The Rock Island Line.

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 938 was under steam for the very last time on 16 September 1953, just before proceeding to Chicago's LaSalle Street Station for a Press announcement of Rock Island's attaining its 100% Diesel goal. Locomotive 938 had been specially painted and striped for the event. Later in the day, 938 returned to storage at Blue Island. The accession of 4-6-2 Pacific Type Locomotive 938 marks a significant milestone for the Museum's collection, as it represents one of the most common passenger-service wheel arrangements. Photo by R. W Buhrmaster.

Illustration: ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM

"Rock Island Line".

Sung by Lonnie Donegan (1961).

Available on YouTube at

https://youtu.be/wI4nRD-DRpk

The following Text is from Wikipedia  - the free encyclopaedia.

"Rock Island Line" is an American blues/folk song, first recorded by John Lomaxi n 1934, as sung by inmates in an Arkansas State Prison, and later popularised by Lead Belly. Many versions have been recorded by other artists, most significantly the World-Wide hit version in the Mid-1950s by Lonnie Donegan. The song is ostensibly about The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.

The chorus to the old song reads:

The Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
The Rock Island Line is the road to ride
The Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
If you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station for the Rock Island Line

The verses tell a humorous story about a train operator who smuggled pig iron through a toll gate by claiming all he had on board was livestock.

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I Railroad in The United States. It was also known as The Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.