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 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.
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.
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New RTA equipment on a commuter train at Joliet (John Riha photo) |
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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. | Final bankruptcy-era action at Joliet (John Riha photo) |
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.
CSXleases 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.
