- Rock Island Rockets (1937)
-
Rocky Mountain Rocket, east of Denver, Colorado, November 25, 1937
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Rockets were lightweight, streamlined Diesel-electric passenger trains built by the Budd Company. These six trains were the first streamlined equipment purchased by the Rock Island, as well as being its first Diesel powered passenger trains. Four of the trains consisted of 3 cars each, the other two each had 4 cars.
The stainless steel trains were each powered by an Electro-Motive Corporation model TA locomotive. Unlike many other early streamline trains, the locomotives were not permanently attached to the trains.
The trains were partially articulated, however the observation cars were not articulated with the rest of the trainsets.
The six trains as originally assigned were:[1]
- The Peoria Rocket, Chicago, Illinois to Peoria, Illinois
- Articulated 3 car set:
- 32 seat Baggage-dinette-coach #400 Joliet
- 60 seat coach #306 Ottawa
- 76 seat coach #300 La Salle
- 32 seat, 1 drawing room, parlor, buffet, observation car #450 Peoria
- Articulated 3 car set:
- The Des Moines Rocket, Chicago, Illinois to Des Moines, Iowa
- Articulated 3 car set:
- 32 seat Baggage-dinette-coach #401 Norman Judd
- 60 seat coach #307 Grenville Dodge
- 76 seat coach #301 Henry Farnum
- 32 seat, 1 drawing room, parlor, buffet, observation car #451 L M Allen
- Articulated 3 car set:
- The Texas Rocket, Fort Worth, Texas to Houston, Texas
- Articulated 2 car set:
- 32 seat Baggage-dinette-coach #402 Dream Lake
- 76 seat coach #302 Mesa Verde
- 28 seat coach, lounge, observation car #452 Centennial
- Articulated 2 car set:
- The Rocky Mountain Rocket, Kansas City, Missouri to Denver, Colorado
- Articulated 2 car set:
- 32 seat Baggage-dinette-coach #403 Bear Lake
- 76 seat coach #303 Mount Evans
- 28 seat coach, lounge, observation car #453 Pikes Peak
- Articulated 2 car set:
- The Kansas City Rocket, Minneapolis, Minnesota to Kansas City, Missouri (2 trainsets)
- Articulated 2 car set:
- 18 seat Baggage-dinette-coach #404 Arrow Head
- 76 seat coach #304 Chippewa
- 28 seat coach, lounge, observation car #454 Minnesota
- Articulated 2 car set:
- 18 seat Baggage-dinette-coach #405 Mesabi
- 76 seat coach #305 Ioway
- 28 seat coach, lounge, observation car #455 Missouri
- Articulated 2 car set:
References
- Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter’s Guide. Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
- http://www.rits.org/www/equipment/rilightweight.html
- http://www.rits.org/www/equipment/rirmr.html
- http://www.rits.org/www/equipment/ritwinstar.html
- http://www.rits.org/www/equipment/richoc.html
- http://www.rits.org/www/equipment/ridsm.html
North American Lightweight passenger trains by manufacturer ACF ACF-Talgo • B&M Speed Merchant • MotorailerANF / Rohr Bombardier / MLW Budd GM / EMD Goodyear / Zeppelin Pullman IC Green Diamond • NYC Xplorer • NYNH&H Dan'l Webster • UP M-10000 • UP M-10001 • UP M-10002 • UP M-10003 – M-10006United Aircraft / Pullman / MLW See also: Lightweight Train LocomotivesCategories:- Streamliners
- Articulated passenger trains
- Named passenger trains of the United States
- Passenger trains of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
- Diesel-electric vehicles
- United States train and rolling stock stubs
- The Peoria Rocket, Chicago, Illinois to Peoria, Illinois
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