RI Rock Island graveyard? (Lotsa pics)

William Cowie Aug 7, 2004

  1. William Cowie

    William Cowie TrainBoard Member

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    There's a story I remember (very vaguely) about the elusive graveyards of elephants. Yesterday I was driving along, minding my own business (yeah, right!) when a preponderance of light blue finally broke in on my consciousness. So I turned around and in a space of a quarter mile or so snapped 8 faded RI boxcars.

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    [ 06. August 2004, 20:12: Message edited by: William Cowie ]
     
  2. William Cowie

    William Cowie TrainBoard Member

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    More...

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    Which left me wondering... who uses the KYLE markings? I'm not into RI in any way, but I just felt compelled to capture this unexpected bounty of blue. Is this of interest to anyone?
     
  3. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    KYLE is a leaser company which also owns a handful of locomotives. I'm not sure who actyaly owns it or what the letters stand for.
     
  4. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Good catches William. Makes you want to clean off all that vandalism and rust and restore one to new blue paint and full RI lettering [​IMG]
     
  5. William Cowie

    William Cowie TrainBoard Member

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    Why, Alan, you don't like "character?" ;)
     
  6. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    I think KYLE is a shortline that runs the old Rock Island across Colorado?
     
  7. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    One can sure see these have been around the block a few times...

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  8. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    Blue Island yard, July 1980 - not long after the shutdown.

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    SD40's all in a row prior to disposition:
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    I've never seen anything like it, before, or since. All the equipment returned to the home yard for scrapping or sale.
     
  9. SLR 393

    SLR 393 Guest

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    The B&M ended up buying a pile of the blue boxcars for Paper service...
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes. They run (or once did so), Limon, Colorado to Mahaska, Kansas. Plus from near Courtland, KS, down to Salina and a couple branches.

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  11. William Cowie

    William Cowie TrainBoard Member

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    Seems like KYLE's staging yard is Denver, then! :D
     
  12. dingoix

    dingoix TrainBoard Member

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    I'll get my blue spray paint :D :D :D ....
     
  13. wig-wag-trains.com

    wig-wag-trains.com Advertiser

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    Kyle was the owners name.

    He built up a group of shortline freight roads (11 or 12) and 2 or 3 tourist lines (including operation of the C&TS). When Mr Kyle passed in 1995 the family sold the lines off.

    I don't know the current ownership.
     
  14. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    The Kyle RR is presently owned by RailAmerica.

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    Boxcab E50
     
  15. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    This old Rock hopper was picked up by C&NW. It was set out across from the GATX shop in Hearne, Texas. UP must be contracting them to do the repairs to the end ladders and brake rigging there.
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  16. Mike Hackbarth

    Mike Hackbarth E-Mail Bounces

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    Anyone know that Kyle RR run right by the center of the U.S.A. at Lebaon, KS. Too bad they don't take advanatge of it.

    KYLE RR CENTERED ON YOU

    But maybe one day a "new" RR will take it's place. ok ok I'm modelling it in MSTS :rolleyes:
     
  17. MP333

    MP333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I see lots of KYLE boxes here in Phoenix. In fact, I photographed one of those blue ex-rock cars only yesterday. Will post pix as soon as they're ready.
     
  18. dingoix

    dingoix TrainBoard Member

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    nice pic of that hopper! I have 2 Athearn RTR hoppers like that. Too new for my era of 1968, but I like them.

    I am really starting to miss THE ROCK.
     
  19. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Used to see some of those hoppers out in Washington. Would see them at the Continental Grain elevators in Tacoma.

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  20. omnitrax

    omnitrax TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi Guy's.
    Nice to see those Blue "ROCK" boxcars.
    If you get to check out the pics of Covered Hoppers currently operating on the Iowa Interstate Railroad, i think there's still 1 or 2 in "ROCK" Blue. Go to this site for photos.
    www.iaisrailfans.org

    As for the Graffiti. Why do these (NON Artists), have to deface rolling stock the way they do?
    Well that'll do.
    Hope to see more Rock Island rolling stock still in use.

    Thanks.
    Pete H.
    Australia
     

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