The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois USA. May 2011.

The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois USA. May 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photo durimng last Wednsday nights operating session, at The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

This is My Athearn model of a modern mid 1970's era 50 foot outside braced box car, from the now long gone Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad.

The former Rock Island Railroad, had suffered through numerous bankruptcies, during their last 20 or so years in business. By the mid 1970's, the Rock Island began using this light blue color scheme with the advertising slogans "Route Rock" or even "The Rock". The idea that they were unsucessfully trying to pass on, was that the company was actually "Solid as a rock", and that the future was bright ahead.

NOT!

The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific officially closed down for good on March 31st, 1980. Several miles of former Rock Island main and branchlines were auctioned off to other railroads. Many years later, an occasional former Rock Island car or two in this now faded color scheme with treporting marks from other railroads, will show up on any given freight train passing through Chicago today.