The Railroads of Will County
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
The actual construction of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad began in Chicago on October 1st, 1851, and was completed through Blue Island and ran through Frankfort, New Lenox, and Joliet Townships to the city of Joliet in October 1852. With the laying of the last rail into Joliet, public clamor from those along the new rail line brought the decision to operate the first train ever over this route despite the fact that the depot at Blue Island was not yet ready for occupancy, the station at Mokena had barely been started, and at Joliet facilities for turning an engine did not exist.
On October 10th, 1852, a gaily painted little 4-4-0 American-type locomotive built by the Rogers Locomotive Works of Patterson, New Jersey and called the Rocket, coupled on to six new yellow coaches, and at ten o’clock that Sunday morning belched wood smoke from its balloon stack and headed out over the 58-pound iron rails that had been imported from England. |
While the train was filled with the adventurous for the forty-mile run from Chicago to Joliet, it’s departure was marked by the usual fanfare of trumpets, the firing of guns, and the ringing of bells. The trip took two hours, and thousands along the right-of-way cheered the train. It made the return trip as a back-up movement, and a banquet that night at the Sherman Hotel climaxed the memorable event.
The rails of the Chicago & Rock Island reached Morris from Joliet on January 5th, 1853, and on February 14th, 1853 entered Ottawa. The Chicago & Rock Island Railroad reached the city of Rock Island on February 22nd, 1854, becoming the first railroad to connect Chicago with the Mississippi River. The company was reorganized as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad on July 9th, 1866, and began developing a rail network stretching some 8,000 miles in fourteen states. |
The Rock Island provided extensive commuter train service between Joliet and Chicago and, in common with most American railroads, operated extensive intercity passenger train service between Chicago and numerous western cities, such as Omaha, Kansas City, Denver, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Tucson and Los Angeles.
Its tracks were elevated and relocated through downtown Joliet in 1908-1910.
The Rock Island participated in the construction of Joliet Union Station in 1911-1912 and also in the construction of Union Depot interlocking tower in 1912-1913.
From the 1920’s on, the commuter train services were operated using 4-6-2 Pacific-type steam locomotives and specially designed coaches, that with their late 1920’s build dates, became well known as the “Capone” cars.
Its tracks were elevated and relocated through downtown Joliet in 1908-1910.
The Rock Island participated in the construction of Joliet Union Station in 1911-1912 and also in the construction of Union Depot interlocking tower in 1912-1913.
From the 1920’s on, the commuter train services were operated using 4-6-2 Pacific-type steam locomotives and specially designed coaches, that with their late 1920’s build dates, became well known as the “Capone” cars.
In 1932, the Rock Island had a new two-track through truss vertical lift bridge constructed over the Des Plaines River, replacing an earlier five span through truss bridge; the American Bridge Company of New York and the Ketler-Elliot Erection Company of Chicago constructed the new bridge. This new bridge was one of the first bridges to place the lifting mechanism on the lift towers instead of on the movable span. The movable main span is 305 feet long, and the entire bridge is 537 feet long. A fixed through truss bridge approaches the main span on either side. The one on the west end is 151 feet long, while the one on the east side is 101 feet long. In 1937, the Rock Island introduced diesel power to its passenger service, with the purchase of six-lightweight Rocket streamliners that operated through Joliet on their runs between Chicago and Peoria. |
Beginning in the late 1940’s, new diesel locomotives began replacing the older steam locomotives on the Rock Island’s trains. In 1949, new Pullman-built 2700-series arrived as the first air-conditioned commuter cars on the line. The Rock Island took delivery from the Budd Company of its first bilevel commuter equipment in 1964. In 1970, another order, this time for Pullman-built bilevel cars, arrived on the property.
Also in the 1964, realizing it was one extra railroad in the same market also served by several other railroads, the Rock Island entered into an agreement to merge with the Union Pacific, which was looking for access to Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul This set in motion and series of events, as the other railroads that also connected the UP to these cities protested, leading to the longest and most contentious merger hearing in the history of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Adding to the chaos, maintenance and investment in the physical plant was literally put on hold during the merger talks, letting the property decline over then next ten years.
The commuter service was not exempt form the general decline of the Rock Island during the 1970’s. Over time, deferred maintenance took its toll on both track and rolling stock. By this time, the Rock Island could not afford to replace their clearly worn out commuter equipment.
Also in the 1964, realizing it was one extra railroad in the same market also served by several other railroads, the Rock Island entered into an agreement to merge with the Union Pacific, which was looking for access to Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul This set in motion and series of events, as the other railroads that also connected the UP to these cities protested, leading to the longest and most contentious merger hearing in the history of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Adding to the chaos, maintenance and investment in the physical plant was literally put on hold during the merger talks, letting the property decline over then next ten years.
The commuter service was not exempt form the general decline of the Rock Island during the 1970’s. Over time, deferred maintenance took its toll on both track and rolling stock. By this time, the Rock Island could not afford to replace their clearly worn out commuter equipment.
By the time that Amtrak was formed in 1971, the once-proud Rock Island was down to just two intercity trains, the Peoria Rocket operating between Chicago and Peoria and the Quad Cities Rocket, operating between Chicago and Rock Island. The Rock Island opted against joining Amtrak, in part because the government assessed the Amtrak entrance fee based on passenger miles operated in 1970. After concluding that the cost of joining Amtrak would be greater than remaining in the passenger business, the railroad decided to continue their intercity passenger operations. |
In 1976, the entire Chicago commuter rail system began to receive financial support from the state of Illinois through the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). Operating funds were disbursed to all commuter operators and the Rock Island was to be provided with new equipment to replace the tired 2700-series coaches and the 1920’s vintage Capone cars. New EMD F40PH locomotives arrived in late 1977 and new Budd bilevel cars arrived in 1978. |
Never financially strong, the Rock Island entered bankruptcy on March 17th, 1975 under Chapter 77 of the Federal Bankruptcy Act. The last intercity passenger trains, from Chicago to Rock Island and to Rock Island, were discontinued on December 31st, 1978. On January 24, 1980, Federal Judge Frank J. McGarr elected not to review the Rock Island’s final plan of reorganization. He simply initiated the shutdown and liquidation of the Rock Island.
With the 1980 end of the Rock Island, the RTA purchased the suburban territory and remaining Rock Island commuter equipment from the estate, while the Chicago & North Western Railway took over operations for a year before the RTA began operating it directly in 1981. |
The RTA could have purchased the Rock Island tracks all the way across Will County to the Grundy County line, but choose to only purchase the tracks up to the east bank of the Des Plaines River (they didn’t want to own and have to maintain the lift bridge over the river.) The RTA gradually rebuilt the track and added more new equipment to the service, leaving the property in better shape than it was in the Rock Island’s heyday. The Rock Island District, as the Rock Island’s suburban service is now known, now operates as part of Metra, the Chicago commuter rail agency.
CSX leases the former Rock Island tracks west of Joliet and operates freight service. Another railroad, Iowa Interstate, also operates freight trains through Will County over the former Rock Island tracks.