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E-NEWSLETTER FOR ENTHUSIASTS OF THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC
RAILROAD ISSUE NUMBER 12 JULY, 2016
CONTENTS
1. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS – EVENTS AND SHOWS……………….……. PAGE 2 2. NEW PRODUCTS.….……………………………………………………………………PAGE 4 3. GEORGE NILES PHOTO GALLERY – PART TWO……………………………….…PAGE 9 4. YAHOO GROUPS WITH A ROCK ISLAND CONNECTION …………….…………PAGE 11 5. OLD ARTICLE REPRINTS -ST LOUIS FREIGHT TERMINAL 1906 …..………… PAGE 12
JOLIET INTERLOCKING 1914……….………………..PAGE 14 6. ROCK ISLAND FANS AND PHOTO SECTION………………………………………PAGE 18 7. ROCK ISLAND WANTED………………………………………………………………..PAGE 50 8. OBITUARIES…………………………………….………………………………………..PAGE 52
Cover: RI 410 leads a passenger train through Short Line Junction in 1953. George Niles photo.
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1. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS- EVENTS AND SHOWS:
JULY 16 – 17, 2016 – OMAHA RAILROAD DAYS ALL ABOARD for a fun-filled weekend, exploring six unique railroad-themed attractions. Celebrate our region’s rich railroad heritage and all things train and track at Railroad Days 2016. On Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lauritzen Gardens, The Durham Museum, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, the RailsWest Railroad Museum, the Historic General Dodge House and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail are teaming up for this favorite annual event. Passes for Railroad Days can be purchased on July 16 or 17 at all venues with the exception of the Lewis and Clark Trail. Guests can still start their day at Lewis and Clark and then purchase their pass at the next location. There are no presales. Each family pass (two adults and all dependent children) is $15 and allows admission to and transportation between all six locations. A $5 pass is available for one additional adult with the purchase of a family pass. Parking is available at all six venues.
Further info: http://www.omaharailroaddays.com/
JULY 23, 2016 - ST. LOUIS LIVE STEAMERS, PUBLIC RUN AT KIRCHER PARK, Eureka MO. 11 am to 4pm, Admission is free. Webpage: http://stlouislivesteamers.org/
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JULY 23 & 24, 2016 - GREAT TRAIN SHOW,10AM TO 4PM Belle-Clair Fairground & Expo Center 200 South Belt E, Belleville IL Admission $9, Kids under 11 Free
AUGUST 6, 2016 - CENTRAL MISSOURI, RAILROAD ASSOCIATION TRAIN SHOW AND SWAP MEET August 6, 10am to 2:30pm Warrenton Elks Lodge 1101 E Veterans Memorial Parkway, Warrenton MO Admission: Adults $5, ages 11-17 $3, 10 and under free.
AUGUST 12 & 13, 2016 - 2016 ST LOUIS RAILROAD PROTOTYPE MODEL MEET Friday August 12 9am to 8pm, & Saturday August 13th 9am to 6pm Gateway Center, Collinsville Il. $25.00 Friday for two day pass / $20.00 Saturday Co-Sponsored by the Gateway Division NMRA Information: John Golden mailto:[email protected]?subject=St Louis Meet Lonnie Bathurst < mailto:[email protected]?subject=St Louis Meet, (217) 556 0314
AUGUST 20, 2016 - ST. LOUIS LIVE STEAMERS, PUBLIC RUN AT KIRCHER PARK, Eureka MO. 11 am to 4pm, Admission is free. September 10, 2016 St. Louis Live Steamers, public run at Kircher Park, Eureka MO. 11 am to 4pm, Admission is free. http://stlouislivesteamers.org/
OCTOBER 8, 2016 - ST. LOUIS LIVE STEAMERS, PUBLIC RUN AT KIRCHER PARK, Eureka MO. 11 am to 4pm, Admission is free. http://stlouislivesteamers.org/
OCTOBER 30, 2016 - THE FIFTH ANNUAL MODEL RAILROAD SHOW & SALE SPONSORED BY THE NORTH CENTRAL IOWA MODEL RAILROAD CLUB, HAMPTON, IOWA From: "Paul Shelton" <[email protected]> Date: Thu, March 3, 2016 2:50 pm To: [email protected] (more) Remember the Date. October 30, 2016 The Fifth Annual Model Railroad Show & Sale Sponsored by the North Central Iowa Model Railroad Club. Where: Franklin County Convention Center located on the Franklin County Fairgrounds, Hwy 3 West, Hampton, Iowa Show Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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For More Information, Call 641-456-1998 or Email: [email protected]
NOVEMBER 5, 2016 - FRIENDS OF THE ROCK ISLAND BLUE ISLAND, ILL The next meeting will be Saturday, November 5, 2016. Location: Grace United Methodist Church - Lower Level (enter at rear)12739 Maple Avenue, Blue Island. Details TBA Contact: Paul Hunnell - mailto:[email protected]
2. NEW PRODUCTS: ROCK ISLAND DF-2 BOXCAR IN HO – MOLOCO
Some of the original Rock Island purchased cars were repainted in 1979 to the new ROUTE ROCK scheme. This set of cars represent a series that were equipped with DF-2 loaders.
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Notice in a first for Moloco is a non-roofwalk, cut down ladders on the A end and double Third Arms on the plug doors which we mandated and added during the repainting. In 1962 General American Corp. started to build their most popular insulated boxcar designs, a refinement of their proven 1950s design. One of the major developments for the car design and unique to General America was it's all welded body construction, where only the roof was bolted on after insulation. These CADILLACs of the boxcar market were insulated, had 20-inch cushioned underframes, and a variety of load restraining devices per customer specifications. Design features Newly tooled Overhanging Stanray roof Perfect to prototype Stanray R3-4 welded ends, with GA style ladders and crossover platforms Car sides welded, with GA style ladders, fitted with specific to prototype door stops, door gussets and sill design Prototype correct handbrake specific to customer orders General American cushioned frame and floor configurations depending on prototype with Moloco's cushioned draft gear coupler boxes Appropriate cushioning devices, Hydra-Cushion or Keystone Appropriate to prototype trucks Rubber air hoses (MOLOCO) Go to Moloco Website: http://www.molocotrains.com/
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IOWA INTERSTATE HO GP10 PADUCAH LOCOMOTIVE IN HO BY INTERMOUNTAIN RAILWAY COMPANY MSRP: Locomotive w/ Sound - $279.95 / Non-Sound - $189.95
Go to Intermountain Railway Website: http://www.intermountain-railway.com/ho/loco/holocgp-10.htm
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IOWA INTERSTATE HO SD-38-2 LOCOMOTIVE IN HO BY INTERMOUNTAIN RAILWAY COMPANY MSRP - Locomotive w/ Sound - $289.95 / Non-Sound - $199.95
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Go to Intermountain Railway Website: http://intermountain-railway.com/ho/loco/holocsd38-2.htm
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ROCK ISLAND HO 50' COVERED GONDOLA - ATHEARN [RND82051] $26.98 Due Late May, 2017
Go to Athearn Website: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=RND82051
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ROCK ISLAND HO RTR 40' DERRICK FLAT - ATHEARN [ATH28033] $28.98 Due Late May, 2017
Go to Athearn Website: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH28033
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ROCK ISLAND N F89-F BI-LEVEL AUTO RACK - ATHEARN [ATH14397] $39.98 Due Late April, 2017
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Go to Athearn Website: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH14397
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ROCK ISLAND HO HEAVYWEIGHT COACH ROCK ISLAND #2840 PAIRED WINDOW - ATLAS Item# 20003876 MSRP: $ 67.95
Features: Full interior detailing Scale operating diaphragms Full, separately-applied underbody detail (brake piping, steam traps, brake rigging, etc.) Scale window glass Detailed trucks with free-rolling metal wheels Recommend 24" Radius Minimum AccuMate® couplers
Go to Atlas Website: http://shop.atlasrr.com/p-47031-ho-heavyweight-coach-rock-island-2840.aspx
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ROCK ISLAND HO U33B GOLD ROCK ISLAND - ATLAS
Item# 10002347 MSRP: $ 279.95
FEATURES: • Flush-mounted radiator screens and air intake screens on the long hood – early phase
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• Built-out area on the top of the front and rear pilots – early phase. Late phase models include • Corrugated radiator and air intake screens, with a flat pilot face – late phase • Optional separate electrical equipment box will be included on the left side walkway behind the cab per the prototype --AAR-B or Blomberg trucks will be used when appropriate • Separately-applied scale detail parts include: windshield wipers, metal grab irons, coupler cut levers, multiple-unit hoses, train line hoses, fine scale handrails, drop steps and more! • Five pole skewed armature motor with dual flywheels for optimum performance at all speeds • Directional lighting with Golden-white LEDs • Blackened metal wheels Atlas Master™ Series Silver Additional Features: • NMRA 8-pin plug for DCC (Decoder-ready) DCC Operation FEATURES: • Supports all DCC-programming modes • Flexible mapping of function keys F0 to F28. • A total of six DCC function outputs are available • Follows all NMRA DCC standards and recommended practices. Analog (DC) Operation FEATURES: • The LokSound Select Dual-Mode decoder allows your Atlas Gold Series locomotive to be used on DC as well as on DCC layouts. • Please note that the Atlas Quantum Engineer will NOT operate an Atlas Gold Series locomotive equipped with a LokSound Select decoder on an analog (DC) layout. However, the sound and lighting functions of the LokSound Select decoder in the Atlas Gold Series U33/36B locomotive can be controlled by an easy-to-use basic DCC system • Also note that on a DC-powered layout, a DCC and sound equipped locomotive (such as the Atlas Gold Series U33/36B) CANNOT be consisted with another locomotive that does not also have both DCC and sound. (This statement does NOT apply to DCC-equipped locomotives operating on a DCC layout.) Sound Functionality FEATURES: • Over 20 sound effects are available, including engine start-up and shutdown, prime mover sounds through all eight notches, bell, air horn, air compressor, dynamic brakes and more. • There are 16 user-selectable horns, 2 user-selectable bells, and 2 user-selectable synchronized brake squeals. • Manual and Automatic Notching modes with the ability to change modes ”on the fly” are provided for true realism.
Go to Atlas Website: http://shop.atlasrr.com/p-46255-ho-u33b-gold-rock-island-197.aspx
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3. GEORGE NILES PHOTO GALLERY – PART TWO Kim Niles has generously provided us with a series of photographs taken by his father, George Niles in the 1940s and 50’s. This is our second presentation of George’s work.
Rock Island steamers rest between runs in Des Moines approximately 1950. The 5000 series R-67 in the rear appears to be in storage with its stack covered, while the 4000 series M-50-A in the foreground is waiting for its next run back towards Chicago. Photo by George Niles. Collection of Kim Niles.
Rock Island 4052, an M-50-A mountain takes on water on its way into the Des Moines roundhouse approximately 1950. At the same time, an unidentified locomotive, possibly a K-64 2-8-2 moves out of the service area for its next assignment. Photo by George Niles. Collection of Kim Niles.
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RI motor car 9056 in Des Moines circa 1949. 9056 was dismantled in 1951. Photo by George Niles. Collection of Kim Niles.
RI motor car 9000 is photographed in Des Moines approximately 1947, probably just before the end. It was reported in Stagner’s Rock Island Motive Power 1933-1955, as stored unserviceable in Silvis for 1948, and dismantled in April, 1949. Photo by George Niles. Collection of Kim Niles.
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4. YAHOO GROUPS WITH A ROCK ISLAND CONNECTION
SUPREME ROCK ISLAND REPORTER DAVE ENGLE, painstakingly put this list of Yahoo Chat Groups together, and Rock Island fanatics everywhere should consider joining them all. [The preceding was a paid political announcement Ed]
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
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5. OLD ARTICLE REPRINTS:
A. NEW FREIGHT TERMINAL OF THE ROCK ISLAND - FRISCO LINES
IN ST LOUIS - 1906 From: "Gerald A. Hook"
Date: Tue, January 26, 2016 10:05 pm
To: "'Tom Brugman'" <[email protected]> (more)
NEW FREIGHT TERMINAL OF THE ROCK ISLAND –
FRISCO LINES IN ST LOUIS
Railway Age Gazette – October 12, 1906
Our issue of September 21st contained some notes taken from the report of Messrs. Robert
Moore and Albert Perkins, Consulting Engineers to the Municipal Bridge and Terminals
Commission of St. Louis concerning the freight facilities of that city. As is generally known, St.
Louis has for some years suffered seriously inadequate faculties of this character. The great river
divides the district formed by the two cities on its sides and caused of much congestion of and
delay to freight at the St. Louis gateway. The total amount of freight received and forwarded at
St. Louis and East St. Louis in 1905 was 40,000,000 tons
.
During the past 12 months several of the larger systems which previously were deficient in
freight terminal facilities in St. Louis have been engaged in providing terminals that not only
answer present requirements, but will be adequate to the city's growing needs for some time to
come.
The Wabash was the pioneer in this movement. Its new terminals at Franklin Avenue and Third
Street being described in these columns last December. The Rock Island-Frisco system is now
engaged in a similar undertaking on property situated immediately north of the Wabash terminal.
This district, just north of the business center of the city and also quite close to the west end of
the Eads Bridge, has developed into an important freight house locality. Besides the two large
terminals above mentioned, the new Missouri Pacific terminal lies immediately east of the Rock
Island-Frisco site, the Louisville & Nashville, and Missouri, Kansas & Texas both directly north and
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the Burlington just southeast. AII are served by the Terminal Railroad Association's tracks;
however, the Wabash has its own track to its terminal. The Frisco has a good-sized freight house
a short distance east of the Union Station and therefore about a mile southwest or the new
terminal. The Rook Island has been using the Louisville & Nashville facilities already mentioned.
The site for the new terminal was all valuable improved property, occupied by stores and
dwellings, and acquired for approximately $2,000,000. It lies between Biddle St. on the south
and O’Fallon St. on north and between Collins and Third Streets on the east and west respectively,
at the junction of the latter with Broadway
The half square on O'Fallon. Collins and Dickson streets is included and is occupied by the
entrance tracks of the terminal. The relation of this section to the remainder of the property
requires all of the tracks to enter the freight house area on a curve. As a result the north end of
the outbound house had to be swung around to parallel the adjacent track.
The outbound house is 24 ft. x 570 ft. and the inbound house 46 ft. x 577 ft. The latter is two
stories high for 208 ft. at the south end for offices. Also, it will be observed that the outline of a
future six-story warehouse, for storage of inbound freight, is indicated above, and including the
one-story portion of this house, with a total height of 84 ft.
This probably will not be needed for some time to come but the foundations, walls, columns,
etc. of the present structure are designed to sustain the load which an additional five stories will
impose.
The concrete foundation walls are reinforced by 5/8” Johnson corrugated steel bars. Both
houses have 12 foot canopies on the team side and 6 foot canopies on the track side. Parallel
sliding wooden doors are provided on the track sides and counterweighted sliding doors on the
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team sides. This type of door is cheaper and is regarded as being more satisfactory in many ways
than other types of doors intended for similar service.
The 152 ft. space between the parallel portions of the houses contains nine tracks and two 8-
ft. transfer platforms which are joined at the south end to a 10-ft. platform fronting on Biddle
Street. This plan provides for good handling of agricultural implements, vehicles, etc. There is
unoccupied space 40 ft. wide in this area which will be graded for a driveway, converting the
adjacent track on each side into a team track.
The local freight offices will be located on the second floor of the inbound house. The outer
office will contain a hundred clerks and special attention was given to the provision of suitable
ventilation for their quarters. Ventilating fans of ample capacity are to be used so that windows
need not be opened at all for this purpose. Ample toilet facilities and all other necessary
conveniences for the comfort and accommodation of employees are provided. The buildings are
to be steam heated and electrically lighted. The offices will have combination gas and electric
fixtures. On the first floor of the inbound house is a room 15 ft. x 21 ft. for a cooper shop for
repairing damaged boxes, barrels, crates, etc.
It is expected to have the terminal ready for business by the first of November. Its total cost
will be approximately $2,250,000, the greater part of which is for the site, as already explained.
The plans were prepared under the supervision of Mr. J. B. Berry, Chief Engineer of the Rock
Island and by Mr. A. T. Hawk. Architect. The contractor is the Kellerman Construction Company,
St. Louis.
B. JOLIET INTERLOCKING -1914
Rock Island Interlocking Plant at Joliet New Design of Tower and Derails; Storage Battery
Reduced from 400 to 160 Ampere-hours Capacity
Railway Age Gazette – August 28, 1914 A 224-lever all-electric interlocking plant was
recently installed at the crossing of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific with the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe, and the Chicago & Alton at Joliet, Ill. Aside from the fact that this is
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one of the largest interlocking machines west of Chicago, if not the largest, the original
features in the design make the installation of considerable interest.
High signals are three-position, upper quadrant, operating from zero to 45 to 90 deg.,
and dwarf signals are two-position, upper quadrant, operating from zero to 45 deg. High
signals are in general mounted on signal bridges, as are also the dwarf signal$ which
protect the pocket derails. The difference in the visibility of the suspended dwarf and the
dwarf mounted above the chord of the signal bridge is well shown in the illustrations of
the two signal bridges, Figs. I and 3.
POCKET DERAILS
Because of the location of the crossing directly in front of the passenger station, it was
necessary to provide additional derails nearer the crossing than the standard 500 ft.
required by the Illinois law. These pocket derails are located only 50 ft. from the crossing,
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and in order to give rapid and positive action, a derail was devised which is quite similar
to a movable-point frog. The frog-point is 7 ft. 2 13/16 in. long and the stock-rail from the
point to the end is 13 ft. 4 in., the angle of departure being 9 deg. I min. The frog point
has a 5-in. throw and when open the gage side is supported and reinforced by rail 'braces
placed at the proper angle so that when the point is open each brace gives support and
strength to the point. This bracing is necessary, of course, as the point is subjected to
considerable side thrust in deflecting the wheel to the ground. The rail braces are all
upset in the field in order to allow for a certain amount of adjustment after wear takes
place.
INTERLOCKING TOWER
The interlocking tower is of plaster on hollow tile, supported on a concrete wall
foundation. The outside dimensions are 17 ft. 2 in. x 57 ft. 2 in., two stories and a
basement. Beneath the interlocking machine and extending its whole length is a pit, deep
enough so that a man can stand in it upright when wiring, repairing or inspecting
equipment. This greatly facilitates the maintainer's work and assures better and quicker
service.
Another feature which is worth· noting
is the tunnels, used for cable ducts, are
immediately beneath the ground floor;
that is, in the upper part of the basement.
There are two oi these tunnels, built at
right angles to each other. The one
running lengthwise of the tower is 7 ft.
wide and 10 in. deep and is used for Rock
Island cables; the other is 6 ft. wide and
10 in. deep and runs out into a manhole
between tracks extending some distance
away from the tower. The latter tunnel is
for the Santa Fe and the Alton wires.
The interlocking tower is neat and attractive, the wide eaves attributing to a graceful
design. The building is fire-proof, with the exception of the finish above the second floor.
The hollow tile used was a recently perfected "National" type, having rough, wedge-
shaped ribs on the outside. As the outer edge of the ribs is the thicker part the shape
constitutes a good mechanical bond. The plastering was "Stonecote," made by the
Garden City Sand Company, Chicago. Two coats of the plaster were used, a scratch coat
applied directly to the tile and a finishing coat applied to the scratch coat. The face of the
coating was marked, before it had set, to resemble the Bedford stone in the station across
the tracks.
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PROVISIONS FOR REVERSING TRAFFIC
Traffic levers are provided for each of the tracks on the Rock Island and operated in
connection levers in the adjacent Michigan Central Junction interlocking tower to the
north. The home signals of one plant are the distant signals of the other. If it becomes
necessary to reverse traffic, the two towermen communicates with one another to reverse
the traffic lever for the desired track. If the latter can allow this movement, he reverses
the lever, which operation mechanically locks all levers controlling signals for movements
opposed to the direction of traffic desired by the first tower man.
POWER
R. S. A. specifications call for storage battery of 400 ampere-hours for this plant. To
reduce the storage battery required, an auxiliary gasoline engine was installed in the
tower. This will not furnish enough power to run the entire plant, but in connection with a
small storage battery it furnishes a sufficient supply.
This arrangement requires an emergency signal lighting apparatus consisting of a
motor-generator set, 110-volt d c. motor, driven by power received from the 110-volt
storage battery. This motor drives a one-half KVA single-phase, 110-volt, 60-cycle a.c.
generator, which furnishes current for lighting the signal lamps.
Power furnished by the Public Service Company at 220 volts, 60 cycles, 3 phase which
drives a three unit motor-generator set. A duplicate set is provided. Each set has a motor
and two generators mounted on the same shaft. One generator’s capacity is 40 amps, at
15 volts, d.c. and is used with five batteries for the track circuits. The other generator has
a capacity of 15 amps at 10 volts and used with three batteries for line circuit current.
A 70 h. p. gasoline engine and generator is used with the 110-volt storage battery to
generate current for operating the interlocking section in case of failure of the commercial
power.
The interlocking was designed by H. K Lowry, Rock Island signal engineer. The
construction was done under the supervision of C. Hartvig, foreman and L. Wyant,
superintendent of construction.
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All the interlocking apparatus was supplied by the General Railway Signal Company,
Rochester, N: Y.
Submitted by:
Gerald Hook – Russellville, AR
6. ROCK ISLAND FANS AND PHOTO SECTION
SWEDEN Subject: Re: Upcoming RIR July 2016 - Invitation for Events and News From: "Ole Pade" Date: Tue, June 28, 2016 12:54 pm To: "RIR Editor" <[email protected]> Hello Tom! Thanks for asking. I´ve written a short comment and am enclosing it together with a lot of Pictures, all taken by my friend Thomas Nordanberg. Please feel free to use and edit. Any questions shall be promptly answered. Regards Ole P Well, I started to find a successor to my RI layout. Somehow, I can´t really remember what happened. I think, I bought a video of IAIS. Wow, what a nice paint scheme and traffic like on RI, Chicago to Council Bluff. I didn´t have to alter much on the layout, Microscale had decals for engines. So far so good. Somehow, I got into contact with Joe Atkinson of IAIS-rail fans. He went really out of his way to help me. Besides, he had a complete file of IAIS equipment. He even advised which cars to use for models. I already had RI-equipment, so some repainting/re-decaling of RI came first. My IAIS #400 was in fact RI 1275 before. The others #403 and # 405 took a little more re-modelling, according Joe´s files, but came out nice, even considering they are P2K models from start. Then came 2 GP-38 of ATLAS, # 601 and #628. Both were, ironically enough, GM&O-shells before, and the #628 isn´t out from ATLAS yet. The #250 was also RI. Then we have #900/ATLAS RS36 and #850/ATLAS C420.
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The #103/ATLAS SD24 from start is now owned by Joe A. I also enclose some pictures of freight cars, which all came from Joe A.´s files, with decals from a source that Joe had used. So I can operate either RI or IAIS on the same layout. Very practical. Also, IAIS loco´s tend to be well maintained and seldom look dirty. Very pleasing, indeed! Following 6 photos of Ole Pade’s layout, taken by Thomas Nordanberg.
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ARKANSAS
ROCK ISLAND IN THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ARKANSAS HISTORY AND CULTURE To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 9:59 AM Subject: Comment on Central Delta Depot Museum entry
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Mr. Engle, Thanks for contacting us. I added a link to the Rock Island Reporter’s website to the resources in our entry on the Rock Island: http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=5101 I hope it’s a great day in my hometown of Kansas City. J Best, Alexandra (Ali) Welky Assistant Editor Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture— a project of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System [email protected]
COLORADO ROCK ISLAND CALHAN, CO DEPOT RESTORATION PLANS From: "Jim Jordan" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, June 6, 2016 6:07 pm To: "Thomas J. Brugman" <[email protected]> Old depot on the plains to be restored to preserve Colorado pioneering spirit. [Ed: Jim Jordan has sent us a link to an article in the Colorado Springs Gazette covering his organizations plans to restore and repurpose the old Rock Island depot at Calhan, CO. The line was abandoned in the 1990’s and the depot blended into the grain merchandising operation next door. The new plans call for a restoration of the depot along with a model railroad club layout. Sounds exciting. Tom Brugman]
See the full article and photographs: http://gazette.com/old-depot-on-the-plains-to-be-restored-to-preserve-colorado-pioneering-spirit/article/1576159?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Insur
Photo by ERoss99 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22469429
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ance+may+cover+homes+damaged+by+landslides+-+if+owners+bought+specific+policies&utm_campaign=AM+Update+-+Insurance+may+cover+homes+damaged+by+landslides+-+if+owners+bought+specific+policies
THE ENGLE RI CABOOSE PROJECT – PATRICK CURTIS IN COLORADO From: "Patrick Curtis Date: Fri, May 27, 2016 11:14 pm To: [email protected] Dave- The Ault caboose is still there. The McDonalds in Boulder was re-built years ago; the caboose is gone. I don’t know where to… The Cheyenne Wells caboose is by the ballfields, still in blue & white patched out…. 17658 is at the Forney Museum, no markings…. The 17085 is next to a UP CA-6 (type) caboose near the engine facility on the DRIR; near Brighton Road and 56th Avenue in Denver (I helped re-letter this caboose in Falcon, CO long ago…) The Louisville caboose is still alongside the BNSF at the South Boulder Road restaurant (closed) and looks terrible. The former 17104 is located at the Comanche Crossing Museum in Strasburg, CO and in full UP dress. I looked up Google Street View of Tom Abbott’s cabooses; they appear to be there, on the north side of the house, a bit off the road, under some trees. I don’t have any contact information on him nowadays. Patrick Curtis, Parker, CO
ILLINOIS
PEORIS TURNTABLE Subject: Re: Rock Island Reporter Newsletter April, 2016 From: "Larry Miller" Date: Sat, April 2, 2016 10:56 am To: "Tom Brugman" <[email protected]> Tom, Any information or details as to the state of the R.I. station and turntable in Peoria, IL? The City of Peoria and the Peoria Park District have maintained the site of the Peoria Rock Island Depot and freight yards (including the turntable) since its abandonment in the early 1970's. The Peoria City Council is in the process of trying to sell the property to a developer who wants to build high end apartments. Locals have been in an uproar as to the loss of green space and walking trails on the property (which is currently maintained by the Peoria Park District as Constitution Park.) Historians fear the eventual scrapping of the turntable even
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as preservation efforts and interest from the Monticello Railroad Museum to obtain it have been ignored by the city leaders. Have any efforts been made to contact the city on behalf of the historical society? If nobody has been made aware of this situation, expedience in doing something is in order or this is likely to vanish without warning. Larry Miller III [Larry: Appreciate your concerns. Perhaps one of our readers familiar with the situation can update us? Ed]
NEWS - CITY OF PEORIA LOOKS TO EXTEND ROCK ISLAND TRAIL. See article in CI NEWS NOW: http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/City-of-Peoria-looks-to-extend-Rock-Island-Trail-383040501.html
MODELING AND LAYOUT PHOTO UPDATES – JOHN DROZDAK Date: Mon, June 6, 2016 9:28 pm To: "Tom Brugman" <[email protected]> The first two are new [caboose] deliveries. The second two are from my layout. John Following 4 photos by John Drozdak
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NEWS - THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HAS TOLD THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION THAT IT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CHICAGO TO QUAD-CITIES PASSENGER RAIL PROJECT. See article in QUAD CITY TIMES: http://qctimes.com/news/local/illinois-commits-to-
chicago-to-q-c-rail-project/article_5438dfc3-c6c5-5d55-a4f6-cb78ab179e69.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share
NEWS - CONSTRUCTION ADVANCES ON MOLINE TRAIN STATION. See article in Quad City Times: http://qctimes.com/business/construction-advances-on-moline-train-station/article_662a4da8-68fe-5086-a2c6-41f72cea8b6f.html
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QUAD TV IN THE QUAD CITIES SHARES SILVIS IL FATHER’S DAY PHOTO OF ROCK ISLAND STEAMER ON FACEBOOK
ILLINOIS BUDGET PROBLEMS HOLD UP JOLIET STATION PROJECT Subject: Fw: [IlliniRail] Joliet train station faces another roadblock From: "David Engle" <[email protected]> Date: Wed, April 20, 2016 8:31 pm To: "Tom Brugman" <[email protected]> Uh Oh Dave Engle
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----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "tim ytrehalf com [IlliniRail]" <[email protected]> To: illlini <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 5:33 PM Subject: [IlliniRail] Joliet train station faces another roadblock [Joliet Station Project Delayed – see The Herald-News article. Ed]
Posted by: tim ytrehalf http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/04/19/joliet-train-station-faces-another-roadblock/aginbxv/
New Subscriber From: "armor03" Date: Wed, April 6, 2016 1:39 pm To: [email protected] Tom: I can't believe the Reporter consisted of 50 pages! I don't know where you find the time but I want you to know I really appreciate it. I worked for The Rock out of Blue Island back in the late 50's. My only regret is I did not own a camera so I never took a picture of anything Rock related. The Reporter brings back good memories. Thanks again Bill Schultz
INDIANA
IOWA CHROME CRANKSHAFT ROCK ISLAND U BOATS From: "Denny" Date: Wed, June 1, 2016 3:31 pm To: [email protected] Tom, love your Rock Island reports. I have a story and question. In the fall of 1980 4 of us went to Silvis to photo shoot the mass of Locomotives in the yard. We picked the stormiest day conceivable. During that day we talked to 1 watchman (think he may have been the only one on the whole premises). He told us to go after anything we wanted or
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shoot. Seems he didn’t give a crap what went on. In our visit we took pictures of the U30C’S all in a row. I saw a picture taken in 1988 and they were still there. Question? Chrome Crank had the facility in 1981, then NRE(?), what was eventual outcome of these units? Thanks, Denny
………
ROCK ISLAND DEPOT, MORNING SUN, IA From: Richard Lund Date: Tue, June 14, 2016 10:34 am To: [email protected] Hi Tom: The attached photo was taken in Morning Sun, Iowa taken around 1951 with my Brownie Hawkeye camera. It was built in the 1870's by the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern The next station to the south of Morning Sun, Mediapolis, had a nearly identical station building on the opposite side of the tracks. Both Stations are long gone. I'm in the process of moving, but I have other photos of the Morning Sun depot and a series of photos of the engine terminal at Burlington, taken while it was being converted from a steam facility to a diesel facility. Richard Lind
Morning Sun, IA depot. Photo by Richard Lind
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ROCK ISLAND SIGNAL ENGINEERING From: "Contact Us form" <[email protected]> Date: Fri, June 17, 2016 5:14 pm To: [email protected] Name: Al Seeger Email: [email protected] Subject: CRI&P Signal Engineering Message: I am affiliated with the Eldon Ia. Rock Island RR museum. I was a Signal Inspector with the BN for many years before retiring and I am trying to learn as much as I can about the Rock's signal system especially on the Golden State Route between Culver Tower and Allerton. I would really appreciate any correspondence with Rock signal people. Thank you. Come see us in Eldon. Al Seeger http://www.eldondepotmuseum.org/
ROCK ISLAND NEWTON IOWA DEPOT SOLD From: "John Nelson <[email protected]> Date: Wed, June 8, 2016 1:53 pm To: [email protected] Sorry if this information was posted before. The Newton, Iowa Depot former home of Art A La Carte Ltd and John Lee Photography was sold on October 2, 2015 to an individual: Guy Lee Loraine. From John Lee's website: "Late last Summer I found out that building I was in (the old depot) had been sold and the new owner was going to be living there. Because of his circumstances I needed to be out of the building by the end of October 2015." Lee posted that Loraine plans to use the depot as his residence. I stopped by the depot and there was no one there. There had been some fresh repairs made to the soffit where the order-board pipes and mast go through. There are now "No Trespassing” signs on the canopy supports. The sale price according to the Jasper County Assessor was $100,000. Art A La Carte Ltd was once a thriving graphics firm with more than a dozen employees, but their work diminished when Maytag left. The owner was Kathy Rickers, wife of former Newton attorney and now Judge Terry Rickers. Kathy was very friendly toward visiting railfans and opened up the depot for the IAIS steam excursion in 2012. I don't know anything about the new owner. John Nelson Photos: http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=8df9977f-4a2c-4ba2-9ad7-f6ff8b947dbc
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ROCK ISLAND CABOOSE 17684 IN BAXTER, IA From: "David Engle" <[email protected]> Date: Tue, April 12, 2016 5:55 pm To: "Gene Koder" This is RI caboose 17684, Baxter, Iowa. It sits on what was once CGW R-O-W, now the named trail. The note says a $15,000 grant has been applied for. Caboose* Our community hosts a restored 1913 wooden caboose, located at the northern trailhead of the Chichaqua Valley Bike & Nature Trail in downtown Baxter. This historical attraction houses history and memorabilia of Baxter and the railroad that once ran through our community. The caboose is a link between the community's rural beginning and its prosperous years to come Chichaqua Valley Trail* The trailhead for the Chichaqua Valley Trail is the center of Baxter. This trail was developed on abandoned Chicago-Northwestern right-of-way, with 24 miles being acquired through a joint effort of the Department of Natural Resources and the Polk and Jasper County Conservation Boards. The 24-mile paved trail cuts through sprawling meadows, rolling farm land and beautiful hardwood timbers that teem with wildlife and provides riders and walkers with serene landscapes of some of Iowa's greatest treasures. This scenic trail begins in Baxter and ends in Bondurant. This trail segment of the overall Heart of Iowa Trail, when connected, will be of loop design and encompass portions of Polk, Jasper, Marshall, Story, and Boone counties. The Chichaqua Valley Trail is an
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ntegral component of the America Discovery Trail, which will eventually go, nationally, coast to coast and thus through the Baxter Community. *Photo and text from the website for City of Baxter, Iowa. http://baxter-iowa.com/residents/recreation DJE Subject: Re: [RITSlist] Cabooses From: "David Engle [email protected] [RITSlist]" <[email protected]> Date: Wed, April 6, 2016 9:54 pm To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> . My list indicates that it could be RI 17037 masquerading as CNW 12569. May I pass this message to Tom Brugman, sir. I hear you are doing things around Eldon, MO, but one of the locals I asked didn't seem aware. He is one of 3 on this list, but I have names of others on the "prospect" list, some with no e-mail. Dave Engle From: "John Larkin [RITSlist]" <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2016 5:13 PM Subject: Re: [RITSlist] Cabooses David, There is a caboose in the very nice depot/park in Onawa, IA. However, I'm not sure that it's a Rock caboose. http://www.denverrails.com/db/singlepix.cfm?pix_id=6897 Onawa had three lines, one C&NW that is now operated by UP, one C&NW abandoned from Onawa to Ida Grove (still in service for grain east of Ida Grove, I actually had a contract to load unit grain trains on the line in Odebolt several years ago), and an old ICRR line that's been gone for many years. Sanborn has an old wood caboose, but I believe it's a Milwaukee one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDkOyYscAM8 [Sure looks like an RI wood caboose – Ed]. Sanborn had a roundhouse and facilities for the Milwaukee there and
the line is intact under ICE, now CP. John Larkin
CONTRIBUTION From: 2010bish Date: Wed, January 6, 2016 12:43 pm To: [email protected] I'd send some $ to support your wonderful RI efforts. Advise your mail address and to whom the check should be payable. thank you. David W. Bishop
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[Thank you, David. You helped out a lot. I don’t think most readers appreciate the cost of putting together a “simple” newsletter, electronic or otherwise. I produce Rock Island Reporter myself, assuming all costs of programs, website, and distribution. If I had a few more voluntary contributors, I could probably avoid charging for future issues – see last page of this issue. Don’t laugh, but my biggest problem in producing RIR is my wife. She’s a sweet gal, but she doesn’t like the expense, or see the importance at all of all the effort that goes into producing quarterly issues. Also David, I hope you like the inclusion of IAIS subjects in this issue. You asked and I listened. I will continue to encourage contributors to send me RI related shortline subject matter to expand this part of the newsletter. Thanks for your support. Ed]
KANSAS NEWS: UNION STATION SIGNS FINAL PHASE I LEASE, MOVES TO PHASE II – ARTICLE THE WICHITA EAGLE. Date: Wed, June 8, 2016 4:44 pm The Wichita Eagle had an article on developing Union Station. It also said "In Rock Island Depot to the west of the Grand and Patrick, Smoothie King and Mumbai Rail Indian Bistro also are open." John Matrow - Wichita KS Go to: http://www.kansas.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/carrie-rengers/article82491087.html
LOUISIANA MINNESOTA
THE LAST TRAIN RIDE From: "David Thompson" <[email protected]> Date: Sun, June 5, 2016 9:12 pm To: [email protected] Dear Mr. Brugman, Here is a story that may interest Rock Island Reporter readers.
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It is a train story you will not soon forget...when trains roamed across our country after WW II delivering over 233,181 veterans remains in baggage cars to be laid to rest in the home of record of a serviceman killed in action overseas. In WW II thousands of American soldiers (405,399) lost their lives in that war against the Axis powers. About 3/4th's of them died in Europe fighting Hitler and German forces. We still remember war and commemorate that conflict over 70 year later. To capture this story, I encourage you to watch a U-Tube of Rick Atkinson's 9/11/2013 presentation at the U.S. Army War College on *"WW II Soldiers in Northern Europe"* (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUUq3AvygiI ). This excellent video of Pulitzer Prize Winning author Rick Atkinson on *"WW II Soldiers in Northern Europe"* captures a poignant story appropriate for Memorial Day dealing with the casualties of WW II... in an eight-minute section on *"The Dead Come Home"* (at the 23:00 minute to the 30:54-minute mark), underlining the high cost of war and the extent our country has gone to honor these veterans and bring them from far-flung battlefields to their final resting place at home. The video presentation tells this story and the effort to gather the effects of each soldier and ship that home also is quite striking. Atkinson's U Tube presentation, early on, tells us worldwide, WW II cost 60 million lives, 27,600 every day for 6 years, 1,150 dead per hour, one death every 3 seconds for 6 years...a stunning figure of sacrifice and sorrow never matched in military history. On Memorial Day I did some preliminary research on a Memorial Day 2017 article on the repatriation of 233,181 remains of WW II veterans killed overseas (with 93,242 more fallen veterans remaining in ABMC military cemeteries overseas near where they fell in WW II). Families of veterans who fell overseas were given the choice after WW II to leave their veteran buried in an American military cemetery in Europe or the Pacific near where they fell, or have their remains shipped home for private burial in a national cemetery in the US or in a hometown cemetery. Those families who chose to have their deceased veteran brought home, in 1947-49 had their loved one exhumed, re-embalmed and then placed on a ship to selected American ports (New York and Oakland, CA) starting in October 1947. The U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and the American railroads were charged with transporting all these 233,181 veterans remains to their home of record for final burial in 1947-49. That would have been a huge task to move that many veteran remains in that short period of time across the country to every city, village, and township on the RR right away... to connect with local funeral homes for final disposition. I can hardly imagine what an awesome sight that must have been for the public traveling trains and the train and station crews who handled these remains to see that volume of troops "coming home" that way.
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My dad was a Railway Mail Clerk on the *Duluth & Altoona *RPO on the CStPM&O railroad passenger trains that ran from Duluth, MN to Chicago, IL in 1947-49 and surely saw this sight many times at every stop through the State of Wisconsin to Duluth, MN, as the baggage-men in the baggage car unloaded flag draped casket containers of deceased WW II veterans at every train stop while on their journey from Chicago (one of the 15 distribution points) through Wisconsin to Minnesota. He was a WW I veteran and knew about war, so I wonder what he thought of this? At least 5 times the number of veterans remains were repatriated to the US after WW II (233,181) compared to World War I (46,292). In 1947, a great repatriation effort was made in a onetime offer to families of 405,399 deceased U.S. service personnel to bring their bodies home, of which 56% of the families accepted, bringing home 233,181 WW II veterans remains, costing the government $200,000,000 in 1945 dollars...equal to $7 Billion dollars today). It cost the government $564.50 per body in 1945 dollars to exhume, re-embalm, and ship the remains of a deceased veteran killed overseas to their home of record for burial. Here are photos from a *Life Magazine* issue in November 1947 showing rail cars loaded with WW II repatriated veterans remains from the ETO at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Brooklyn, NY and ferried to New Jersey for connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad's Greenville Yards in Jersey City, NJ for correctly sorting and routing outbound casket shipments on passenger trains to 15 distribution centers in the US, where they again would be sorted and placed in a baggage car, with military escort, on a rail company's passenger train to the serviceman's hometown (see: http://members.trainweb.com/bedt/milrr/batbtww2repat.html ). The families of 78,976 dead American soldiers had no remains returning home; their sons were listed as missing in action, and their remains were never recovered. Today the number of missing has been reduced by only a trifle; about seventy-eight thousand (78,000) Americans who went off to World War II are still listed as MIA. The Memorial Day Foundation tells this story well (see: http://www.memorialdayfoundation.org/articles/safely-rest.html ), using the *Prologue* of David P. Colley's book, "*Safely Rest*" (see: http://www.amazon.com/Safely-Rest-David-Colley/dp/0425205142/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464563436&sr=1-1&keywords=Safely+Rest ). The Spring/Summer 2015 issue of *"Railroad History"* entitled *"The Last Train Ride: Return of the World War II Dead"* *(see attached), * written by James I. Murrie and Naomi Jeffery Peterson, tells the story American railroads played in the return of the remains of WW II veterans to their hometown cemeteries for final a final resting place after having fallen in battle in the European, Mediterranean or Pacific theaters of war. It underlines the high cost of war and the role railroads played in bringing our fallen boys remains home. The above-mentioned article indicated the U.S. Army Transportation Command, using hospital cars converted into mortuary cars, transported some 66 remains of soldiers per car, from Brooklyn, NY on the East Coast and Oakland, CA on the West Coast, to 15
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Distribution Centers across America where these casket containers were then sorted again to go on trains to the towns of the home of record of the serviceman for burial. The U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps was charged with the administration of the repatriation program. Here is a 1946 U.S. Quartermaster Corps pamphlet entitled "*Tell Me About My Boy"* for the next of kin of deceased service personnel from WW II (see: http://qmfound.com/about_my_boy.htm ). In this pamphlet it states, " *the remains will be delivered to the railroad station nearest the cemetery of burial and the cost of the (railroad) transportation to the proper railroad station will be borne by the government." * On Memorial Day, as we visit community and national cemeteries to honor our war dead, it is interesting to reflect upon this vast undertaking to bring these troops all the way home by rail, following WW II. Today casualties are so much less (some 6,000 in ten years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan) that airlines can easily absorb transporting veteran remains in this volume. but following WW II, the numbers of remains being repatriated from overseas noted in the article, in a short period of time, would have been overwhelming, if such a system had not been devised. Even the system of escort service details and military security guards used in this transportation process was very impressive. Having worked with military casualty officers and the casualty affairs office of the MN National Guard from 2007-2009 when 30 military casualties came back to MN, gave me some sense the logistics associated with this operation after WW II and the efforts to do this in a dignified and honorable manner. The picture of civilian stevedores dressing up in their "Sunday best" clothes to handle unloading this precious cargo was striking...and the insistence by the military that railroad personnel who handled these remains wear “clean" clothing and not wear dirty gloves to handle casket containers was amazing (a report-able offense by military escorts against a railroad worker to the railroad company and to the military). This is an interesting, but rarely told story of World War II, especially about the role of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and the American railroads played, to with honor and dignity, bringing 233,181 servicemen home to their final resting place. I have been asked to write a story on this effort for the Minnesota Historical Society's magazine in *Minnesota History* and the Minnesota Military Historical Museum's "*Allies* *Newsletter*" entitled " *The Last Train Ride Through Minnesota."* So, I am putting the word out to the various railroad historical societies which ran trains out of Chicago (Milwaukee Road, CB&Q, C &NW/CStPM&O, Soo Line) to the Twin Cities...and then those who operated in MN taking these remains onward out of the Twin Cities to Greater Minnesota to their final resting place (again Milwaukee Road, C&NW, CStPM&O, CGW, Soo Line, GN, NP, Rock Island) asking for any information or photos of this event in their archives or publications. Do you have any information in your Rock Island RR archives related specifically to "*The Last Train Ride"* *(see attached) * on Rock Island trains ...or any photos of this evolution
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in bringing these soldiers remains home to Minnesota? My sense is that the Rock Island Rocket trains to the Twin Cities could have been involved in this effort. I also hope to, if I have enough material in photos and other materials, to include that in the Veterans Gallery Project permanent display at the St. Paul Union Depot, in St. Paul MN. Depending on the materials I can gather to donate to them, it might become part of that iconic veteran’s gallery in the St. Paul Depot. I am presently in discussion on the issue with the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority that manages the project. Any help on this project and the role of the Rock Island RR passenger trains baggage service to tell this story to a new generation, honoring these WW II veterans, would be greatly appreciated. Warm regards, Dave Thompson Rosemount, MN [email protected]
RAILWAY POST OFFICE From: David Thompson To: Dave Engle [email protected] Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2016 8:42 AM Subject: Moving Mail & Express by Rail Dave, I recently got a hold of the book "Moving Mail and Express by Rail" by Edward M. DeRouin, LaFox, IL: Pixels Publishing, 2007 through a library loan program from a library in Albuquerque, NM. It is filled with photos of RPO's and REA cars with some good information on the head-end business on railroads during the heyday of this service. Attached is an account of a RPO clerk, Water E. Larson, who ran on the Chicago & Minneapolis RPO on the Milwaukee Road train to the Twin Cities... and later on the C&NW's Chicago & Omaha RPO, written by his daughter, Margaret Larson Slote, entitled "Remembering Dad." It really is a fun piece to read. [Unfortunately, we cannot reproduce that article in RIR. Ed] The article shows Walter's December 14, 1912 postal exam results while working on the Chicago & Minneapolis RPO...and his postal exam results on August 10,1922 and November 12, 1942 while working on the Chicago & Omaha RPO. I read that Edward DeRouin, the author, died in Illinois not too long ago. It would have been fun to chat with him had he lived. Copies of his book can be obtained at Amazon.com:
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https://www.amazon.com/Moving-Mail-Express-Edward-DeRouin/dp/0972874321?ie=UTF8&hvadid=3520796100&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_7h1uq32xaa_e&tag=mh0b-20 Warm regards, Dave Thompson
ROCK ISLAND MEMORABILIA AVAILABLE From: "Mobile Alerts" <[email protected]> Date: Sat, April 23, 2016 10:13 am To: [email protected] Date and Time Received: 23 Apr 2016, 3:13 pm Name: Robert Helling Email: [email protected] Comments: As an ex Rock Island employee I have a lot of Rock stuff. Timetables, train orders, Rock magazine. I still have my Rock Island passenger uniform. Also 16 mm movies of trains between Inverness Grove MN and Manly Iowa. I have M&STL, Great Western, CNW, stuff. I want to get rid of this as getting up in age. Thank you, Bob
MISSOURI UPDATED CABOOSE LIST OF 6-13-16 From: "David Engle" <[email protected]> Date: Mon, June 13, 2016 8:50 pm To: "Tom Brugman" <[email protected]> Very good--thanks much. Hope we get some reaction from others who can help with the updates as a result. Dave Engle From: Tom Brugman <[email protected]> To: David Engle <[email protected]>
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Sent: Monday, June 13, 2016 5:09 PM Subject: Re: Caboose list of 6-13-16 Got it. Have it up shortly. Tom Brugman On Jun 13, 2016, at 4:11 PM, David Engle <[email protected]> wrote: A bunch of changes over the weekend. Dave Engle See Updated RI Caboose List at: http://www.rockislandreporter.com/files/116158468.pdf NEWS ON THE ROCK ISLAND TRAIL IN MID-MO From: "j_spurlock Date: Wed, June 15, 2016 5:02 pm Cross-posting with a couple of other RI-related groups. Today's Gasconade County Republican, the Owensville, MO newspaper, has another article about the Rock Island trail. For those not familiar, most of the old St Louis-KC sub, long out of service, is being converted to a bike trail. Tracks, ties, ballast, etc., have been gone since at least 2014 between Pleasant Hill (near Kansas City) and Windsor, near Clinton, and a junction with the Katy Trail. Now they're working the eastern edge of this subdivision. Here's the link to the article, in case you want to read it (just click the "skip the survey" button if it appears): http://www.gasconadecountyrepublican.com/news/gerald_rosebud/article_78342de0-3307-11e6-bb77-e398a92d7cd0.html Jon Spurlock
CENTRAL MIDLAND ABANDONMENT: ROSEBUD, MO. From: "Muskopf, Scott" Date: Sun, April 3, 2016 11:12 pm To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Hello Tom Here is a photo looking east at Rosebud, Mo. at the salvage operation taking place on Central Midland Ry.’s former Rock Island track. Date: March 24, 2016 photo by Scott Muskopf
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NEBRASKA NEW ROCK ISLAND BOOK From: "Jim Reisdorff" Date: Wed, March 16, 2016 12:26 pm To: "RTR Editorial" <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] Dear Steve, Paul and Tom: I just picked up a copy of the most recent issue of REMEMBER THE ROCK and was heartened to note the spirit of cooperation regarding the preservation of Rock Island history that was implied in Tom’s email message to RTR, and which was graciously printed in RTR. Anyway, related to this spirit of cooperation between Rock Island-related media, I wanted to let you all know that a new and albeit very small book on a portion of Rock Island history will soon be published. I refer to Vol. 3 of ROCK ISLAND WESTWARD, by the late Tom
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Lee from Clay Center, Kansas. This volume will cover the division’s freight service between the start of the Great Depression in 1930 and the end of RI steam in 1952. Publication is expected by this May 1. The story is that, for several years, Tom Lee and I had been in contact about my helping him to get his third volume published of his planned trilogy on the Western Division. Unfortunately, Tom was only able to provide me with a draft of the large manuscript before he passed away in 2014. At the time, he had made no provisions yet for selecting photos or writing captions. In brief, I determined to at least fulfill part of Tom’s vision. I did so by selecting that part of the manuscript that I felt had the most marketability among railfans, and locating photos that I could use to illustrate the book. (To explain, Tom’s huge photo and paper collection, including a wealth of RI material, is currently in limbo while his two sons, who live elsewhere, attempt to find an institution that is willing and able to archive the collection. Due to circumstances, I did not want to attempt to cull the collection after Tom’s death. Hence, again, I located what photos I could for the book from other sources.) Anyway, the “book" will only consist of 40 pages. Certainly, it will be much slimmer than Tom’s previous volumes on the subject of the Western Division. But again, I completed this endeavor using what time, resources and circumstances were available to me. My point here is that, even with the publication of this book, a large part of Tom’s manuscript on Western Division freight service, covering the years 1886-1930, will still remain unpublished. My plan is to simply return this portion of the manuscript to the Lee family in order for it to be included with the materials from Tom’s collection. However, before I do that, I would at least ask if either of your magazines would possibly be interested in having an opportunity to review this material in order to determine whether any of it would be beneficial to you in terms of future articles for your respective publications? Admittedly, a positive response would mean that I would still have to first ask the Lee family for permission to allow Tom’s text to be used in this manner. At this time, I would say that they would probably be willing to allow me to do this. But again, I would need to do the proper thing of first informing them as to any potential interest in Tom’s text and by who. In any event, that is the situation. Please let me know if you have any questions in this matter as I described it above, or the same regarding this pending offer. Thank you again for what you all do to keep the Rock Island rolling posthumously. Sincerely Jim Reisdorff
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Publisher South Platte Press PO Box 163 David City, NE 68632 [Anything we can do to help – just ask. Tom]
OHIO NEW RIR READER m.rockislandreporter.com From: "Mobile Alerts" Date: Mon, May 23, 2016 10:25 pm To: [email protected] Dear site owner, You've received a customer request from your mobile website m.rockislandreporter.com, to send more information. Please refer to details below. Date and Time Received: 24 May 2016, 2:25 am Name: Clinton Cox Comments: So glad to have found your organization. The Rock is not dead!
ROCK ISLAND 17600 SERIES CAB UPDATE - ROGER KIRKPATRICK From: "David Engle" <[email protected]> Date: Wed, May 25, 2016 3:00 pm To: "Tom Brugman" <[email protected]> ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Roger Kirkpatrick To: rirocket <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2016 1:49 PM Subject: Re: Caboose 17605 LV 95110 to RI 17600 to Big South Fork Rwy. CAB 1, Stearns, KY LV 95111 to RI 17601 to Ardmore, OK (or Deer Creek? or Turner Falls?) LV 95125 to RI 17602 sold to scrap in Chicago, IL, area (1977)? LV 95130 to RI 17603 sold to scrap in Silvis, IL (3-17-83)? LV 95132 to RI 17604 to Bedford, IA LV 95135 to RI 17605, to Urbana, IA, now at '?'
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OKLAHOMA LAST TRAIN IN CHICKASHA, OK. From: Dean Schirf To: Tom <[email protected]>; Engle <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 6, 2016 10:55 AM Subject: Last Train in Chickasha, Ok. In June of 1980, I was travelling with my family passing through Chickasha, OK., the beloved community in which I grew up watching rocket railroading in the 1950s, when I happened to notice a freight sitting idle facing north on the main line under the Bailey underpass. Having my camera handy I shot these pictures. There were no less than 7 or 8 GP locomotives and two switchers and a string of cars for as far as the eye could see. I never knew the details until April, 1990 when I showed these pictures at the annual rock island employee get together in El Reno. In the audience was a Rock Island engineer named Wilbur Stein who later approached me to thank me for showing the slide show and to further relate that he was the engineer of this train. To make sure he took the number of the lead engine and went home to check his trips (he stated he made a habit of recording his trips). He stated the train was made up of locomotives and cars being brought from Peach Yard in Ft. Worth to store in El Reno for further disposition relating to the liquidation of rock island rolling stock/property. The work hour rule came into play so the crew had to leave the train on the main under the bridge. The next day another crew took the train to El Reno. So sad to say like so many other rock employees of yesteryear Wilbur is now at the controls of the heavenly rocket. Little did I know it at the time but this would be the last train I would ever see of my favorite railroad in the town I grew up in. Dean Schirf Harrah, OK. Following photos by Dean Schirf.
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[right] The pic of the three men standing are Preston George (Oklahoma’s greatest rail photographer) on the left and Wilbur Stein who was the Rock Island engineer that brought the last Rock Island train I ever saw into Chickasha, OK., in June of 1980. That is me in the middle. This pic was taken April 3, 1990 at the El Reno depot where the Annual Rock Island Employee Annual Meeting was being held. In fact, I think it was the first of such annual meetings following the 10th anniversary of the shutdown of the CRI&P. These annual meetings continue to this day with the number of those attending growing less and less with each passing year. [left] Am also including a RI pic showing a Alco FA in ho scale at the station during a time that has long since passed us by. Dean Schirf Harrah, OK.
SILVIS SHOP BAND PHOTO From: "Nancy Austerman" Date: Thu, June 23, 2016 5:47 pm To: [email protected]
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Perhaps you can use this in the next edition of THE REPORTER. There is no date on back of photo. My “guesstimate” is 1930, plus or minus. Jack B. Austerman - Oklahoma City, OK
………
THE ENGLE RI CABOOSE PROJECT – LARRY PLATT OKLAHOMA SURVIVOR PHOTOS From: "David Engle [email protected] [RITSlist]" <[email protected]> Date: Sat, June 11, 2016 1:18 pm To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> (more) The first one led me to your entire 2-page collection listing. Thank you very much, sir. WOW. Dave Engle From: "[email protected] [RITSlist]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 9:06 PM Subject: Re: [RITSlist] Surviving RI Cabooses in OK Please note the dates on these pictures are somewhat old. I hope they help. El Reno, OK http://lbplatt.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=735853 http://lbplatt.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=735852 El Reno
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http://lbplatt.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=735851 Enid, OK http://lbplatt.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1778904 OKC, OK, this is how she looked in 2008 http://lbplatt.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1336088 Tecumseh OK, I spent about an hour talking with the lady that owns this RI cab and CB&Q 14108 http://lbplatt.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1334510 Tulsa, OK, there wasn't much left in 2003, don't know what's there today. http://lbplatt.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1506910 Enjoy, Larry Platt -----Original Message----- From: David Engle [email protected] [RITSlist] <[email protected]> Subject: [RITSlist] Surviving RI Cabooses in OK Can anyone on here please update any of these entries. The Stone Bluff cars are understood to be now under water. The car at Waurika may have no RI connection at all other than location, El Reno, OK RI 17209 UP 24627 sbw. Other side as UP 24627. Canadian Co HS depot museum. www.rrpicturearchives.net El Reno OK ATSF 999245 "CRIP 17145" never RI Enid OK RI 17039 swc RR Mus. of OK, 702 N. Washington, 405-233-3051, fm Yukon, OK Enid OK RI 17841 wob Phillips Road, north of city, poor condition Oklahoma City OK RI 17842 wob Griggs Tractor, 9495 W. Reno St., Tecumseh OK RI 17870 stl South Rock Creek Road, 1/2 mi. n. of Hwy 9/US 270, 3 mi. east of Hwy 177, from Cromwell, OK Tulsa OK RI 19105 tfr WEAMCO Pipe Yard, 645 West 41st & Jackson
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ROCK ISLAND “STEEL” CABOOSE IN MARIETTA, OK From: "BRIAN PAUL EHNI [email protected] [RITSlist]" <[email protected]> Date: Tue, June 21, 2016 7:39 am To: "RITS" <[email protected]> (more) I was able to zoom in a bit. Left two cabooses appear to be ATSF. Rightmost caboose is our baby, and seems to have been sheathed in plywood. There are 2 box cars in back of
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the cabooses. From the overhead, I thought they were trailers; hard to spot the cupolas, although one of the ATSF cabooses seems to have retained its roof walk. Thanks! -- Brian Ehni
TEXAS ROCK ISLAND COMMUTER CAR TURNED INTO RESIDENCE Subject: Old Town Keller train car [1 Attachment] From: "David Engle" <[email protected]> Date: Fri, April 15, 2016 9:17 pm To: "Tom Brugman" <[email protected]> ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "'Mike Murray' [email protected] [RailSpot]" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2016 6:30 PM Subject: Old Town Keller train car [1 Attachment] Old Town Keller train car to be flipped into a house Old Town group was forced to move it by end of March. It will be flipped into a house for a reality TV show. It was the group’s best option, its president said. A coat of paint could not keep a Rock Island passenger car in Old Town Keller. Instead, it will be flipped into a house. Ian McVea Star-Telegram archives BY MARK DAVID [email protected] http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/northeast-tarrant/article71874192.html
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THE ENGLE RI CABOOSE PROJECT – ROBERT CASARES COUPLAND, TEXAS Subject: CRI&P Caboose 17735 in Coupland TX From: "Robert J. Casares" Date: Sun, June 26, 2016 5:08 pm To: "RIR Editor" <[email protected]> Tom, This is the first Rock Island caboose that I ever saw, and I was 45 when it happened. We couldn't figure out how a caboose like this made it to a "hole-in-the-wall" town like Coupland (Cope-land) but we discovered the story with the help of a couple of Austin TX train enthusiasts and the man who purchased it, Mr. Charles Turner. (giant run on sentence......I know) He purchased the crummy and had it shipped to Austin TX. Unfortunately, no one wanted to set the unit out and it went back and forth a couple of times in the Missouri Pacific, reportedly reaching North Little Rock at one point. When it got to the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area, it was sent to the SP and they finally delivered it to Austin. It was a model RR clubhouse for some time, before being moved to Mr. Turner's home of Coupland TX. He was the superintendent of the MKT RR in San Antonio and president of the Georgetown RR (in TX) before retiring. Best regards! RJ Casares April 24 2005 ----- Original Message ----- From: RIR Editor To: 'Robert J. Casares' Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2016 3:36 PM Subject: [Fwd: [RITSlist] Re: Surviving Rock Island Cabooses in Texas [2 Attachments]] Robert, With your OK, I would like to include your caboose update in July Rock Island Reporter. Never received the attached photos. Could you send them? Tom Brugman - Rock Island Reporter From: "'Robert J. Casares' Date: Sat, June 11, 2016 11:52 am To: [email protected] The caboose at Coupland is there, on tracks in front of the relocated Missouri-Kansas-Texas depot. I've visited several times over the years and am friends of one of the people who is directly involved with maintaining the physical plant. Presently, they're looking for used ties to rehabilitate the house track.
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The back of the caboose had some degradation when I found it in 2002, but the city has come together to try to preserve it. I've attached a few photos for your perusal. It took a while, but I finally found out how this particular caboose got to the town. Coupland (Cope-land) is a very small agricultural community, and is on the highway between Tayler and Elgin TX. If you blink when passing the exit, you'll miss the whole town. Photo P4240127 was taken by myself on April 24, 2005. The other was photographed by Austin Texas resident Steve Hanson on August 11, 2013. Regards! Robert Casares - San Antonio, TX
Photo by Robert Casares
Photo by Steve Hanson
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TEXAS & NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY From: "David Engle" <[email protected]> Date: Wed, February 3, 2016 10:22 am To: "Robert J. Casares" I remember seeing a photo of a RIMT red semi-trailer from the '40s that had been parked in Stinnett, Texas, and apparently left there for all time. Dave From: Robert J. Casares To: David Engle <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 5:49 PM Subject: Texas Northwestern RR
Two more views of the Coupland, TX caboose. Photos by Steve Hanson
Photo by Steve Hanson
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Hello again! The Texas Northwestern RR used to operate several miles of track from the Sheerin Industrial spur near Sunray. They are about 60 miles North of Amarillo and about nine miles NE of Dumas Texas. They operated several miles of track almost to the Oklahoma border, but then abandoned a lot of it. I cannot find any email messages about this and am going from memory. There are a few web sites that can give you a little more info;
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eqtuu http://www.trainweb.org/southwestshorts/txnw.html
The facility, from a distance going south west. This is the intersection of Road G and Carbon Black road. ----- Original Message ----- From: David Engle To: Robert J. Casares Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2016 2:42 PM Subject: Re: Sunray museum Robert, I now can't see why I would have called it a museum, especially that it now shows as a rail line only. I got a yellow-pages screen when I searched, which I had to get clear away from to respond here. I'd like to think that it is a real rail operation of former RI trackage that could be of interest to our newsletter as well as coverage of the motor car. I may have misread, but it is 50 miles of track from Sunray to somewhere. I connect Sunray to D-X gasoline stations around the country. I apologize for my errors. Keep in touch, please. Dave Engle From: Robert J. Casares <[email protected]> To: David Engle <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 11:44 AM Subject: Re: Sunray museum Hello sir. I'm not sure what this is for, other than track speeders. You have the correct street address. I do not have an email address for them, but the phone number on the letterhead from the bill of sale is included below. I have called and left a voice mail on their telephone system. I was looking for a phone number or address for the machinist named Ray who bought the little M9 track car. Sunray is a very small town. When did the Texas Northwestern RR open a museum? Thank you! Robert Casares ----- Original Message ----- From: David Engle To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, February 01, 2016 1:25 PM Subject: Sunray museum Hello Mr. Casares; This is my entry for them at Sunray. Do you have any further info, sir, such as e-mail address?
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Cesares Texas NW Museum 6647 Road G Sunray TX Dave Engle
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON STATE WISCONSIN
7. ROCK ISLAND WANTED
ROCK ISLAND BETTERMENT PULLMAN SLEEPERS- 1941 ZEPHYR-ROCKET From: [email protected] Date: Fri, June 17, 2016 1:37 pm Gentlemen: I am still trying to track down a photo of the "Rocket Tower" 8-3-1 and the 10-3 "Cedar Rapids" Pullman Betterment cars in the as-delivered lettering scheme when the cars were assigned to the Zephyr Rocket in 1941 and up to the Pullman divestiture in 1948. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again - Dennis Popish
E MAIL ADDRESSES NEEDED From: "David Engle" <[email protected]> Date: Sat, June 4, 2016 1:27 pm To: "Tom Brugman" <[email protected]>
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Does anyone have an e-mail contact for any of these entities? Memphis Chapter NRHS 2235 Coachmans Road Germantown TN Cuyahoga Valley Scenic RR PO Box 158 Peninsula OH Cedar Valley O Scalers Robert R. Hardman 1015 Columbia Dr Cedar Falls IA Varner's Bed and Breakfast 3911 HIGHWAY 22 Montpelier IA Kankakee RM 197 S. East Av Kankakee IL Eastern Jackson County Mainliners Outlet Mall, I-70 & M-131 Odessa MO KC Northern RR 6060 NW Waukomis Dr Kansas City MO Winston HS PO Box 177 Winston MO Winston Station Antiques Highway 69 Winston MO Miller County MHS PO Box 57 Tuscumbia MO NW KS MRRC 1175 Wheat Ridge Road Colby KS Anglin-Tinnon Railroad Workers Memorial Big Spring Park, PO Box 489 Cotter AR Canadian County His Mus 300 S. Grand, PO Box 866 El Reno OK Canadian River RRM Esther Mooorhead, 304 SW Blvd. 100 E. Main Geary OK Dalhart Museum, XIT Museum PO Box 730, 108 E 5th St. Dalhart TX Santa Rosa NM Model RR Museum 2766 Route 66 Santa Rosa NM Colorado Model Railroad Museum 680 10th St, Greeley CO Choctaw Caboose Museum PO Box 577 Hugo OK Central Iowa Railroad Club David Briely PO Box 118 Des Moines IA North Star Chapter NRHS Richart Tubbesing PO Box 120832 St. Paul MN Freeborn County H&M 1301 Bridge Av Albert Lea MN Chicago History Museum 1601 N. Clark Chicago IL Overland Park HS 8045 Santa Fe Dr Overland Park KS Pratt County Museum 208 South Ninnescah Pratt KS California State RR Museum Foundation 125 "I" St. Sacramento CA Ozark Mountain Railcar, LLC PO Box 167 Kirbyville MO Collinsville HS 115 S. 10th Collinsville OK Guy & Natalie Winters RI LR Club 541 Covington Rd Ward AR Memphis RR & Trolley Mu 545 S. Main Street, Suite 121 Memphis TN Greater Omaha Soc'y of Model Eng. PO Box 2 Council Bluffs IA State HS of Iowa 402 Iowa Ave Iowa City IA Johnson County IA HS 860 Quarry Rd Coralville IA Wapello County HS 242 W. Main Ottumwa IA Eldon (IA) Depot Museum Merle Sedore. Mgr. PO Box 68 Eldon IA Scott County Historic Preservn Society.1820 Grant Street, PMB #5017 Bettendorf IA St. Charles MRRC Ft. Zumwalt Park, 1000 Jessup Ln. O'Fallon MO C&A RR Depot 318 W. Pacific Independence MO Lincoln Railfans Club Lincoln NE Lincoln Area RHS 4100 N 84th St Lincoln NE Heritage Express Trolley 300 S. Grand Av. El Reno OK Skiatook Antique Depot 2196 W. Rogers Blvd Skiatook OK Texas State Railroad Park Road 76 Rusk TX Texas Transportation Museum 11731 Westmore Road San Antonio TX Texas NW RR 6647 Road G Sunray TX
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Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Ry - 299 Main, Ark. 23 North POBox 312 Eureka Springs AR Dave Engle
8. OBITUARIES
Bob Barcus From: "Vic Polewsky Date: Thu, June 23, 2016 5:16 pm To: [email protected] T'was reported to me on good authority last Saturday (June 18th), quote: Robert R Barcus, Road Foreman of Engines Suburban and Passenger, Rock Island Lines passed away this morning at 0800. He was 97 years old. I didn't know him all that well; we spoke on the phone a few times when I was Asst Chief Dispr and Actg Chief, and we encountered each other a couple of times pre-1980 shutdown and maybe once or twice after shutdown involving trustee moves of motive pwr and rolling stock. He was always courteous, professional, and quite knowledgeable about motive power capabilities (a necessity to keep trains moving when there was no way to do it, especially under todays' practices). I rarely heard an unkind word spoken about him. Those few I heard were unwarranted IMO, from a couple of Engineers having been disciplined or having certain time claims denied. But, that was a part of his job! VRP
GEORGE H. DURBALA January 29, 1939 — May 8, 2016 George H. Durbala passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2016 at John Muir Hospital in Concord, California. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rio Vista, California. Burial will follow at a later date at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon. George was born in Lovilia, Iowa, the ninth of 12 children. He started his career in railroading as a telegraph operator for the Rock Island and Pacific Railroad in Des Moines, IA. After graduating from Drake University, he held various positions in Kansas City, MO, and Chicago, IL with the railroad. In 1979, he and his family moved to California where he worked for Southern Pacific Railroad in San Francisco until he retired as General Purchasing Manager in 1993. George was an active member of the choir at St.
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Bonaventure’s Church in Concord, CA for more than 10 years and was active with Knights of Columbus serving as Grand Knight and District Deputy at his current parish church St. Joseph’s in Rio Vista. He also served as financial officer with the American Legion for many years. In addition, he enjoyed playing bridge and bocce with friends. Trains were his true passion and George enjoyed sharing his telegraphing skills at the California State Railroad Museum. His other passion was his family and George spent many hours researching and maintaining an extensive, detailed family tree. Even on his travels to Ireland, he set aside time to research his heritage. He is survived by his wife of 48 years Sarah, daughter Anastasia, son Thomas (Shannon), son Alexander (Erika), and his grandchildren Madison, Nicholas, and Zachary. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer Durbala and Alice Martin Durbala, and brothers Joseph, William, Phillip, and John and sisters Mildred Bivens and Sr. Mary Lou Durbala, CHM. Surviving siblings include Lois (Betty), James (Margaret), Raymond (Louise), Jean (Karl) Northwall, Jane (Jerry) Schaefer, sisters-in-law Irene and Dixie, and many nieces and nephews.
JOHN L. FIKE From: "Steve Goen To: Skip Waters Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 3:49 PM Subject: Re: John L. Fike - Last train left at 3:30am from Boulder, Colorado Oh man, I am so, so sorry to hear this. John was a good friend. Skip and I visited him and his wife last August and he was so full of life. They had just bought their home in Arvada a few years earlier and he was so happy with the house and the fact that it looked over the Front Range just a hundred feet or so from the ex Rio Grande mainline. I owe John a great deal of thanks for periodically pushing me to complete certain book projects over the year. Unfortunately, I have not completed my WF&S project yet which was somethings he desperately wanted me to finish. Looks like I have another reason now to get back after it. Thanks John. TZ On May 26, 2016, at 1:56 PM, Skip Waters <[email protected]> wrote: As posted on his Facebook page... Dear Friends, This morning about 3:30 a.m. my husband of 18 years, John Fike, died at the age of 78 at Boulder Community Hospital in Boulder, Colorado. His energy had been gradually more and more compromised over the last two years, but his health went into steep decline in 2016, particularly in the last two months. There was a last-days diagnosis of the AML variety of leukemia, but by the time the symptoms and conditions were clear enough to diagnose, his body and systems were so compromised that the basics of living were becoming excruciatingly difficult. We knew things were bad, but his passing this
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morning took most of us by surprise. He will be buried soon in his hometown of Muskogee, Oklahoma, in a plot next to his dad and other family. There will be a memorial service later at Arvada United Methodist Church. For those wishing to make a memorial contribution, John would have suggested Planned Parenthood. I am grateful to his grandson, Kevin Kelly, for this quote from the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, which was a passion shared with his grandfather:
PIPPIN: I didn't think it would end this way. GANDALF: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it. PIPPIN: What? Gandalf? See what? GANDALF: White shore, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise. PIPPIN: Well, that isn't so bad. GANDALF: No. No, it isn't.
Given the expression in his eyes as he transitioned, John Fike saw that swift sunrise. Rest in peace, my love. John L. Fike
Howard Runft From: "Runft Claire" <crunft [email protected]> Date: Sun, June 26, 2016 9:45 pm To: "Tom Brugman" <[email protected]> Info: If I have not let you know before, I am very sorry. My husband Howard Runft, passed away the end of January. I miss him so much!!! He and his Dad were Rock Island through and through! Please remove this email address from your contact list. Thank You....CLAIRE RUNFT PS: The kids are taking some of Howard's RI stuff to the museum at Topeka KS....
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ROCK ISLAND REPORTER
128 Whittier Circle, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 Thomas Brugman, publisher and editor Email: [email protected]
Coverage The e-newsletter covers the history of the Rock Island Railroad in documents and miniature. It is devoted to its readers – anyone and everyone who has interest in the Rock Island. This e-newsletter, resides on its website: http://rockislandreporter.com Notices of publication are sent by email at least quarterly, and are free of charge to all subscribers. Please contact me by e-mail to request your name be added to, or removed from the emailed distribution notification list.
Advertising If you have a new Rock Island product or related event, we will be happy to help promote it.
Copyright notice This newsletter is available free of charge, but the editor and publisher reserves the right to control of any original material contained. However, anyone may quote bits of articles, with attribution, under the fair use doctrine.
Comment We hope you found this newsletter interesting and worthy of further issues. E-mail comments suggesting improvements would be appreciated. Pats-on-the-back are also appreciated.
Contributions and Cost Our plan to maintain this e-newsletter as a free publication has placed too much of a financial burden on the publisher. Rising costs for programs to produce it, as well as the cost to maintain the website it resides on, are dictating a change in policy that will take place with the January, 2017 issue. Our” stop-gap” measure to accept contributions from our readers has realized one contributor – to whom we are very grateful. Since we are not a non-profit organization, contributions are not tax deductible. Contributors should contact the Editor at: [email protected]. Beginning January 2017, it is our intention to charge $2.50 per issue for The Rock Island Reporter. This will be payable on the website. Exceptions will be made for material (written, editing and photographs) and financial contributors who will continue to receive the newsletter for free with our thanks for the support. Bulk downloaders (with more than one download) who have been distributing this newsletter to non-computer savvy readers may continue to do so after paying a reduced fee. For further information, please contact the Editor at: [email protected].
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Cancellation If you do not wish to receive copies of this newsletter, or its notices of publication, we will immediately remove you from the email distribution list. Please e-mail us. This is a simple newsletter and we are only concerned with the Rock Island RR. We do not participate in any spam activities and will not share your e-mail address with outside parties. Copyright © 2016 Rock Island Reporter, all rights reserved.
