04/01/2026
Yep. It's March 31 again. The last day, although operations had mostly wound down by that morning. Tomorrow morning, the Rock Island would no longer be a railroad. A lot of route miles would survive, but it wouldn't be the same.
In its last decade, the RI didn't inspire confidence in its operations with its rickety track and ratted out power. As they say, 'paint don't pull', but the lack of ability to keep up the property is an indication that things aren't going well. They weren't. We miss it anyway.
CRI&P, RIP.
