RI Rock Island photos

r_i_straw Jan 29, 2023

  1. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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  2. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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    Ottawa IL in the summer of 1963, when the Golden State and the Rocky Mountain Rocket were temporarily combined between Chicago and Rock Island.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Two fine GM products, the F-unit and that '57 Chevy!:love:

    ...or is that an E-unit?
     
  4. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    It almost has to be an E unit with those number boards.

    A family in our neighborhood had a '57 Chevy just like that one, in the late fifties, except theirs had white walls.

    Doug
     
  5. logodave

    logodave TrainBoard Member

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    Rock Island 643 is indeed an EMD E8, formerly Ex EMD Demo #952. It was the first E8A ever built.
     
  6. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Whoa, cool! Was it saved, somehow?
     
    Doug Gosha likes this.
  7. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  8. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  9. logodave

    logodave TrainBoard Member

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    Sadly, No. Privately owned survivors E8A #652 and its companion, E6A #630, have been sold to a museum in Iowa, to be centered around the Rock Island.
     
  10. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Very nice. I recently picked up a copy of Colorado Rail Annual No. 17, and it has a nice account of the history of the CO/KS arm of Rock Island. Amazing history of flood damage in that region, too, throughout its (short) life.
     
  11. Des Moines Rocket

    Des Moines Rocket TrainBoard Member

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    Hopefully the museum gets them running under their own power again. I never saw either unit in service, nor in their subsequent museum home in Kansas. Interesting story on #630... I am convinced that particular E6 was saved only because it wound up in Chicago commuter service late in its life with the Rock Island. It lasted longer than a lot of its brethren. A number of interesting paint schemes on that particular locomotive too, if you look at its history.
     
  12. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  13. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    1976 at Bureau. The Bureau depot is painted red with yellow trim. Larry Anglund photo.
    1976 Bureau.jpeg
     
  14. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Another shot showing the Bureau depot. This time having been repainted in the "New" blue as of 1978. The Quad City Rocket consisting of two cars is heading east. Larry Anglund photo.
    78bureauquad city.jpeg
     
  15. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  16. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  17. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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  18. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looks like one of the Geeps they acquired via Precision National.
     
  19. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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    Indeed.
    It was originally Wabash 471, and CNW 4153 after RI 4491.
    For the past 15 years, or so, it's been working at a grain elevator in Fremont NE.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    So fresh and clean! I wonder how many still serve today?
     
    Doug Gosha, Kurt Moose and Hardcoaler like this.

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