Absorbing the Rock

[@spacetruckerrob]

My father got called back after being furloughed in Houston on Maintenance of Way along with his entire work crew , to go lay Welded Ribbon rail from El Paso to Tucumcari, NM in late 1980! When they got there, to their surprise, was an entire Rock Island work train , complete with bunk cars , kitchen and supply store! Throwback to the 60’s!

[@timetable5245]

Thanks for these pictures and presenting this historic transition. I never thought we'd lose the Rock Island. Now the mighty SP SSW & ATSF gone, too.

[@marktufts7756]

i miss the rock island line

[@Tricky929]

So SP saved the Rock after all. Appreciate the historical information. Nice presentation.

[@coasternamegenerator5611]

So the Rock Island is now a smaller railroad but it’s back and even has the p5’s!!!! OLD CAST TOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@raymondpaller6475]

Terrific video. Ambivalent feelings, as it recalled memories especially of roads that no longer exist, which was good, yet one of the trademark realities of the era ----- wavy bolted rail with dirt & weeds for ballast, was bad, and for that I am glad that era is gone.

[@TheOklahomaHotrail]

I worked on the UP from Dalhart Texas to Vaughn New Mexico for a little while and i can see why people loved the area

[@tomflendodo7297]

THE " ROCK " HIT ROCK BOTTOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🎸

[@blairterry9435]

News update the Rock Island has be reborn!

[@arkansasrailproductions5507]

Great video. Just as a heads up, the ROCK has returned in the form of a class III short line in Mississippi. The SP GP35R 6306 from 3:14-3:26 is still in service on the Arkansas Midland Railroad in Arkansas as AKMD 2505.

[@kurtkauffman4326]

The Kansas City to Tucumcari line is now operated by Union Pacific.

[@deb1958xxx]

There’s nothing prettier than a mixed freight with a caboose to make it complete

[@jreichel1]

Great stuff, Gary.

[@chrismartin1060]

Very enjoyable. Great info on the railroad and good-looking pix, and great insight into that time a million years ago when modern people were transitioning into the digital age.

[@tomharris8263]

Gary: Your presentations are excellent. Thanks for all your postings.

[@bboomer1948]

The old Topeka Yard interlocking tower is old...………...but beautiful.

[@RHicks]

I was able to go up in that tower as a kid my dad knew one of the guys that worked in that tower. Seeing all those levers in that tower was awesome

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Just last week I saw a Rock covered hopper car still painted blue.

[@JohnEDoey]

Yeah, I live in St. Paul, MN. and I still see them here often.

[@ethanbruce7637]

This railroad goes threw my town called owensville Missouri

[@granskare]

in 56, we took the rock to chicago, blue island tracks were bad. 20 years later, same route, Blue Island, bad tracks. :)

[@NYandAtlantic]

What locomotives did they use

[@granskare]

I recall seeing RI locos being chopped at a local place. Sad, with gov't subsidies for interstates and airports but zero for real railroads - Amtrak does not count in my view.

[@bakerboat4572]

Many states set up individual subsidies for railroad operators or even bought rail lines themselves. States include Washington, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan (who spent so much in the 70s they nearly went bankrupt).

[@alcopower5710]

Love this video

[@pqhkr2002]

I suddenly feel caboose is a interesting thing in a train.

[@27526]

Amazing, and well done. Great job.

[@dennisbrowder6316]

Most excellient !

[@boss1995]

I live in Alpine Texas!

[@Isochest]

Hope a lot of these routes are still carrying traffic though I doubt the semaphore signals survive.

[@dennisbrowder6316]

Thanks very nice stuff for sure

[@bluedorissmith6352]

sweet,nicely done., love the US railroads., thanks., geoff.U>K>

[@tfs4499]

Cool slides & info!

[@kurtkauffman4326]

Pauline is now served by the BNSF.

[@bobyar2001]

This is a well done video.

[@Isochest]

Is the wooden baton a Single Track Token? Looks like UK Single Line practice

[@mta224]

Bittersweet....

[@jarrietfair6497]

Did southern pacific take over rock island routes to Chicago?

[@gregoryhainsworth2663]

They took over Tucumcari to St.Louis

[@freighttrainsahpassing9790]

When reading the title, I though Dwane Johnson gave a train the Rock Bottom and the People's Elbow and the train kicked out lol ;) Cool video man !!!

[@maxshelltrack6131]

The rock's definitely hitting bottom now for endorsing Biden lol.

[@jfreelan1964]

I enjoyed the slide show. The Rock will always be in my heart.

[@Zebrails]

Tho' there were no moving pictures, the story and photo's are very moving. Thanks!

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Does that station still exist with all the museum and what not?

[@RHicks]

The ATSF depot was moved to Ward Meade Park several miles from where it was

[@yixnorb5971]

Imagine showing up as a wedding photographer with that goofy camera as a joke.

[@lcar4000]

interesting

[@audubonguy]

whats the tune?

[@b3j8]

Not sure but sounds like Oscar Peterson Trio.

[@donaldguthals9266]

The Blues, by Jimmy Reed. Neat music for sure

[@jeffaley2895]

Hi Gary, I really appreciate you posting this video / photos. I'm modeling the Rock Island in Topeka, so your pics have been very helpful! I'd like to send you a picture of the RI Yard Office that I built based on your photos in this video. BTW, are you in California? I live in Folsom. You can reach me at Jeff dot A dot Aley (then an "at" sign) intel dotcom.