The front page ad on this edition promotes not only the Golden State and Rocky Mountain Rocket but also the Twin Star Rocket, which went between the Twin Cities (in the North Star state) and Houston (in the Lone Star … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Timetable
The Golden State was “the train to the Southwest,” says the front cover ad, “where the sun shines in Arizona and southern California.” As savvy ticket agents might tell travelers, the Santa Fe might also have gone through Arizona, but … Continue reading
According to Classic Trains magazine, the last Rock Island steam locomotive was retired in December 1953. In anticipation, the railroad introduced a new timetable cover showing Diesels pulling both passenger and freight trains. Click image to download a 19.7-MB PDF … Continue reading
“For complete travel satisfaction,” says the front cover of this timetable, “you can rely on the Rockets. The Golden State and the Rockets were Rock Island’s premiere trains, so since yesterday’s October 1952 timetable advertised the Golden State on its … Continue reading
The front cover of this timetable promotes the “extra fare Golden State” as a “delightful” way of getting to “southern Arizona or California.” As noted here before, the Golden State was slower to California than the City of Los Angeles … Continue reading
In 1951, the Rock Island’s passenger trains were completely Dieselized while it still used both steam and Diesels for hauling its freight trains. At least, that’s the implication of this cover (which is the back cover), which shows multiple Diesels … Continue reading
Most pages of this timetable are nearly identical to those of yesterday’s, which was issued 17 months before. In place of the “vacation I.Q. test” was a blurb about the Panama Limited. The ad didn’t say so, but in 1952 … Continue reading
“Test your vacation I.Q.” invites the front cover of this timetable (the cover shown below being the back cover). This test, however, was somewhat deceptive. Click image to download an 18.0-MB PDF of this 36-page timetable. “Is Florida too warm … Continue reading
Annoyingly, the inside front cover of this timetable says that the Eagles are the “smoothest way West-Southwest.” As I complained a few days ago, except for its line to Pueblo, Missouri Pacific didn’t serve the West or the Southwest, so … Continue reading
The inside front cover of this timetable has nice silhouettes of ten sets of MP passenger Diesels and the first car of passenger trains representing the various members of the Eagle “flock.” That includes the St. Louis-Texas Texas Eagle, St. … Continue reading