NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&P RR) (AAR reporting mark RI) was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, THE ROCK. Its ancestor, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad, was incorporated on February 7, 1851 and operated its first train on October 10, 1852, between Chicago and Rock Island, Illinois. Image File history File links Chicago_Rock_Island_and_Pacific_Herald. ... Reporting marks on two CP Rail covered hoppers passing Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, June 20, 2004. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area Ranked 29th - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,732 kmÂ²) - Width 239 miles (385 km) - Length 261 miles (420 km) - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area Ranked 8th - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (451 km) - Length 380 miles (612 km) - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area Ranked 25th - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 390 miles (629 km) - % water 4. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This Article does not cite its references or sources. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area Ranked 12th - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 kmÂ²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 400 miles (645 km) - % water 8. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area Ranked 16th - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 0. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area Ranked 5th - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 kmÂ²) - Width 342 miles (550 km) - Length 370 miles (595 km) - % water 0. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area Ranked 20th - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 kmÂ²) - Width 230 miles (370 km) - Length 298 miles (fBlack Mesa Mountain]][2] km) - % water 1. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area Ranked 36th - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 kmÂ²) - Width 120 miles (195 km) - Length 440 miles (710 km) - % water 2. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area Ranked 2nd - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 kmÂ²) - Width 773 miles (1,244 km) - Length 790 miles (1,270 km) - % water 2. ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Rail gauge is the distance between two rails of a railroad. ... A foot (plural: feet) is any of several old units of distance or length, measuring around a quarter to a third of a meter. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... As railways developed and expanded one of the key issues to be decided was that of the rail gauge (the distance between the two rails of the track) which should be used. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 606. ... A World War II era print advertisement for the Association of American Railroads (AAR). ... Reporting marks on two CP Rail covered hoppers passing Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, June 20, 2004. ... A Class I railroad in the United States, or a Class I railway (also Class I rail carrier) in Canada, is one of the largest freight railroads, as classified based on operating revenue. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area - City 606. ... Rock Island is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois. ...

History

Territory

The Rock Island stretched across Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The easternmost reach of the system was Chicago, and the system also reached Memphis, Tennessee; west, it reached Denver, Colorado, and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Southernmost reaches were to Galveston, Texas, and Eunice, Louisiana while in a northerly direction the Rock Island got as far as Minneapolis, Minnesota. Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area Ranked 29th - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,732 kmÂ²) - Width 239 miles (385 km) - Length 261 miles (420 km) - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area Ranked 8th - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (451 km) - Length 380 miles (612 km) - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area Ranked 25th - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 390 miles (629 km) - % water 4. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area Ranked 16th - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 0. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area Ranked 5th - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 kmÂ²) - Width 342 miles (550 km) - Length 370 miles (595 km) - % water 0. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area Ranked 20th - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 kmÂ²) - Width 230 miles (370 km) - Length 298 miles (fBlack Mesa Mountain]][2] km) - % water 1. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area Ranked 2nd - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 kmÂ²) - Width 773 miles (1,244 km) - Length 790 miles (1,270 km) - % water 2. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 606. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The River City, The Bluff City, M-Town Location Location in Shelby County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Tennessee Shelby County Mayor W. W. Herenton (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 294. ... Nickname: The Mile-High City Location of Denver in Colorado, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Colorado City-County Denver (coextensive) Founded November 22, 1858 Incorporated November 7, 1861 Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) Area - City 401. ... Santa Rosa is the county seat of Guadalupe County, New Mexico. ... Nickname: The Oleander City Location in the state of Texas County Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas Area - City 539. ... Eunice is a city located in St. ... Nickname: City of Lakes Motto: En Avant Location in Hennepin County and the state of Minnesota. ...

Major lines included Minneapolis to Kansas City, Missouri, via Des Moines, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri, to Santa Rosa via Kansas City; Herington, Kansas, to Galveston, Texas, via Fort Worth, Texas, and Dallas, Texas; and Santa Rosa to Memphis. The heaviest traffic was on the Chicago-to-Rock Island and Rock Island-to-Muscatine lines. Image File history File links CRIP_235. ... Image File history File links CRIP_235. ... Milwaukee Road GE U25B at Bellingham, Washington, 1972. ... Incorporated City in 1835. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Nickname: City of Fountains or Heart of America Location in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in the state of Missouri. ... Nickname: Hartford of the West, DSM Location in the State of Iowa Coordinates: Country United States State Iowa County Polk County Incorporated September 22, 1851 Mayor Frank Cownie Area - City 200. ... Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: Country United States State Missouri County Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Area - City 66. ... Herington is a city located in Dickinson County, Kansas. ... Nickname: The Oleander City Location in the state of Texas County Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas Area - City 539. ... Nickname: Cowtown Motto: Where the West Begins Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Country United States State Texas Counties Tarrant and Denton Mayor Michael J. Moncrief Area - City 774. ... Â· Â· Nickname: Big D Location in the state of Texas Country United States State Texas Counties Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Mayor Laura Miller Area - City 997. ...

The system got its start in Chicago and was a major player in the Iowa railroad industry.

Passenger train service

The Rock Island jointly operated the Golden State Limited (Chicago—Kansas City—Tucumcari—El Paso—Los Angeles) with the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) from 1902–1968. The name was shortened to the Golden State after 1948's modernization. Another joint venture with the SP, the Golden Rocket, was planned to enter service in 1948 but instead became "the train that never was". Its uniquely-colored consist was placed in Golden State service instead. Train No. ... The Southern Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark SP) was an American railroad. ... Train No. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...

The railroad operated a number of trains known as Rockets serving the Midwest, including the Rocky Mountain Rocket (Chicago—Omaha—Lincoln—Denver—Colorado Springs), the Corn Belt Rocket (Chicago—Des Moines—Omaha), the Twin Star Rocket (Minneapolis—St. Paul—Des Moines—Kansas City—Oklahoma City—Fort Worth—Dallas—Houston), the Zephyr Rocket (Minneapolis—St. Paul—Burlington—St. Louis) and the Choctaw Rocket (Memphis—Little Rock—Oklahoma City—Amarillo). The Choctaw Rocket was a named passenger train operated by the Rock Island Railroad, initially designated as train No. ...

The Rock Island did not join Amtrak on its formation in 1971, and continued to operate its own passenger trains. After concluding that the cost of joining would be the same as operating the two remaining intercity roundtrips (the Chicago-Peoria Peoria Rocket and the Chicago-Rock Island Quad Cities Rocket), the railroad decided to "perform a public service for the state of Illinois" and continue intercity passenger operations. Both trains were discontinued on December 31, 1978. Acela Express in West Windsor, NJ Amtrak Cascades service with tilting Talgo trainsets in Seattle, Washington Amtrak train in downtown Orlando, Florida For other uses, see Amtrak (disambiguation). ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Once an acquisition target of the Union Pacific Railroad, the company went into receivership for its third and final bankruptcy in 1975. Attempts to reorganize failed, and the ICC ordered the Kansas City Terminal Railway to take over operations of the Rock Island in August 1979 after a clerk strike. On March 31, 1980, the bankruptcy court ruled that the Rock Island could not be successfully reorganized and ordered its liquidation, the largest such liquidation in U.S. history. Its holding company, the Chicago Pacific Corporation, continued on as its railroad/transportation subsidiary was liquidated. The Union Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark UP) (NYSE: UNP) is the largest railroad network in the United States. ... Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their creditors. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Union Station The Kansas City Terminal Railway is Class III railroad that serves as joint operation of the trunk railroads that serve the Kansas City metropolitan area, the countrys second largest rail hub. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

Company officers

Henry Farnam (November 9, 1803 â€“ October 4, 1883) was an American philanthropist and railroad president. ... Leonor Fresnel Loree (1858-1940) was an executive of many railroads in the United States. ...

Song and theater

A song called The Rock Island Line memorializes the railroad. Versions were recorded by Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, The Weavers, Lonnie Donegan, Mano Negra and many other artists, including a parody version by Stan Freberg. The chorus to the old song reads: Image File history File links RI_4340. ... Image File history File links RI_4340. ... LLPX 2235 leads a train in Anaheim, California, in early 2005. ... Missouri Pacific (MoPac; AAR reporting mark MP) was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Leadbelly (January 29, 1885 - December 6, 1949) was an influential blues singer and guitarist. ... Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash, February 26, 1932 â€“ September 12, 2003) was an influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... Johnny Horton (April 30, 1925 â€“ November 5, 1960) was an American country music singer. ... The Weavers were an immensely popular and influential folk music quartet from Greenwich Village, New York, United States. ... Lonnie Donegan MBE (April 29, 1931 â€“ November 3, 2002) was a skiffle musician, possibly the most famous of them all. ... Mano Negra was a French band frontend by Manu Chao. ... Stanley Victor Freberg (born August 7, 1926 in Los Angeles) is a voice actor, comedian, and advertising creative. ...

The verses of the song tell a humorous story about a train operator who smuggled "pig iron" through a toll gate by claiming all he had on board was livestock. Pig iron is raw iron, the immediate product of smelting iron ore with coke and limestone in a blast furnace. ...

The opening 'railroad train' number in Meredith Willson’s The Music Man (1957) is entitled "Rock Island", and suggests by the title and context that the train is indeed a Rock Island train crossing from Rock Island to Davenport, Iowa, also known as "River City". Robert Meredith Willson (18 May 1902 â€“ 15 June 1984) was an American composer and playwright, best known as the writer of The Music Man. ... The Music Man is a musical play with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson (story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey), which opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on December 19, 1957. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Davenport is a city in the American state of Iowa that borders the Mississippi River. ...

References

Contents

History

Territory

Passenger train service

Company officers

Song and theater

References

See also

External links

Contents

History GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Territory

Passenger train service

Company officers

Song and theater

References

See also

External links

History