The Rock Island was my training ground for four years prior to my moving to the Union Pacific. In those four years 1972-76, I learned a great deal about old fashioned railroading and developed an appreciation for my job here. It's demise was inevitable and truly a shame but I consider my learning experience there the best that could be had. ------------------ Bob@CY
Bob, A lot of us started on the Rock. I too learned lantern signals on the Rock out of Shawnee then El Reno before moving on to a better RR. But there will be a place in our hearts for our first road.
I too started on the Rock Island in Shawnee, OK way back in 1965. Am now working in Oklahoma City at the former RI yard, but for Union Pacific--that took over from the Katy that had taken over from the Rock Island.
Unclepete, Where were you working in the summer of 77? UP or on the Rock both my brother and I worked the sunbelt line that summer I then went to the Frisco my brother, the dummy he his is, stayed with the Rock in OKC then Wichita till the Rock finally rolled over.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bob@CY: The Rock Island was my training ground for four years prior to my moving to the Union Pacific. In those four years 1972-76, I learned a great deal about old fashioned railroading and developed an appreciation for my job here. It's demise was inevitable and truly a shame but I consider my learning experience there the best that could be had. Hi, Bob, My gosh, you're all over the place, aren't you! A friend (former RI clerk) tipped me to this site the other day. Talk to you later, jeff <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
SLSF THE ROCK ISLAND WAS MY FIRST LOVE ALSO. STARTED IN MAY OF 59 IN CEDAR RAPIDS,IA. JUST BY CHANCE I WAS TRAINMASTER IN MCALESTER FOR A SHORT TIME. ABOUT 1978 AS I REMEMBER. MY TERRITORY WAS FROM SHAWNEE TO LITTLE ROCK. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY TOOK A BUY OUT FROM THE CSX. LAST WORKED AT CLEVELAND, OHIO. JUST LIKE CONFEDERATE MONEY I STILL HAVE MY ROCK ISLAND PASS. L.J. BLANCHARD
In the summer of 1977 I was making student engineer trips on the UP's fourth district from Cheyenne to North Platte, NE. I departed the Rock in April of 1976.
