Does anyone know of a video supplier, or store, or person that may have a copy they are willing to sell of Rock Island: The Final Days? I have tried everything from google, ebay, to various railroad magazine classified sections, and the only place I have ever found it is the 30 minute VHS copy that I can borrow through an ILL program with my university’s library. I have other Rock Island videos, but have not been able to obtain the VHS version nor if there is any DVD version of it out there. It is of the Rock Island’s southern division and covers everything from the El Reno shops down on into Texas in the last year of operations in 1980! I have searched through the topics on the General Discussion forum, but have not seen a topic over it. Any help would be appreciated!
Who produced the video? If you can borrow it through the library you should be able to find out who produced it. As an alternative I would suggest contacting the Rock Island Technical Society. They can be found via the web.
Unfortunately I cant help with the video you have asked for and I don’t know exactly what info you are after in said video but the crowd in the link below have a couple of Rock Island DVDs that you may or may nor be interested in…
Steve Goen, who originally made the video, sold them through his company:
S.G. Video Productions,
1519 Sweetbriar Drive,
Wichita Falls, Texas 76302-2911.
(940) 767-4843
Hopefully he's still around. My information is dated. I purchased it many years ago.
Good luck!
sadly I graduated late last year and have not been able to remember who did, but I see right below someone does know, thanks for your help though!
I have searched out CV’s site before, already own the Rock Island video they got on there 
thanks for the help though!
Great so you have seen it too! I just talked to him on the phone and he no longer has any copies, says he has seen it going for as much as 100$ on ebay before! He is redoing a great DVD version of it, will be working on it til about the end of 2011 when he will have it ready by bout then. He will also be having several videos coming out in a couple weeks too, some real good ones it looks like. Thanks for the help!
At the risk of making a redundant suggestion. I just ‘Googled’ : Rock Island RR videos and got a number of websites offering what appeared to be different RIRR videos and even a couple of You Tube Videos, as well.
Maybe worth a look?
Good Luck with your hunt!
I remember the last days of the Rock … I went to the auction in Chicago
Yep that was one of the first things I did, came across some youtube videos I neve did see before too, enjoyed watching them as well!
Try amazon. I have found videos there that I could not find anywhere else . RON
Not sure if RITS still has it,but they did have a video from WHBF reporter ( Now in chicago) Paul miencke, who did a week long expose on the Rock and its final days. I had that video but I have not seen it in years. Ahhh the joys of a divorce. Anyway it was great. Showed some great footage,interviews with employees and a great perspective of how history was changing iin our community.
You tube has some great video as well. I love some of the new videos that are coming out about the Rock.Its about darn time!
Keep us posted on that DVD as well. I am a fan of the Southern line of the Rock Island, as it wasnt well covered ( well IMHO most of the railroad isnt well covered ) Would love to get a copy of that.
I remember April 1, 1980, watching the 6:00 news on WHBF Channel 4, Rock Island. Co-anchor Wendy Ellis opened, "You may have seen some railroad cars being bumped around in the Silvis Yards today, but as of midnight the Rock Island Lines was officially out of business." Several years later I tried to obtain footage from this time, but had no luck. I was told by several stations that they usually didn’t keep video tape very long. I’ll look for that Paul Meincke video.
I did have luck obtaining many photos from newspaper railroad files, however. RITS used some of these over 20 years ago. Additionally, I took several rolls of film inside the Silvis Yard shortly after shutdown, as well as capturing ghost (liquidation) trains. When I get organized I’ll scan my collection and share it with this forum.