I must say I'm so pleased with my decision to join the Rock Island Technical Society (RITS). I have enjoyed reading the human interest stories from crew members and people close to the Rock Island. My latest source of information received has been greatly appreciated! This past weekend, I received a link to The Rock Island System Freight Train Schedule and Blocking Instructions (1972). It provides a complete list of scheduled freight trains and locals for the entire system. Also, valuable blocking information was obtained. After I have time to digest this information, I expect some changes on the ROCK. Preliminary thoughts include assigning prototypical train numbers to my Extra Freight East/West and Pig trains. I might consider some blocking changes.
Below is a link to the 1972 guide. I've nearly completed re-typing the information into a more friendly format in particular highlighting train information related to movements on my modeled portion of the ROCK.
http://www.rits.org/www/histories/freight_schedule72/Instructions.html
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Progress Report 08.24.11
Crews are still a little sluggish from their summer furlough, so progress is extremely slow. Construction crews managed to get the roadbed and three turnouts installed today.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Progress Report 08.23.11
Construction crews returned from their summer furlough. Not much progress was made, but it was something. The tracks extending from the south wye of Bureau behind the TV into Peoria were glued down this morning.
I have been reviewing a lot of ROCK photos on the web over the past few days. What a time the 70s were! I would love to jump in the ol' Delorean to spend some time back in the 70s experiencing it all firsthand.
I have been reviewing a lot of ROCK photos on the web over the past few days. What a time the 70s were! I would love to jump in the ol' Delorean to spend some time back in the 70s experiencing it all firsthand.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Progress Report 08.19.11
Wednesday night, I worked on laying out the cork and track for Peoria. There is some debate between the two foremans on the alignment of the industrial track along SW Washington St. Hopefully that will be resolved soon.
Thursday involved a lot more staring at the future Peoria. I believe the foremans have come to an agreement on the industrial track alignment. As with other industrial park areas on the ROCK, this one too will include a switchback. It was the only way to make it work. I'm sure crews will be overjoyed!
Next step will be to mark and start gluing down the roadbed. Construction should commence in the next few days pending crew availability.
CRI&P clerical personnel worked to prepare the paperwork for the upcoming op session. We will be operating as September 16th, 1978. The crops are in and there is corn to move on the ROCK. There have been some changes made to the passenger schedule. Train #13 the Peoria Rocket Second Section will depart Chicago at 10am vs. it's former time of 8:30am. Previous labor disputes have been resolved with numerous changes including the addition of a fifth crew member, pre-blocking of locals and operational changes at Davenport. CRI&P Management projects smoother operations providing longer rest periods for crews between trains. The ROCK is dedicated to providing safe operating conditions for its employees while continuing to grow its business.
Thursday involved a lot more staring at the future Peoria. I believe the foremans have come to an agreement on the industrial track alignment. As with other industrial park areas on the ROCK, this one too will include a switchback. It was the only way to make it work. I'm sure crews will be overjoyed!
Next step will be to mark and start gluing down the roadbed. Construction should commence in the next few days pending crew availability.
CRI&P clerical personnel worked to prepare the paperwork for the upcoming op session. We will be operating as September 16th, 1978. The crops are in and there is corn to move on the ROCK. There have been some changes made to the passenger schedule. Train #13 the Peoria Rocket Second Section will depart Chicago at 10am vs. it's former time of 8:30am. Previous labor disputes have been resolved with numerous changes including the addition of a fifth crew member, pre-blocking of locals and operational changes at Davenport. CRI&P Management projects smoother operations providing longer rest periods for crews between trains. The ROCK is dedicated to providing safe operating conditions for its employees while continuing to grow its business.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Progress Report 08.15.11
Crews dusted off their tools and started assembling on ROCK grounds today. The sub benchwork has been cut and moved into place for the RI Peoria Branch. Surveyors are on-site. Welding (soldering) tools have been charged up ready for work.
Management has set some high goals to be completed before the op session September 17th.
Management is excited about the wealth of information received from the Rock Island Technical Society. I'm looking forward to learning more about this great railroad.
Management has set some high goals to be completed before the op session September 17th.
Management is excited about the wealth of information received from the Rock Island Technical Society. I'm looking forward to learning more about this great railroad.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Boomtime Blue in Peoria!
After some time of mulling over layout designs and visiting the prototype, I believe I have a construction plan for the Rock Island Peoria Branch. Rock Island's Design Team is looking to develop the Washington Street area along the Illinois River. New industries expected to go online will include S. Lucas & Sons Steel, Peoria Cordage Company, Peoria Journal Star and Wayne Feeds.
The track will follow the river (backdrop, but not modeled) into town. There will be a main and siding with a short lead for run around moves. A secondary track will be installed to access Wayne Feeds and the locomotive storage facility behind the station.
The Peoria Rocket will originate here as well as a RI Davenport mixed freight. The second section of the Peoria Rocket out of Chicago arrives late morning with mail and passengers, returning mid-afternoon.
You will notice an absence of the Caterpillar Plant in my design. The section desginated for Peoria is a small shelf rougly 7ft by 14" wide. To model the Caterpillar plant would be impossible. The plant is located across the Illinois River in East Peoria. I found the Washington Street riverfront area more appealing to model. I will most likely create waybills for various materials inbound to Peoria for the CAT plant. I'm still contemplating modeling loads of CAT vehicles outbound on flat cars.
I have exercised my modeling license regarding Peoria Journal Star and S. Lucas & Sons Steel. The Peoria Journal Star is not physically located in this area, but it is a short distance up the river off Galena Rd. It was served by the Rock Island railroad. S. Lucas & Sons Steel is actually A. Lucas & Sons Steel, but changed the name to reflect my friend and boss Sam Lucas.
Thanks to Bing maps, below are photos of three industries:
The track will follow the river (backdrop, but not modeled) into town. There will be a main and siding with a short lead for run around moves. A secondary track will be installed to access Wayne Feeds and the locomotive storage facility behind the station.
The Peoria Rocket will originate here as well as a RI Davenport mixed freight. The second section of the Peoria Rocket out of Chicago arrives late morning with mail and passengers, returning mid-afternoon.
You will notice an absence of the Caterpillar Plant in my design. The section desginated for Peoria is a small shelf rougly 7ft by 14" wide. To model the Caterpillar plant would be impossible. The plant is located across the Illinois River in East Peoria. I found the Washington Street riverfront area more appealing to model. I will most likely create waybills for various materials inbound to Peoria for the CAT plant. I'm still contemplating modeling loads of CAT vehicles outbound on flat cars.
I have exercised my modeling license regarding Peoria Journal Star and S. Lucas & Sons Steel. The Peoria Journal Star is not physically located in this area, but it is a short distance up the river off Galena Rd. It was served by the Rock Island railroad. S. Lucas & Sons Steel is actually A. Lucas & Sons Steel, but changed the name to reflect my friend and boss Sam Lucas.
Thanks to Bing maps, below are photos of three industries:
Peoria Cordage Company
Peoria Journal Star
You can see the former Rock Island right-of-way behind the facility. 
S. Lucas & Sons Steel
Rock Island Station, Peoria, IL
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Rock Island Technical Society
Progress has been nil for the past month. Traveling, summer schedule, etc. has got me out of my routine. Hopefully when school starts back up in a few weeks I will get back into my groove working on the layout.
Today, I joined the Rock Island Technical Society. I have considered it for a while, but mainly after exploring Peoria, IL in person, I got the bug to learn more about the ROCK. I'm looking forward to seeing what information I can absorb. At some point, I would like to start decorating my layout room with Rock Island memorabilia.
Today at lunch, I was reading an article from the Peoria Star dated January 4th, 1960 (provided by my adopted Aunt Carol). At this time in history, Peoria was the fifth largest railroad center in the country and third of the major Midwest gateways. Chicago handled 33 railroads, St. Louis 21 and Peoria 15. The advantage for Peoria was that freight could be moved through there east to west much quicker than through Chicago or St. Louis. In 1960, around 15,000 cars originate and terminate in Peoria each month, but is only a fraction of the traffic moving through there
The fifteen railroads include: Peoria & Pekin Union, Chicago & Illinois Midland, Chicago & Northwestern, Minneapolis & St. Louis, Illinois Central, New York Central (Peoria & Eastern), Nickel Plate, Pennsylvania, Gulf Mobile & Ohio, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Illinois Terminal, Rock Island and Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe.
Thanks Carol for the tour of Peoria and information researched. It is greatly appreciated!
Today, I joined the Rock Island Technical Society. I have considered it for a while, but mainly after exploring Peoria, IL in person, I got the bug to learn more about the ROCK. I'm looking forward to seeing what information I can absorb. At some point, I would like to start decorating my layout room with Rock Island memorabilia.
Today at lunch, I was reading an article from the Peoria Star dated January 4th, 1960 (provided by my adopted Aunt Carol). At this time in history, Peoria was the fifth largest railroad center in the country and third of the major Midwest gateways. Chicago handled 33 railroads, St. Louis 21 and Peoria 15. The advantage for Peoria was that freight could be moved through there east to west much quicker than through Chicago or St. Louis. In 1960, around 15,000 cars originate and terminate in Peoria each month, but is only a fraction of the traffic moving through there
The fifteen railroads include: Peoria & Pekin Union, Chicago & Illinois Midland, Chicago & Northwestern, Minneapolis & St. Louis, Illinois Central, New York Central (Peoria & Eastern), Nickel Plate, Pennsylvania, Gulf Mobile & Ohio, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Illinois Terminal, Rock Island and Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe.
Thanks Carol for the tour of Peoria and information researched. It is greatly appreciated!
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