conditioned myself to look for it, as one could spot that big black “R” from a mile away. How often after shutdown and all the years since, have I looked into rail yards and passing freight trains for that faded “R” just to get one final glance of my beloved Rock Island. (All pictures taken by Dean Schirf) THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 21
B. THE LUCK OF “THE ROCK”.
This attractive brochure denotes Rock Island’s new Armourdale Rail Yard completed in 1948, making Kansas City the new hub of its operating system and cutting terminal detention time up to 75%. Representing an investment of $1,500,000, the 43 track yard has four control towers and pneumatic retarders. More than 4000 cars can be classified operating 24 hours a day. In addition, modern icing facilities can accommodate up to 90 cars at one setting. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 22
Rock Island’s appearance and physical plant was in very good operating order following World War Two. Coming out of its second bankruptcy in 1948, the Road of Planned Progress made great strides over the last decade under the skillful guidance of Mr. Farrington who was elevated to President. 1948 also saw the completion of its new and modern Kansas City Armourdale 43 track classification yard. The following year a similar classification yard at Silvis was completed. The refinancing of its mortgage property was restructured and fixed at $55 million, less equipment obligations. System wide gross revenue climbed to a record $197,404,990. And the Rock Island was well on its way to completing its locomotive roster from steam to diesel by the end of 1952, the same year it marked its 100th year of operation. But little was it known that the decade of the 50s would be the last decade that the Rock Island would experience financial solvency. In 1951 the devastating Kansas River Flood dealt a $4 million loss to the Rock Island that included the flooding of the new KC Armourdale yard. The 1950s gave way to declining passenger/RPO rail traffic and freight loadings competing with the emerging trucking industry coupled with the 1956 passage of the 41,000 mile nationwide interstate highway system that all added up to the nation’s railroads looking for rail merger partners in order to cut costs and remain viable for the long haul.
The proposed Union Pacific/Rock Island merger in the early 60s was one of the earliest mergers pursued for federal approval. The UP/RI merger ended up being the “Poster Child” of how NOT to approve a railroad merger due to the legal/entanglement that the feds let go on for more than a decade. The Rock folded in March, 1980 and in the fall of that same year Congress passed the Railroad Deregulation Act that included the stipulation that any future railroad merger(s) decision must be completed in three years. The long drawn out UP/RI merger, no doubt, led to the three year merger language being placed in the Rail Deregulation Act.
In retrospect what looked like a promising future for the Rock Island following World War Two was short lived given the disappointments of the 1960s and 1970s. Looking back there were any number of contributing/combination factors for the demise of the Rock Island like management, labor, mother nature determining the ups and downs of seasonal farm/grain crops, too many branch lines, lack of industrial facilities/ warehouses trackside, too many competing/parallel carriers serving a single market and even using trackage rights of other rail lines to serve major cities like Denver and KC.
I often ask myself did the Rock Island just run out of luck or was she just the odd man out railroad serving the heartland….. and had the feds made a merger decision in three years instead of ten what would the Road of Planned Progress look like today? One gratifying thought after all this time is the many hundreds of miles of former Rock Island rails on the ground and still being shined by other rail carriers today.
Dean Schirf Harrah, Ok THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 23
8. L. A. REED - ROCK ISLAND POSTCARD COLLECTION
Below is a unusual image take in front of a Rock Island Freight Station, location/date unknown. Maybe you might know where the “Third District” is located ? Note the half dozen tall globe lanterns and straw brooms in the car doorway. Collection of L. A. Reed
Below is a undated photo of a Rock Island Signal Gang. No location given but could be anywhere on the “Mighty Fine Line”. Collection of L. A. Reed THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 24
Below is a nice view of the Rock Island depot in Wellington, KS. Real photo postcard. Not sure of exact date but stamp box indicates taken between 1907-1918. L. A. Reed collection
Lastly, below is a postcard image dated 1911 from Wapello, Iowa. Collection of L. A. Reed THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 25
9. ELDON DEPOT MUSEUM By Ken Vandevoort
I had heard of the Eldon Depot Museum, but had never seen the inside of the museum. Eldon was one of the places I spent some time during the Flood of 2010 when I was working for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management as a state counterpart to FEMA. I worked with cities, townships and counties for damage to public property. Other than the railroad, everyone has seen a certain house in a painting that was located in Eldon. Grant Wood’s American Gothic features an Eldon house that now has its own visitors center. When the Rock Island track was pulled up in Eldon, that also ripped up the heart of the community. It was a crew change point and the town was also full of retirees. The railroad responsible for Des Moines becoming the capital ran from Keokuk to Des Moines. It was also the crew change location for the Golden State route. The citizens did not want to forget their railroad and turned the depot into a museum.
There was going to be a train show in 2019 at the Old Iron Show held at the Wapello County Fair Grounds in Eldon, so that was the excuse to go. The show was enjoyable and I came home with a few treasures. Then it was time to visit the museum. Outside, they have a kids playground with a railroad theme. A former Santa Fe geep has been painted in Rock Island colors and you can blow the horn. There is also a Rock Island flatcar and a Chicago Central caboose painted for Rock Island which you can also walk through. A sidewalk leads to the Des Moines river and the bridge piers are still there.
The big surprise was in the museum. It was really nice inside and there are a lot of displays. It has an emphasis on the Golden State route and also the Keokuk & Des Moines. The K&D is important to me because my grandmother and my father were both born next to Rock Island property along the K&D and grew up with steam and gas- electrics. Another building houses the model railroad. It was worth the trip.
Like other museums, the pandemic has messed up their openings. They have a website at www.eldondepotmuseum.org. This museum has solved a problem for me – what to do with my stuff when I leave this earth. At this point, everything I have that is Rock Island is going to this museum. If anyone has any photos of the yards in Eldon, please give them copies. This is one thing they need.
Attached are some photos from that visit. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 26 THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 27
THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 28 THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 29
THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 30
10. "PETTICOAT JUNCTION" AND THE ROCK ISLAND.
by Mark Baker
My wife & I watched the first 3 episodes of "Petticoat Junction" over the Christmas holiday.
I'd forgotten the specific genesis of the story in that the Hooterville Cannonball was running for 20 years on its own after a damaged trestle orphaned the branch from the main line.
The C&FW railroad and it's president discovers the spur on map as they display to their board of directors the main lines converting to "all-diesel" and thus being routes of efficient transport.
Photos (still grabs) from YouTube posting of the now-Public Domain first season.Initial episodes are combined here- https://youtu.be/z7eQPm5e-lE
The short line from Hooterville to Pixley is ordered to be scrapped and abandoned.
Efforts of the residents ensue to convince the RR not to end the little steam loco and coach are charming and quite a lot of sequences relate and reference actual operation of such a train (with a bit of artistic exaggeration where needed).
This story is spread over the first 3 episodes of the show as noted and linked above.
This all relates to the CRI&P in that show creator Paul Henning's mother-in-law was from Eldon, Missouri and her childhood memories of the Burris Hotel (once called the Rock Island Hotel) and Henning's own obvious affections for railroading's past and Americana in general make a thread of a connection to The Rock.
The Cannonball was also featured in Henning's other CBS TV network series "Green Acres" and to a lesser extent "The Beverly Hillbillies".
Photo and selected historical info from http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/ 080804.html#photo_01 THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 31
(Miller County, Missouri)
At the turn of the 20th century, the Burris Hotel (once called the Rock Island Hotel), was a hustling, bustling hotel in Eldon, located near the railroad tracks of the Rock Island Line.
In doing the research I found a wealth of information about the series and the 4-6-0 locomotive and it's storied career as Sierra Railway #3; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_No._3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooterville_Cannonball THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 32 THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 33
11. HO SCALE ROCK ISLAND CABOOSE 17772 By Mike Armstrong
I was fortunate to have received an HO scale caboose kit from my good friend, model railroader, and fellow Rock Island fan, Tom Pearson. Tom acquired two Rocket Express Models of the Rock Island’s passenger-baggage caboose and offered one to me. Without hesitation, I accepted the kit and got busy assembling, painting and lettering it over the 2018 summer.
I decided to paint and letter the model to represent Rock Island caboose 17772 as I had a personal connection with the prototype caboose through the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin. The real 17772 was purchased from the Rock Island by the late Dr. Phillip R. Hastings in 1967 and moved from Albert Lea, Minnesota to North Freedom.
Dr. Hastings is known far and wide in the railfan world as a master rail photographer whose work will live on for generations to come. Dr. Hastings was also a member of the Mid-Continent Railway Museum and used the caboose for overnight bunking while at the museum. He also allowed others to use the caboose for bunking when he wasn’t at North Freedom. I was one of the lucky ones that got to stay overnight in the caboose on a few occasions, usually during the winter months which necessitated firing-up the stove.
There were 200 wooden cabooses built by the Rock Island from outside-braced wooden boxcars during the late 1930’s through about the mid-1940’s. Of the 200, there were 20 cabooses that Rock Island built as passenger-baggage cars and caboose 17772 is one of them. These one-of-a-kind cabooses were used for mixed train operations on some of Rock Island’s secondary lines. Interestingly, many of these passenger-baggage cabooses were operational well into the 1960’s. Obviously, with the demise of the mixed trains by this time they would have been used in standard freight service primarily on branch lines.
At my home in Texas, I model the Rock Island Lines in the 1960’s between Kansas City and the Twin Cities, known as the Rock Island’s Mid-Continent Route. Today this segment of railroad is owned by the Union Pacific and is referred to as the Spine Line. HO scale Rock Island 17772 is occasionally tacked onto the rear of a freight train making its way around the layout. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 34
Today, the real Rock Island caboose 17772 is owned by a couple of members at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum. I, for one, am grateful that Dr. Hastings had the foresight to acquire and preserve one of these unique examples of Rock Island rolling stock.
For anyone interested in viewing videos of my HO scale Rock Island layout, the YouTube channel can be accessed by entering “RImodeler79 YouTube Videos” into a search engine.
RI 17772 at the Mid Continent Railway Museum. Photo by Jeffery Lentz.
RI 17772 on caboose track at Inver Grove Yard on Mike's HO Scale Layout THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 35
RI Pass. Baggage, Caboose 177772 on MIke's HO Scale Layout
Mike Armstrong on CRI&P 17772 in 1968 at Mid-Continent Railway Museum THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 36
14. ROCK ISLAND FANS AND PHOTO SECTION
DENMARK SWEDEN UNITED KINGDOM NEW ZEALAND ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA CONNECTICUT COLORADO FLORIDA HAWAII ILLINOIS IOWA KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MICHIGAN MASSACHUSSETTS MINNESOTA
MISSOURI
ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE OVER THE KANSAS RIVER PROJECT
From: Mark Huff
COSMETIC RESTORATION OF THE ROCK ISLAND AEROTRAIN DELAYED DUE TO COVID-19
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Spent rest of career with ACL. Now displayed at Amtrak station in Rocky Mount NC THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 38
THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 39
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
BEN BARNES SHARES POSTCARD VIEW OF ANADARKO, OK
TENNESSEE THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 40
TEXAS
A ROCK ISLAND MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM STEVE AND MARSHA GOEN
UTAH VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA WASHINGTON STATE WISCONSIN
THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 41
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GET A FREE ILLUSTRATED ROCK ISLAND CALENDAR BY TOM BRUGMAN WITH A MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION OF $50.00 TO ROCK ISLAND REPORTER NEWSLETTER.
PLEASE HELP KEEP ROCK ISLAND REPORTER GOING Contributions by personal check are accepted at the publisher's address 128 Whittier Circle, Falls Church, VA 22046. Contributors wishing to submit via PayPal may use our PP address: [email protected]. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 42
15. WANTED
From: Philip Abaray
I model the area 1950s (3/55). I Have every issue UPHS. I have times for RI 7,8,9,10,25,26 (Official Guide 3/1955). What I am missing is industries across IOWA & NEBRASKA for waybills and operations. Info about back Issues of your magazine, books or other references would be appreciated.
Steve Goen is looking for good, sharp color scans or slides of the following depots in Illinois:
Englewood Mokena Minooka Morris Seneca Ottawa LaSalle-Peru Tiskilwa Sheffield Annawan Atkinson Geneseo Colona Moline Rock Island
These are for his upcoming book "Last of the Rockets" which will feature the final Rock Island passenger and commuter operations between 1970-1980.
Contact Steve at [email protected] if you have any questions. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 43
From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: January 25, 2021 5:54 PM Subject: BCR&N 2-story depot floor plans
Hi Tom --
Could you create a "request for information" in the next issue of RI Reporter, please?
I am interested in learning approximate floor plans of both floors in BCR&N "Classic" Two-Story depots [Riebe brothers terminology per their RI Digest article in Volume 14, 1997], especially the second floor agent living quarters. I spent an enjoyable afternoon last summer exploring and photographing the nicely preserved depot in Rock Rapids IA listed on the National Register of Historical Places, but was unable to view the second floor because it was currently rented to a private family who wished for privacy (I completely understand and respect this desire). If RIR readers have not yet visited this gem they should do so -- and leave a helpful donation also! As the Wise Man said, "They ain't making more of these!"
Thanks, Drew Cannon, Des Moines IA
From: Michael Armstrong
Hi Tom and Dave:
I was planning to send the attached photo to Phil Weibler believing that he would be able to answer the question I have about the caboose which is as follows: "Do you know what the "R" inside the circle on this caboose indicates or means?"
Perhaps one of you may know the answer; however, if you do not, is it possible for you to provide me with Phil's email address or simply forward this message to him?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Mike Armstrong Rock Island Enthusiast Rock Island Modeler THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 44
[Michael We shared your picture and question with the folks on ROCK ISLAND LINES @ GROUPS.IO. The CIRCLE R stands for restricted use. Meaning the car is not suitable for interchange to other railroads. It can only be used on Rock Island property or to accompany interchange movements to other railroads. But it may not be interchanged to other railroads itself.
This may be due to the age of the car. In the Rock's era, cars had a 25 year lifetime restriction on interchange. Over age cars could no longer be interchanged. Tom] THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 45
16. OBITUARIES
DANIEL P. CLARK, ROCK ISLAND CLERK, UNION REPRESENTATIVE, N SCALE MODELER AND RAILFAN.
THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 46
CHARLES "DICK" GIBSON; ROCK ISLAND CLERK AND DISPATCHER. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 47
DONALD ALLISON, ROCK ISLAND SWITCHMAN, YARDMASTER AND TRAINMASTER
Don Allison, former Rock Island switchman, yardmaster and Trainmaster in the Quad Cities Terminal passed away November 21, 2020. Don was well respected among the employees he worked with. For the last few years he struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. Obit below. (COMMENTS BY JOHN SECOR)
THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 48
MY FRIEND RED BY DEAN SCHIRF
I have mentioned my friend J. W. “Red” Betts before. He was my boyhood railroad hero. He loved working for the Rock Island where he was the Chickasha Ok., Rock Island station telegrapher operator on the 4pm to midnight shift when I would often visit him in the evening growing up in the 1950s. Red passed away in 1985 and to this day I treasure those visits. (see Red’s obit below). His wife Wanda once informed me that she thought Red “adopted” me as he had an infant son who passed away. She also wanted me to have Red’s Rock Island items including his telegraph key(s), both speed and hand keys, yearly railroad passes and Railroad Telegraphers Certification Cards denoting his 46 years working for his beloved Rock Island starting in 1923 and retiring in 1969. Here are some of the railroad cards that Red faithfully kept marking a brilliant career on the Mighty Fine Line. During one’s lifetime there are certain indelible individuals who truly make a difference in your life….for me, that individual was J.W. “Red” Betts. May you ride the Heavenly “Rocket” Red. Dean Schirf, Harrah, Ok. THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 49
THE ROCK ISLAND REPORTER, FEBRUARY 2021 PAGE 50 ROCK ISLAND REPORTER
Thomas Brugman, publisher and editor 128 Whittier Circle, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 Email: [email protected]
David J. Engle Chief Contributor 11519 N. Wayne Kansas City, Missouri 64155 USA Email: [email protected]
Coverage The e-newsletter covers the history of the Rock Island Railroad in documents and miniature. It is devoted to its readers — anyone and everyone who has interest in the Rock Island. This e-newsletter, resides on its website: http://rockislandreporter.com
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