[RITSlist] Fw: Rock Island mixed train

[Richard Wilkinson]

I don't recall a coach with a side door but do remember several arch 
roofed coaches (four-wheel trucked) that were regulars on the Ten 
O'clock Train.  That was the guy that ran via Worthington to Clear Lake 
(Watertown earlier).  I recall one car was painted dark green, another 
orange for some reason and there might have been an aluminum one too.  
They lasted into the very early 1960s I think.

They were slowly replaced in the last couple of years with side door 
cabooses.  The Sioux Falls train also had cabooses.  In fact I don't 
recall them having coaches.  That isn't to say they didn't use them at 
some point.  They were Monday, Wednesday and Friday/ Tuesday, Thursday 
and Saturday service which meant most of the time I only saw them during 
the summer and on Saturdays in the Winter.

I also remember seeing the Iowa Falls, Garner, Lakota train equipped 
with side door cabs also.

West of Estherville when using the cabooses or coaches the passenger 
carrying car was directly behind the power and the crews caboose on the 
end.  Short trains looked rather peculiar and on occasion all you had 
were two cabooses if they had no cars.

Interestingly it wasn't uncommon to see the cars lighted, which meant 
they had a passenger or two.  I've heard stories of stalwart regulars 
using the trains almost to the end.

I believe the mixed service around here, Spirit Lake, was gone by 1966, 
probably earlier.  The last timetable I have with a listing for them was 
mid-1964.

I think there was a book by Phil Hastings which had a shot of one of the 
mixed trains with a coach at Grundy Center, I think.

Hope this helps,
Rich Wilkinson

David Engle wrote:
> Can anyone help?  The only car I know of was that 2800-series coach 
> with a baggage door in the middle that was based in Cedar Rapids.  DJE
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Mike or Sue Porter <mailto:m.porter1 at netzero.net>
> *To:* 'Dennis Holmes' <mailto:deholmes at awcmail.com> ; 'Kurt Stoebe' 
> <mailto:kjstoebe at trvnet.net> ; 'David Engle' <mailto:rirocket at kc.rr.com>
> *Cc:* whirt at sbcglobal.net <mailto:whirt at sbcglobal.net>
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:37 PM
> *Subject:* Rock Island mixed train
>
> *Gent**lemen,*
>
> *In 1958 the RI was still operating a mix**ed** train** on the** Iowa 
> Falls to** Estherville** branch**.  Does anyone know what kind of a** 
> passenger** car they were using** at that time** and is it** 
> available** in HO**?**  Anyone have photos?** *
>
> *Mike** *
>
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