News & Reviews News Wire Rock Island streamliners to join ‘Joliet Rocket’ event; Trains to sponsor night photo session NEWSWIRE

Rock Island streamliners to join ‘Joliet Rocket’ event; Trains to sponsor night photo session NEWSWIRE

By Angela Cotey | August 22, 2018

| Last updated on November 3, 2020


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RockIslandlocomotivesRobSchrienerphoto
Rock Island E6 No. 630 will be part of a night photo session sponsored by Trains on Sept. 15.
Rob Schriener
CHICAGO, Ill. — The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Metra, and Iowa Northern Railway are partnering to transport historic streamlined Rock Island locomotives Nos. 652 and 630 to LaSalle Street Station for Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 No. 765’s Joliet Rocket event.

On Sept. 15 and 16, the EMD E8 and E6 locomotives, respectively, will be on display for the enjoyment of Joliet Rocket passengers. It will mark their return to the station for the first time in nearly 40 years. Cincinnati Scenic Railway and Trains Magazine will sponsor the movement of the engines to Chicago.

On Sept. 15, Trains Magazine will sponsor a special night photo session at LaSalle Street Station featuring the two diesel locomotives. A limited number of tickets is on sale now at fortwaynerailroad.org.

The Rock Island locomotives were originally built in the 1940s to power the railroad’s premiere Rocket trains. After being purchased in 2007 by the Iowa Northern Railway, the locomotives were cosmetically restored in 2017 and plans call for them to be eventually returned to operation.

Cincinnati Scenic Railway is a non-profit organization operating historic railroad equipment for the education and enjoyment of the public in southwest Ohio, providing year-round excursion train rides in the region.

Trains Magazine offers railroad news, railroad industry insight, commentary on today’s freight railroads, passenger service, locomotive technology, transit and more to
hundreds of thousands of readers each year.

Iowa Northern Railway Co. is headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa and was formed in 1984 on a section of the old Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Co.

8 thoughts on “Rock Island streamliners to join ‘Joliet Rocket’ event; Trains to sponsor night photo session NEWSWIRE

  1. That would be a great set of photos to get, especially if they are able to put some appropriate cars on them as well

  2. Well Landon, my guess would be the IAIS to Blue Island, and Metra will pick them up from there and relay them downtown.

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