Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, commonly called the Rock Island, was one of America's original transcontinental railroads and one of the first railroads to reach the Missouri River. The railroad's slogan "Crosses Everyone's Path" reflected its extensive network through the Midwest and Southwest.

The Rock Island became famous for its Rocket streamlined passenger trains, including the Rocky Mountain Rocket, Corn Belt Rocket, and others. The railroad served a vast agricultural territory and provided vital transportation links across the American heartland.

However, decades of deferred maintenance, management problems, and regulatory issues led to the Rock Island's bankruptcy in 1980. The liquidation was one of the largest railroad failures in American history, and the railroad's routes were divided among various purchasers or abandoned.

For modelers, the Rock Island offers a melancholy appeal—the chance to model a railroad "as it was" before decline set in. The maroon and silver Rocket scheme remains popular.