A Rock Island Train Heads From Chicago To Houston

This Rock Island train carries carloads of freight from Chicago to Houston.  We give a wave to the crew as the train heads on its way. customtrains.org

Railroads of Des Moines 1 Rock Island, Iowa Interstate, Chicago and North Western

In my Railroad Cities series, I focus on cities across America and railroads that served them through the years.  Historically, Des Moines has been served by many railroads.  

Rock Island was known as the "Route of the Rockets."  It's rails connected cities throughout the Midwest and reached as far west as Denver and Tucumcari, New Mexico.  Rock Island out of business in 1980, and its rails are either abandoned , made into rail trails, or served by various short line and regional railroads such as today's Iowa Interstate, our second locomotive.

Iowa Interstate, based in Cedar Rapids, was formed in 1984.  As its name states, it served cities throughout the State of Iowa, connecting Chicago to Council Bluffs. Short line and regional railroads such as Iowa Interstate provide first mile/last mile service that interchange freight to larger Class 1 Railroads who take the freight across North America to customers, other short lines, and to ports. 

Our third locomotive is from the Chicago and North Western.  Chicago and North Western also connected many of the cities throughout the Midwest.  It is now a part of today's Union Pacific.

See my Railroads of Des Moines poster at my website, customtrains.org

 

Burlington Northern, Rock Island, Rio Grande 3-Engine Exhibit by Andy Fletcher

My 3-Engine Exhibits on my AndyFletcherTrains YouTube channel feature three of my drawings. What locomotives would you like to see? Watch my 3-Engine Exhibits on YouTube https://youtu.be/1xhaXyYV8KE?si=VZCFEydzMpZggGQn

 

Railroads of Topeka Railroad Narrative #1 by Andy Fletcher

Through the years, Topeka has been served by many railroads. Enjoy my Railroads of Topeka Railroad Narrative about Santa Fe, Missouri Pacific and Rock Island. https://youtu.be/g4DWMbFwrkA?si=keoKzxRx9SGCkJiX

 

Railroads of Des Moines by Andy Fletcher

Through the years, Des Moines has been served by many railroads. Enjoy my Railroads of Des Moines Railroad Narrative #1 about Rock Island, Iowa Interstate Railroad and Chicago & North Western on my Andy Fletcher Trains YouTube https://youtu.be/EpPfCOD1sFU?si=gtZFcwh37gZZ-iXk

 

Railroads of Memphis #1 Railroad Narrative by Andy Fletcher

 Burlington Northern, Rock Island and Illinois Central are among the many railroads that have served Memphis through the years. Enjoy my new Railroad Narrative of Featured Locomotives of Railroads of Memphis on my YouTube channel. Watch on my AndyFletcherTrains YouTube https://youtu.be/LT9jp-MwjRY?si=ZjbPdxzlMr-dV14J

Rock Island Chicago to Denver #1 Railroad Narrative by Andy Fletcher

In my Rock Island Chicago to Denver #1 Railroad Narrative featuring my artwork, we follow Rock Island SD40-2 #4790 from Chicago to Denver.  We see a Rock Island GP40 at Des Moines, a Union Pacific GP30 at Omaha and a Rock Island GP7 at Lincoln.  At Denver, we see a Rio Grande SD45 and a Burlington Northern F7.

See my Rock Island Chicago to Denver #1 Railroad Narrative on my AndyFletcherTrains YouTube channel https://youtu.be/sm76na3aHCY 

 

Rock Island Locomotives #1 Railroad Narrative by Andy Fletcher

I have new Railroad Narratives that spotlight some of our favorite locomotives and visit communities that railroads served.

Watch my Rock Island Locomotives #1 Railroad Narrative on my Andyfletchertrains YouTube https://youtu.be/fuYBxof-Beo?si=eGPYRiJdVw5bAzzo

 

Rock Island Chicago To Denver Refrigerator Railroad Train With GP7s and A GP40

A pair of Rock Island GP7s and a GP40 leads a manifest freight train from Chicago to Denver in this Refrigerator Railroad video.  See freight cars from fallen flag railroads feature in my artwork such as Nickel Plate Road, Wabash and Rio Grande as this train heads west.  

A Rock Island Train Heads From Minneapolis To Des Moines

This Rock Island train heads from Minneapolis to Des Moines.  Today's train carries several Airslide hoppers carrying bakery flour.  Over the next decade, Rock Island will go through a wide variety of adaptations and changes to its paint scheme.

 

Atlantic Coast Line Train Heads From Atlanta to Jacksonville

This Atlantic Coast Line train carries carloads from Atlanta headed to Jacksonville.  The Rock Island box car on today's train has made its way across the Louisville and Nashville from Memphis.  The Pennsylvania Railroad box car came onto the Atlantic Coast Line via the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac at Richmond.

See my Atlantic Coast line artwork at customtrains.org

 

A Rock Island Train Heads From Kansas City to Denver

This Rock Island train heads west from Kansas City.  Today's train carries carloads from Norfolk and Western for interchange with the Rio Grande at Denver.  

See my Rock Island artwork at http://www.customtrains.org 

Iowa Interstate Rock Island Heritage ES44AC #513

Iowa Interstate ES44AC #513 celebrates Iowa Interstate's heritage with the Rock Island railroad.  Iowa Interstate is a member of ASLRRA and provides first mile/last mile service to Iowa and Illinois.  

See my Iowa Interstate artwork at http://www.customtrains.org

Rock Island Locomotives at Des Moines, Iowa

These Rock Island locomotives prepare to lead their trains at Des Moines, Iowa. ASLRRA member regional railroad Iowa Interstate provides first mile/ last mile service in Iowa and Illinois on the former Rock Island. 

See my Rock Island artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/rock-island.html

A Rio Grande SD40T-2 at Grand Junction, Colorado

We stand along the tracks of the Action Road at Grand Junction, Colorado as a Rio Grande SD40T-2 heads towards Denver with a piggyback train.  Today's train has trailers from the Western Pacific at Salt Lake City bound for the Rock Island.

On this Fall day, the aspen quake and complement the orange and even the road dust on the locomotives and trailers.  As the train passes, we give a wave to the conductor on the caboose.  All is well here on the Rio Grande.

See My Rio Grande artwork at http://www.customtrains.org

Visit my eBay store at https://www.ebay.com/str/andyfletchercustomtrains

Nickel Plate Road 765 Pulls The Joliet Rocket at La Salle Street Station

Nickel Plate 765 and Iowa Northern's Rock Island E Units will team up for an incredible weekend of railroad history September 15th & 16th. Ride behind NKP 765 and to see these historic Rock Island engines at Metra's Chicago La Salle Street Station.

See my artwork at www.customtrains.org

Rock Island Locomotives at Council Bluffs

These Rock Island locomotives prepare to lead trains at Council Bluffs. Rock Island from Council Bluffs to Blue Island is part of today’s ASLRRA member Iowa Interstate.  

See my Rock Island artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/rock-island.html

A Rock Island Train Heads From Kansas City to Chicago

This Rock Island train heads to Kansas City from Chicago.  Rock Island connected the agriculture and industry of the Midwest and the Gulf Coast.

See my Rock Island artwork at my website customtrains.org

A Rock Island Train Heads to the Port of Houston

Rock Island connected the Midwest and the Gulf Coast. This Rock Island train carries grain from Des Moines, Iowa to the Port of Houston. Sections of the Rock Island have become parts of various Class 1, Regional and short line railroads, such as ASLRRA member Iowa Interstate.

To see my Rock Island 11"x17" signed posters and/or magnets, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBay store

Railroads of Illinois: A History of the State's Great Railroads and Their Names

Illinois is a crossroads of America's railroads. Railroads connect throughout the state of Illinois as they make their journey across our nation.  Many railroads throughout Illinois took their name from not only America's busiest rail city, Chicago, but from Illinois's geography and its communities.  No conversation is complete without mentioning the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific; the Illinois Central; the Illinois Terminal; the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific and many other legendary railroads that served Illinois.