I have a couple of memories of Rock Island. In the fall of '72 I decided to ride a freight train east, and ended up catching a trailer train out of Rio Grande's Denver North yard. I remember the train had 3 GE 'Uboats' I don't remember what models they were, but remember seeing the oil covered walkways and the generally filthy and run down look. The train went about 5 miles down the track then stopped in their little yard next to Denver's old Stapelton airport. Left probably 3 hours later. It was night and getting chilly out. I was riding a flatcar with 2 trailers. The train ran east to KC, but I bailed off in a little town in Kansas called Horton (?) Mistake. I stood out like a sore thumb and it wasn't long before the town sheriff came around and wanted to know who I was and where I came from and how did I get to the town. Busted.
Another time, around 1978, I went down to Rock Island's Kansas City yard on a road trip. I went into the yard with camera in tow to grab some motive power shots. Big mistake! 2 big burly guys came up to me almost instantly. wanted to know what I was doing there and was trespassing! One of them demanded my camera and I was escorted up to the yard bulls office. The detective wanted to know why I was taking pictures. The Rock Island was on strike during the time and taking pictures, especially on railroad property, and was absolutely forbidden. He demanded the film in the camera or go off to jail. I didn't go to jail, but lost some good pictures!
So my encounters with the RI wasn't particularly positive. But I should have known better.
