My railfanning ( 60’s, early 70’s ) of the Rock was from their yard facilities in Kansas City, Ks and westbound over the UP tracks to Topeka. What a contrast between the level of maintainence between the two’s equipment. Looking back now, I realize how much more interest I had in the local rust-buckets than in the shiny, big $$ RR’s. My fondest memory of the Rock was how I caught up to the caboose of a westbound and noticed a lot of black smoke at the head end. Live steam ! What luck ! It took a little while to maneuver through the small burgs and their speed limits that paralleled the UP tracks to finally catch up to the engine. But of course it wasn’t an oil burning steam engine. All 4 diesels on the head end were of different design and color scheme. And the GP in the crowd was spewing so much smoke that it must have been piped into the rusty R.I. tank car behind it or the prime mover fried before Lawrence. Parking along the track and watching this pitiful collection roll by was an awesome masterpiece. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I guess so, as during the same time period I went to high school right on the mainline between Lawrence and Wichita. I remember the daily parade of bizarre combinations of U-boats and GPs belching by. I on the other hand had the opposite reaction. I thought it was a discrace and was just proving to the average citizenry that the railroads were as obsolete as they thought they were.
Probably just my romanticism with the underdog or the “last year’s toys”. Must be why my roster is late steam, F’s , Geeps & Boats. The public eye needs the flash & awe of tomorrow’s technology today. I’ll honor yesterday’s heroes anyday. Speaking of which, I noticed “Colorful Colorado” on your mail. Is that Royal Gorge Excursion worth the trip? I spent 2 full days on the Cumbres & Toltec. thanks
I know two people that have been on it. They both give it a resounding, yes. But they both got the “cab ride” ticket, to ride in the locomotive.
I love the Rock, I’m like you know nothing about them but you have to love that Blue and White Sceme. Mike
It is interesting that the The Rock should be under discussion right now. I spent the weekend railfanning the Little Rock & Western, an Arkansas short line which operates on former Rock Island track from Little Rock across west central Arkansas to Danville. Many remnants of the Rock Island can still be seen along the line. You can continue west after Danville and still see a good bit of the right of way, old crossing signs, and other interesting tidbits.
For more on the Little Rock & Western go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Rock_and_Western_Railway
I know this is an older thread but I have some to add.
Another part of the Rock that is still in use is the Erick, OK to Weatherford, OK line. This was part of the Memphis to Tucumcarri line. This line was bought by the State of Oklahoma after the Rock’s demise and was leased for operation to Farmrail (www.farmrail.com). Their primary traffic is wheat, gypsum, aggregate, and oil field products. Their main motive power is GP 7/9/10/20 and they just acquired three ex-IASA GP38AC’s. The line from Weatherford to Hydro I believe is abandoned and from Hydro to El Reno is unuseable due to a flood years ago that took out a bridge.
“Zephyr” on another board has continued the Rock into the modern day with new paint schemes and history (www.rockrail.com). I discovered his work awhile back when I was wanting to do the same. I liked his paint and history more then what I came up with so the two of us have been working independently and cooperatively to build up the Rock’s modern fleet.
I currently have two SD60’s in the new Rock Lobster paint and one SD60M. In the works are a fleet of new ACF covered hoppers.
I’d post pics but I’m not sure how to do that here.
My new SW1500:
Like it?
Same as anywhere else.
Well I guess I still don’t know. I tried putting an address in the images section but it doesn’t seem to be working.
Macjet…just copy the image code from the Photobucket pic you want to post, and paste it in the post. The image code you want to copy is the fourth one, marked " IMG Code - Forums & Bulletin Boards".
Rotor
I can see the old “ROCK” from my back yard. I live about 30 miles north of Topeka KS and the old Rock Island line north out of Topeka (now abandoned) runs across the field behind my home. The line ran north from Topeka KS to Horton KS. At one time Horton KS (pop 1000) had a large Rock Island round house and steam engine service facility.
JIM
Try reading this thread: http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1360821/ShowPost.aspx
You’re copying the wrong code. See below:
Andre
GO Transit in Toronto bought, I believe, 7 GP-40’s from RI via a locomotive dealer in 1982. They were traded in 1993 for F59PH units.
Jim
I just saw some X-Rock Hoppers rolling thru Bridgeport, TX. on the UP line (this AM). Some looked pretty good and some were beat to heck!
Keith-Bportrail
Test
Awesome! Thanks for the photo help.
Actually MEC bought 14 Rock Island U25Bs, and had them dragged all the way to the main shops in Waterville ME; most of them would not run and they were in horrible condition. The shops picked the best and canabalized the others for parts. From the 14, 6 made it back to running condition.
In the begining, they got the full shop treatmemt including yellow and green MEC paint jobs. At some point, the MEC brass decided that they needed them out on the road even if they did not look pretty. The Rock Island name was painted out on the cab, and replaced with a quick Maine Central stencil, the RI numbers were retained.
- The following were repainted in MEC yellow: 226, 228, 232 (yellow paint only, no green),
- In service in red/yellow Rock Island paint: 231
- IN service in blue/white The Rock paint: 234
- In service in maroon Rock Island paint:238
- in storage for parts: 227, 229, 230, 233, 235, 236, 237 (some of these may have been repaired and placed in service later, I have only had time to check one reference on this)
They were all repainted to MEC or Guilford colors at as time allowed.
EDIT: My first source, “Rock Island Locomotives on the Maine Central” by EB Robertson, was written in 1981 while some work was still in progress, and I remember seeing photos of more than one locomotive in red or maroon colors. The 1984 - 1988 MEC roster in “Guilford Five Years of Change” by Scott Hartley shows 225, 226, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 234 and 238 in service, but notes that all U25s were retired by 1988. 229, and 230 were maroon.
I have also heard that RI fans were not too fond of the blu