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| Title: |
Choctaw Route station |
| Description: |
The Rock Island station at Elk City was still in good shape, and I think being used by Farmrail when I saw it in 1984. Most of the line did not fare so well, and long stretches of abandoned right of way extended across the Texas panhandle and on into New Mexico. |
| Photo Date: |
10/3/1984 Upload Date: 7/10/2014 2:20:38 AM |
| Location: |
Elk City, OK |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station,Passenger |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
264 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Rock station |
| Description: |
The Rock Island station at Hazen, a fairly substantial building for the size town. This was on the Rocks Choctaw Route. |
| Photo Date: |
4/7/2013 Upload Date: 8/4/2019 4:40:14 AM |
| Location: |
Hazen, AR |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station,Passenger |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
48 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
"Union" station |
| Description: |
This station was at the crossing of the Cotton Belt and Rock Island, so effectively a union station. Were looking along the Cotton Belts side of the station. The Cotton Belt used the Rocks Choctaw Route from Memphis to reach this spot, then connected with its own St Louis-Texarkana line. The Rock continued on to Little Rock and Amarillo, eventually reaching a connection with SP proper at Tucumcari. |
| Photo Date: |
4/7/2013 Upload Date: 8/4/2019 4:49:27 AM |
| Location: |
Brinkley, AR |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station,Passenger |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
69 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Street side |
| Description: |
A street side view of the joint Cotton Belt/Rock Island station. |
| Photo Date: |
4/7/2013 Upload Date: 8/4/2019 4:50:45 AM |
| Location: |
Brinkley, AR |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station,Passenger |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
45 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
High plains sentinels |
| Description: |
Interstate 70 follows the ex Rock Island for a good distance west of Colby Kan, into Limon Colo, and there are places where the tracks are quite close to the road. The line has been run by a variety of operators over the years since Rocks demise in 1980, most of whom are not inclined to spend money on the right of way beyond whats needed to run the trains. As a result, the ABS signals that once governed GP 7s, 35s and F units, and U 30Cs, U 25 and 28Bs, are still in place, albeit not operaional. A pair of them is seen next to I 70 near Arriba. |
| Photo Date: |
8/23/2022 Upload Date: 9/18/2022 5:20:29 AM |
| Location: |
Arriba, CO |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Signal |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
33 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Long gone |
| Description: |
And no trace. The Rock had a branch from North Enid to Warren OK, 23.7 miles. Except for the elevators, youd never know it to look there today. On a recent trip to New Mexico, I had a couple of minutes to do some short side trips off US 412 to Lahoma, Meno, and here, to see if there was anything discernible left. Not hardly!! This is the elevator at Ringwood, which once had tracks on both sides, presumably a main trsck and a siding. New-since 1980-construction obsxcured the view of any vestiges that may have existed. |
| Photo Date: |
12/7/2023 Upload Date: 12/17/2023 6:09:02 AM |
| Location: |
Tucumcari, NM |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
43 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Slightly different view |
| Description: |
A slightly different angle shows the elevators. No sign of the Rock branch that once ran here. |
| Photo Date: |
12/7/2023 Upload Date: 12/17/2023 6:12:51 AM |
| Location: |
Ringwood, OK |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
35 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Small town elevator |
| Description: |
The second of several small towns on the Rock Island Warren Branch was Meno, 16.7 miles from North Enid. This is the east side view of the elevator there. Note the chutes on both sides of the structure. There is no remaining indication of where tracks might have been as far as main track and siding. |
| Photo Date: |
12/7/2023 Upload Date: 12/17/2023 6:19:36 AM |
| Location: |
Meno, OK |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
35 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
West side view |
| Description: |
The view of the west side of the elevator at Meno. One chute can be seen at the right of the building. As on the east side, no hint of any track ever existing here. |
| Photo Date: |
12/7/2023 Upload Date: 12/17/2023 6:21:58 AM |
| Location: |
Meno, OK |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
25 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Old embankment |
| Description: |
The Rocks Choctaw Route followed the contour of the land once west of Adrian Tex, where the line and road went into the Canadian River valley. The road-the main road, now I 40-took a more direct path thand old 66, and allowed view of the tracks while they lasted. The right of way is south of the highway in most places here, and were looking at a section of embankment that crossed a dip in the terrain in this into-the-light shot from the I 40 shoulder. |
| Photo Date: |
12/7/2023 Upload Date: 12/17/2023 6:39:57 AM |
| Location: |
San Jon, NM |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
41 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
North side |
| Description: |
The grain chute on the north side of the Meno elevator. I can picture a pair of Rock GP 7s here, working the siding. |
| Photo Date: |
12/7/2023 Upload Date: 12/17/2023 6:27:27 AM |
| Location: |
Meno, OK |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
35 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
No service |
| Description: |
Unless its by truck. The elevator at Lahoma on the Rocks Warren Branch. As with the others, no sign of a railroad ever existing here, 11.7 miles from Enid. |
| Photo Date: |
12/7/2023 Upload Date: 12/17/2023 6:31:37 AM |
| Location: |
Lahoma, OK |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Station |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
31 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Headed east |
| Description: |
The right of way for the one time Choctaw Route swings off to the right, away from the relay case and signal, the embankment still somewhat visible as it takes off to the east and Texas. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 6:39:04 AM |
| Location: |
Tucumcari, NM |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Signal,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
52 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Still standing |
| Description: |
Theres not much still standing on the Rock Islands Choctaw Route 40 plus years after the line was largely abandoned across the Texas panhandle. This group of bridge timbers remains, near Adrian, alongside old US 66, itself now a shadow of the important existence it once had. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:10:30 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Bridge,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
35 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Rock served |
| Description: |
Once upon a time. Its been trucks since 1980 for this elevator. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:19:31 AM |
| Location: |
Wildorado, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Station,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
34 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Down the track |
| Description: |
Or it would be if there were any. The Rock Island Choctaw Route was abandoned wholesale when the Rock went under in 1980. Parts of it in Oklahoma were picked up by several shortlines, but across the Texas panhandle, theres almost no hint a railroad ever existed here. Were looking down the old ROW at Adrian and a now truck served elevator. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:25:48 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
53 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Bridge |
| Description: |
The right of way is given away by the bridge timbers along the fence line. Commerce now is dominated by wind turbines, seen in the distance. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:30:22 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Bridge,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
38 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Looking east |
| Description: |
The view looking east along what remains of the Choctaw Route: some stacked ties and a lot of grass now grown over the right of way. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:34:27 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
32 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Still in place |
| Description: |
There were a number of locations where the ROW was just left, and the ties are still in place all these years later. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:36:45 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
36 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Piled up |
| Description: |
There are a lot of ties that were piled up when the ROW was cleared, since the stone seems to have been removed in most places. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:41:01 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
25 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Just leave em anywhere |
| Description: |
Which is what they did, just pile them up and drive away. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:43:14 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
35 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Ties and flora |
| Description: |
This pile of ties has been overgrown with plants, among other things, a tree, yucca, and the ever present grass of the high plains. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:46:10 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
28 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Passed by |
| Description: |
The same pile of ties, showing how the world has passed the Rock by. The railroad has been removed, immediately adjacent US 66 was decommissioned as a through route a few years later, when I 40 was completed, the trucks on the interstate now the only serious form of transportation now extant here. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:50:29 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
19 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Different view |
| Description: |
A slightly different angle on the tie pile reveals a hint-just a hint-that there was once a railroad here, going off to the left, into the distance. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:53:47 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
26 Comments: 0 |
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| Title: |
Sorta. |
| Description: |
If you look carefully, you can see the rise where the tracks once were. It gets harder and harder every year to find evidence of a line that once hosted the Choctaw Rocket and heavy freights. Every time I drive out here, I picture battered U Boats and GP 35s slogging along toward Amarillo, or to the SP at Tucumcari. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:57:37 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
31 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Picking it over. |
| Description: |
Nothing left but for the crows to pick over the remains. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 5:59:12 AM |
| Location: |
Adrian, TX |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
37 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Where it all begins |
| Description: |
A view from the US 54 overpass. Were looking east on the ex Rock Island Golden State Route, toward Guymon OK and Liberal Kan. Off to the right, starting about where the relay case sits, is the right of way of the one time Choctaw Route, to Amarillo, OKC and Memphis. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 6:03:59 AM |
| Location: |
Tucumcari, NM |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Signal,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
46 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Looking toward KC |
| Description: |
Parts of the Rock Island were sold off by the trustee prior to the end of Rocks operations. One of the major segments was the Golden State Route, so named for the passenger train that plied the route for many years, connecting Chicago with LA via El Paso. The hand off point was here at Tucumcari, even through Rock ownership extended another 55 miles or so to Santa Rosa. Were looking at the ex Rock line that was picked up by the SP, and now is an important route for UP. View is from the US 54 overpass. The road will follow the tracks almost within sight the entire way from here to Pratt Kan. |
| Photo Date: |
12/8/2023 Upload Date: 12/16/2023 6:34:15 AM |
| Location: |
Tucumcari, NM |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Scenic,Signal,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
51 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Not abandoned, but not much here |
| Description: |
Looking east from the overpass at Arriba, it's plain that there is not much out here, just a lonely single track rolling off into the east and Kansas. I've seen exactly two trains on this line since my first visit in 1982-the Rock quit in 1980-but I can't come out here without picturing the Rocky Mountain Rocket rolling west at 90 per behind that quirky E6A/E6AB built specially for them to facilitate the Denver and Springs sections splitting at Limon, 25 miles to the west; or a long drag freight behind a motley assortment of GP 35's, GP 7s, and U Boats. Meanwhile, cue up Borodin's "In the Steppes of Central Asia" to capture the loneliness of the plains. |
| Photo Date: |
5/2/2024 Upload Date: 5/12/2024 6:07:27 AM |
| Location: |
Arriba, CO |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
39 Comments: 2 |
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| Title: |
Pointed away |
| Description: |
This line once had bidirectional ABS signalling, which was long ago turned off; the Rock quit in 1980. These sentinels of safety, now unneeded for lack of trains, remain, pointed away into the vast openness of the high plains. |
| Photo Date: |
5/2/2024 Upload Date: 5/12/2024 6:17:34 AM |
| Location: |
Seibert, CO |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Signal,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
20 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Hopeful |
| Description: |
One of the automatics seems to be still pointed at the eastbounds, as it appears to be not turned away from the track, as are the others. Nothing will be coming to require its attention. I have been coming out here sporadically for the last 40 years. Ive seen a train on this line twice. |
| Photo Date: |
5/2/2024 Upload Date: 5/12/2024 6:19:54 AM |
| Location: |
Arriba, CO |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Signal,Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
28 Comments: 1 |
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| Title: |
Rocky Mountain Rocket tracks |
| Description: |
This is the view looking west of the Rocks Rocky Mountain Rocket line, seen from an overpass at the Arriba CO exit off I 70. I noticed that there were cars at each elevator along the line, sometimes a good number. Kyle Railways now run the trains here, from Kansas on to a connection with UP at Limon, where the Rock once did an interesting move with the Denver and Colorado Springs section of the Rocket. |
| Photo Date: |
5/2/2024 Upload Date: 5/12/2024 6:22:38 AM |
| Location: |
Arriba, CO |
| Author: |
Tom Beckett |
| Categories: |
Track |
| Locomotives: |
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| Views: |
32 Comments: 1 |
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