Southwest Library Construction

Please pardon the dust and noise due to HVAC construction at the Southwest Library from Tuesday, April 30th through Friday, May 3rd. We hope to bring you an improved library facility. Thank you for your patience.

The Rock Island Railroad Video Series #6: Rock Island “Rockets” Defy Discontinuance

Program Type:

Movie

Age Group:

Adult, Everyone

Event Details

The Rock Island Railroad Line was probably most famous for its line of trains called the “Rockets”. Introduced in 1947, the Golden Rocket promised comfort and luxury. It included deep-cushioned reclining seats, a dining car, The Fiesta, with comparable restaurant meals, sleeping cars, and an Observation car complete with barber shop. The Rockets were stubbornly persistent as the railroad’s finances fell into steep decline.

Today’s hour-long video covers the time of Amtrack’s “rescue” and, in particular, the Moline and Peoria branches until the Rockets came to the end of the line.