Rock Island Rush Hour - Roosevelt Rd - August 29, 1977. 

I rode on 630 when it was at a museum out near Kansas City.

what an awesome story, you lived my dream and at the best time.

@@michael7423 Indeed, my friend.....we had a great time workin' on the old RR! I would not have traded it for any other job. I even met a doctor once who said he worked as a fireman on the CNW in Milwaukee. He took a summer job back in the olden days when they still had firemen before he was to attend college and announced to the family he liked it so much he was going to stay with the CNW and become an engineer instead of becoming a doctor as the family had planned for him! His mother replied, "Oh no you don't! You are going to college and become a surgeon!" She laid down the law and he gave up his dream of the RR and became a doctor. You could tell by looking in his eyes he regretted that decision. All he wanted to do while I was in his office was talk about the RR! He barely took my pulse or listened to my ticker! Last time I went to that doctor. BTW: I forgot to add something else he said: "That was the best job I ever had!" meaning his job on the RR. This from a doctor! I got a chuckle out of that!

The only way you could experience that joy once again is start your own railroad. I grabbed iron and joined at the end of the era of the host of characters that you enjoy. Once 60/30 hit they left in waves

M19 shops??? You may have crossed my dad’s path. I believe that is the shops he worked at. He worked there until 1980 I think.

@@TommyJohnson-ms8pb Mechanical Dept. or operating? I knew an engineer/hostler by name of Tommy Johnson. Always wore black leather jacket. I think he got a disability eventually. Something to do with severe rheumatoid arthritis I think.

Thanks!!

Glad you enjoyed it!

lol!

Wow! Send a pic! I didn’t know there was a 676 out there. Maybe I need one for my living room shelf?

I’d be more than willing to send a picture if I knew how… lol There’s no email address on your profile and I understand why.

Find me on Facebook!

Believe it or not, I’m not on facebook. Let me look into joining later this evening. Besides modeling the 676 with CNW coaches I did get a cab ride in 630 out in Missouri when it was at a museum.

@@TommyJohnson-ms8pb Cool! BTW - I went to the internet and found 676 and 677 available. I really want a 675 though!

Yup!

Not from Rock Island days.

The coach yard was (and still is) at 47th and State along the Dan Ryan Expressway.

Booooooo

@@stevenjbrown1697 oh hey your still here, also I’m not saying it didn’t looked bad before it’s just I sometimes prefer things to be clean and organized and it’s just how I see it now

Ha! I prefer chaos!