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Rock Island Line- were there some areas where it excelled?

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Monday, February 9, 2015 8:16 PM

Now the new governor has put a hold on the Chicago to Rockford Amtrak route, I expect that the Quad Cities route may be next. 

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Posted by Buslist on Monday, February 9, 2015 8:19 PM

Electroliner 1935

Now the new governor has put a hold on the Chicago to Rockford Amtrak route, I expect that the Quad Cities route may be next. 

 

The governor but a hold on all transportation capital expenditures, it's all ready done.

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Posted by dakotafred on Monday, February 9, 2015 8:24 PM

Bus: It seems logical; but have you seen a news story that we haven't, one comparable to the one shown us by Schlimm on Chicago-Rockford?

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Posted by Northtowne on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 9:19 PM

samfp1943, I, too, grew up on the RI Choctaw Route where it crossed the Katy at McAlester, OK., 1940 to 1954 when I grad from HS. It ws a great interchange an I always thought RI business was good. Went straightwest to connect w/ SP at Tumcancari,NM. Rode the Passenger to Calif in summer of 1950, Memphis to a wedding in winter 1951. I barely recall WW II and business was really good then. Very sad to see it go. I seem to recall they had a lot of labor problems that the Katy (my family worked on the Katy) did not seem to have.

Northtowne

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Posted by Trainbruce on Monday, February 16, 2015 12:28 PM

@aricat ... Noteworthy indeed. DesMoines' Rock Island station was better located for city access and was a great example of "prarie station architure". Train frequency was better too ! Don't know if the station is still there ... but it was a favorite of mine for years while stationed in Iowa. Miss it alot.

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Posted by BRODERICK CANNON on Monday, February 16, 2015 3:32 PM

Back in 1967, My Dad, and I rode the "Golden State" from Coolidge, Arizona to Chicago, Ill via the Southern Pacific-Rock Island  Golden State route. I was 10, and I can still remember when it pulled up to the depot. a "Rock Island" F- unit was in the lead. I can remember the Conductor and the Porter entertained the pasengers with songs... It was a good trip through El Paso, Kansas, Rock Island, Ill all the way to The Station in the Windy City! to quote from a song,' It was a mighty good line!'.

Tags: Golden State

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