"Rocky Mountain Rocket at the Foot of Pikes Peak." Rock Island Streamliner. Linen Postcard 32237, E.C. Kropp Co., (ca. 1940s)
"The Rocky Mountain Rocket was the Rock Island's first, true long distance passenger train. The Rock (officially known as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific) is commonly remembered as The Route of the Rockets, a slogan it marketed for years to showcase its fleet of well-known trains serving the Midwest. Interestingly railroad's fleet of Rockets started out as regional, short connections to various cities, almost commuter-like in nature. Nevertheless, these early trains turned out quite successful for a number of years. Their profitability and patronage prompted management to launch a whole fleet of long distance Rockets. Despite providing good service for many years and sporting stunning livery the Rocky Mountain Rocket struggled to remain competitive against the Union Pacific, Burlington, and Missouri Pacific. This factor, a crumbling financial record, and decreasing ridership after World War II prompted the Rock to cancel its heralded train in the mid-1960s." [Source: www.american-rails.com/rocky-mountain-rocket.html]
"Rocky Mountain Rocket at the Foot of Pikes Peak." Rock Island Streamliner. Linen Postcard 32237, E.C. Kropp Co., (ca. 1940s)
"The Rocky Mountain Rocket was the Rock Island's first, true long distance passenger train. The Rock (officially known as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific) is commonly remembered as The Route of the Rockets, a slogan it marketed for years to showcase its fleet of well-known trains serving the Midwest. Interestingly railroad's fleet of Rockets started out as regional, short connections to various cities, almost commuter-like in nature. Nevertheless, these early trains turned out quite successful for a number of years. Their profitability and patronage prompted management to launch a whole fleet of long distance Rockets. Despite providing good service for many years and sporting stunning livery the Rocky Mountain Rocket struggled to remain competitive against the Union Pacific, Burlington, and Missouri Pacific. This factor, a crumbling financial record, and decreasing ridership after World War II prompted the Rock to cancel its heralded train in the mid-1960s." [Source: www.american-rails.com/rocky-mountain-rocket.html]