O Gauge Rock Island

Despite its status as a "fallen flag," CRI&P has its share of hobbyists/collectors. IMHO, its "Full Rocket" paint scheme is one of the all-time best designs. During my post-50 decades, I collected RI trains exclusively because the RI served my home town (Peoria, IL). After some threatening medical incidents, I sold nearly all of my  trains, action accessories, buildings, and related gear via Stout Auctions so my wife wouldn't be burdened with it all after my passing.   Happily, I survived those "medical hiccups."  I'm now 81 and realize I probably sold out too soon. However, whether sooner or later, train collections must be disposed of some day, somehow.

My RI collecting years are over, but I kept some RI train sets as mementos. A photo is attached.

Fortunately for you, RI products are often presented for sale on eBay. BTW, MTH produced more RI trains than Lionel, and many of the Premiere Line trains are spectacular models.

Carry on ...

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

Nice trains, Mike. The Rock also served my hometown of Ottawa, Il. Used to ride the diner car to U of I Chicago on monday mornings.

John

This is my Vision line GS-3 Golden State. Yes, it's a "What if" paint scheme, but beautiful never the less. I'm pulling the complete set of K-line Golden State Aluminum Passenger cars that they offered.

I also have a Rock Island Aerotrain, and would like to pick up an E6 or E7 this year.

Weaver Box Car.

Very interesting road!

Here's a few

3rd Rail Rock Island Rocket

Ives

Lionel

Marx

Here’s some stuff at Jefferson’s. He’s a Rock Island aficionado.   

Some unique Rock Island stuff!

The Rock reborn:  Mississippi Division.

Rock Island Rail: Modern Logistics Delivered.

YouTube: Delay in Block Productions.

Joe

Here’s a couple of MTH Premier F3’s on the old layout.

Great Rock Island posts! 

The Rock Island paid a visit to our layout today.

In another Delay in Block video presentation, Rock Island Rail:The Mississippi Delta Railroad, General Manager Ried Dawe mentions at 7:33 min that the railroad intends to paint other motive power into former Rock Island color schemes as well.

The Rock Island Line lives!

Joe

As a matter of historical interest, does anyone know what the actual "Rock Island" was, to which the rail line name is referring?  I assume it is a real place.

Thanks,

Mannyrock

Manny,

Good question.  I believe it's Rock Island, IL

(Coordinates: 41.465255876353, -90.5971109178889 or thereabouts).

Mike

Yep Rock Island Illinois.  One of the 4 “Quad Cities”.   Rock Island use to also be where International Harvester main manufacturing was located.   Then you have John Deere in Moline IL.   An industrial hub back in the day.   So Rock Island connected Rock Island and Chicago.

Collect Rock Island as Uncle worked for Rock Island and also went to College at Augustana College in Rock Island IL.  

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Manny,

Good question.  I believe it's Rock Island, IL

(Coordinates: 41.465255876353, -90.5971109178889 or thereabouts).

Mike

Correct, Rock Island is a city in Illinois and it's also one of the quad cities that sit on the Mississippi River. Rock Island and Moline on the IL side and Davenport and Bettendorf on Iowa side.

My grandfather worked for the Chicago Post office and constantly rode and ran service on the Rock Island RPO car as well.

I have many Rock Island Engines and passenger cars.  I'm particularly fond of the Lionel Rock Island GP-7's and the MTH E8's. Anthony

FYI Rock Island fans:  Many OGR members are aware that the former Rock Island Technical Society "derailed" back around 2018.  There are rumors as to what happened.  Since OGR rules won't permit such stuff to be printed here on the forum with good reason, I searched Google and found a new site devoted to The Rock at www.rockislandreporter.com

The Inaugural Issue (December 2013) and issues through the May 2021 issue can be read online at no charge.  They do accept donations.  Afterall, there's no such thing as a free lunch in any depot diner in Century 21!  The December 2013 issue pretty well explains what happened at the RITS and why the Society  disbanded.

So board the Rock Island Reported to insure that The Rock Island Line remains a Mighty Fine Road!

Item:  The late C&W singer Sonny James kept The Rock alive in the late 60's with his recording of "68 Rock Island Line".  James' new toe tapper version which can be seen on YouTube isn't bad at all.

Joe

My entire roster of Rock Island 😊

This Lionel 2018 is a Rock Island locomotive because that decal I added says so.  I had 4 plain black, good running 2018 to 2026, 2-6-4 locos so on went the decals.

Charlie

The actual Rock Island is now called Arsenal Island according to Google. But is is an actual island in the river between Moline and Davenport.

@Trinity River Bottoms Boomer posted:

FYI Rock Island fans:  Many OGR members are aware that the former Rock Island Technical Society "derailed" back around 2018.  There are rumors as to what happened.  Since OGR rules won't permit such stuff to be printed here on the forum with good reason, I searched Google and found a new site devoted to The Rock at www.rockislandreporter.com

The Inaugural Issue (December 2013) and issues through the May 2021 issue can be read online at no charge.  They do accept donations.  Afterall, there's no such thing as a free lunch in any depot diner in Century 21!  The December 2013 issue pretty well explains what happened at the RITS and why the Society  disbanded.

So board the Rock Island Reported to insure that The Rock Island Line remains a Mighty Fine Road!

Item:  The late C&W singer Sonny James kept The Rock alive in the late 60's with his recording of "68 Rock Island Line".  James' new toe tapper version which can be seen on YouTube isn't bad at all.

Joe

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

This Lionel 2018 is a Rock Island locomotive because that decal I added says so.  I had 4 plain black, good running 2018 to 2026, 2-6-4 locos so on went the decals.

Charlie

Charlie

During the steam era, CRI&P owned a sizable fleet of 4-8-4 "Northern" locos; alleged as the largest number of that configuration at the time.  Lionel made an O-gauge model of that loco, and I have one on a display shelf. Because of the limited size of my train room, my layout is limited to O42 curves and switches. That loco requires O6O (better yet, O72) minimum curves, so it will always be a "looker" and not a "runner" at Mottler Station.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

@GVDobler posted:

The actual Rock Island is now called Arsenal Island according to Google. But is is an actual island in the river between Moline and Davenport.

GVDobler:

The CRI&P Railroad was founded by the incorporators at Rock Island, IL, which is the primary reason for recognizing that city within its official name.  The nearby town of Silvis, IL was the site of a major train shop for the railroad.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

I didn't mention the railroad, just the island in the river.

Passenger service first:

Freight service next:

Arsenal island was the military installation which was still in use when I was at Augustana.   Had to cross over the Arsenal bridge to get to Davenport IA from Rock Island

Another picture of the use of my Rock Island decal sheet.  This time the pictures shows two of my homemade Vanderbilt coal tenders, the shorter first try is Union Pacific and the longer is Rock Island.  Both tenders were made from junk Lionel coal tenders with the round water tank made from a mailing card board tube.  Check OGR link below for details on how I built them on post 55 for UP and post 57 for RI on page 6.

https://ogrforum.com/...ra-027-layout?page=6

Charlie