Rock island railroad

The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific was a fabled Midwestern granger that struggled after the 1960's. A botched merger and strike led to its liquidation in 1980.

Images of passenger service on the "Route of the Rockets"

As of the date of this post (August 2016), I am 65 years old. When I wake in the morning, I often think, “I feel like the Rock Island.” Those of you younger than a certain age don’t have the slightest idea what I’m talking about. Those older may understand but don’t want to be reminded. When I remember the Rock Island, I recall Oklahoma red dirt country and a train rocking crazily, tracks obscured by tall grass, and the damn thing coming at me with no visible means of support. In the last…

This was one of the most horrific crimes ever committed in Nebraska, yet many people have no idea it ever happened...and the case is still unsolved.

All aboard for an unforgettable meal in a railroad depot turned restaurant.

Doodlebugs became a popular early motorized rail car used by the industry to reduce expenses associated with passenger operations on light branch lines. Most were retired by the 1960s.

The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific was a fabled Midwestern granger that struggled after the 1960's. A botched merger and strike led to its liquidation in 1980.

The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific was a fabled Midwestern granger that struggled after the 1960's. A botched merger and strike led to its liquidation in 1980.