Uploaded June 2010 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Midwestern and western Class I railroad formed in July of 1866 out of the remnants of the Rock Island and La Salle Railroad. The railroad was both a freight hauler and a passenger route, with most passenger trains focusing on inter-city commuter travel. Success on "The Rock" as it was commonly called was plentiful until the mid 1950s when profits lacked and traffic decreased. As other railroads expanded, the Rock Island was forced to sell low traffic routes and abandon lines that were no profitable. At this period of time, the Rock's maintenance was at an all time low. The railroad become synonymous with cutting corners to save money. Track was at its worst, and rolling stock and locomotives took a dive. In 1964 the Rock Island made an attempt to save the railroad. The proposed case that ensued would merge the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad with the Union Pacific railroad, making one large Class one railroad. Unfortunately for the Rock Island, the Union Pacific did not find the railroad as appealing as it did in the 1950s. With a denial from the Union Pacific and a denial from the US government, the merger idea was scrapped. The Rock soon hired a new president and CEO - John W. Ingram - a former Federal Railway Administration official. He sought to rebuild the Rock Island by approving loans from the FRA. Unfortunately, money was scarce on the Rock Island and in March of 1975, the Rock faced its third bankruptcy. It was at this period of time that the Rock Island bought many new two axle Geeps to replace its ageing power. These new Geeps in fresh blue and white paint were often referred to as "The Bankruptcy Blue Units" The railroads last attempt to survive came as a proposed 100 million dollar reorganization plan. This plan proved to be too farfetched for the railroad to handle, so instead a shutdown and liquidation ensued. The last train ran on the Rock Island in March of 1980.
Presidents of the Rock Island Railroad:
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James W. Grant, November 27, 1850 - December 22, 1851.
John Bloomfield Jervis, December 22, 1851 - December 1854.
Henry Farnam, December 1854 - June 1863.
Charles W. Durant, June 1863 - August 1866.
John F. Tracy, August 1866 - April 14, 1877.
Hugh Riddle, April 14, 1877 - June 6, 1883.
Ransom Reed Cable, June 6, 1883 - June 1898.
Warren G. Purdy, June 1898 - December 31, 1901.
William Bateman Leeds, December 31, 1901 - March 26, 1904
Benjamin L. Winchell, March 26, 1904 - December 1909.
Henry U. Mudge, December 1909 - April 20, 1915.
Jacob McGavock Dickinson appointed receiver trustee during bankruptcy, April 20, 1915 - June 21, 1917.
James E. Gorman, June 22, 1917 - June 7, 1933.
Joseph B. Fleming, Frank Orren Lowden (until his death on March 20, 1943) and James E. Gorman (until his death on March 25, 1942) appointed receiver trustees during bankruptcy, June 7, 1933 - December 31, 1947. Aaron Colnon replaced Frank O. Lowden as receiver trustee on April 19, 1943.
John Dow Farrington, January 1, 1948 - 1955.
Downing B. Jenks, 1956-1961.
R. Ellis Johnson, 1961-1964.
Jervis Langdon, Jr., 1965-1970.
William J. Dixon, 1970-1974.
John W. Ingram, 1974 - March 17, 1975.
William M. Gibbons appointed receiver trustee during bankruptcy, March 17, 1975 - June 1, 1984
This is my tribute to the once great Chicago Rock Island and pacific.
The song is "More than a Feeling" by "Boston" off of their self titled 1976 album "Boston."
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Midwestern and western Class I railroad formed in July of 1866 out of the remnants of the Rock Island and La Salle Railroad. The railroad was both a freight hauler and a passenger route, with most passenger trains focusing on inter-city commuter travel. Success on "The Rock" as it was commonly called was plentiful until the mid 1950s when profits lacked and traffic decreased. As other railroads expanded, the Rock Island was forced to sell low traffic routes and abandon lines that were no profitable. At this period of time, the Rock's maintenance was at an all time low. The railroad become synonymous with cutting corners to save money. Track was at its worst, and rolling stock and locomotives took a dive. In 1964 the Rock Island made an attempt to save the railroad. The proposed case that ensued would merge the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad with the Union Pacific railroad, making one large Class one railroad. Unfortunately for the Rock Island, the Union Pacific did not find the railroad as appealing as it did in the 1950s. With a denial from the Union Pacific and a denial from the US government, the merger idea was scrapped. The Rock soon hired a new president and CEO - John W. Ingram - a former Federal Railway Administration official. He sought to rebuild the Rock Island by approving loans from the FRA. Unfortunately, money was scarce on the Rock Island and in March of 1975, the Rock faced its third bankruptcy. It was at this period of time that the Rock Island bought many new two axle Geeps to replace its ageing power. These new Geeps in fresh blue and white paint were often referred to as "The Bankruptcy Blue Units" The railroads last attempt to survive came as a proposed 100 million dollar reorganization plan. This plan proved to be too farfetched for the railroad to handle, so instead a shutdown and liquidation ensued. The last train ran on the Rock Island in March of 1980.
Presidents of the Rock Island Railroad:
-
James W. Grant, November 27, 1850 - December 22, 1851.
John Bloomfield Jervis, December 22, 1851 - December 1854.
Henry Farnam, December 1854 - June 1863.
Charles W. Durant, June 1863 - August 1866.
John F. Tracy, August 1866 - April 14, 1877.
Hugh Riddle, April 14, 1877 - June 6, 1883.
Ransom Reed Cable, June 6, 1883 - June 1898.
Warren G. Purdy, June 1898 - December 31, 1901.
William Bateman Leeds, December 31, 1901 - March 26, 1904
Benjamin L. Winchell, March 26, 1904 - December 1909.
Henry U. Mudge, December 1909 - April 20, 1915.
Jacob McGavock Dickinson appointed receiver trustee during bankruptcy, April 20, 1915 - June 21, 1917.
James E. Gorman, June 22, 1917 - June 7, 1933.
Joseph B. Fleming, Frank Orren Lowden (until his death on March 20, 1943) and James E. Gorman (until his death on March 25, 1942) appointed receiver trustees during bankruptcy, June 7, 1933 - December 31, 1947. Aaron Colnon replaced Frank O. Lowden as receiver trustee on April 19, 1943.
John Dow Farrington, January 1, 1948 - 1955.
Downing B. Jenks, 1956-1961.
R. Ellis Johnson, 1961-1964.
Jervis Langdon, Jr., 1965-1970.
William J. Dixon, 1970-1974.
John W. Ingram, 1974 - March 17, 1975.
William M. Gibbons appointed receiver trustee during bankruptcy, March 17, 1975 - June 1, 1984
This is my tribute to the once great Chicago Rock Island and pacific.
The song is "More than a Feeling" by "Boston" off of their self titled 1976 album "Boston."
