Rock Island Southern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Rock Island Southern Railway, or RIS, was one of the most unusual interurban
systems in the United States
. It consisted of two distinct divisions, each with its own unique operating parameters. It provided passenger service to the western Illinois
cities of Rock Island
, Monmouth
and Galesburg
for two decades, with freight service surviving into the 1950s on the barest remnants of a once-impressive system.
electric power and used typical interurban standards, with tighter curves and narrower rolling stock
than in use on mainline railroads. Passenger service was operated for two decades, ceasing in 1926 following a decline in ridership brought on by increased automobile
use. Freight service continued to be provided by an assortment of electric locomotive
s and box motor
s, but during and after World War II
even freight traffic declined precipitously. All service over this division was abandoned on March 30, 1951.
s and high trestle
s that the line used to traverse the hilly Mississippi Valley country south of Rock Island were notable features of this division. Freight was hauled by steam locomotives but the line was also electrified using a single-phase
high voltage
AC
system which was unusual among interurban lines. Large interurban cars bought secondhand from the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis
were used. The line leased Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific tracks from downtown Rock Island to Southern Junction and from Milan
to Sherrard
; in addition to the main line there were branches to Aledo
and Alexis
. With the abandonment of passenger service in 1926 the northern division was de-electrified, but freight service continued. In 1929 a trestle near Burgess
burned, breaking the line in two, and over the following two decades the line gradually shrank back towards Rock Island as trestles rotted away and collapsed. This slow death culminated in the last run of a RIS steam engine in Rock Island in February 1952.
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
systems in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It consisted of two distinct divisions, each with its own unique operating parameters. It provided passenger service to the western Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
cities of Rock Island
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, Monmouth
Monmouth, Illinois
Monmouth is a city in and the county seat of Warren County in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the home of Monmouth College and contains Monmouth Park, Harmon Park, North Park, Warfield Park, West Park, South Park, Garwood Park, Buster White Park and the Citizens Lake & Campground. It is the host...
and Galesburg
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
for two decades, with freight service surviving into the 1950s on the barest remnants of a once-impressive system.
Eastern Division
The older of the two RIS divisions was the line from Monmouth east to Galesburg, which was called Western Illinois Traction prior to completion of the line. By the time this 19-mile segment was put into service in May 1906 it had become part of the RIS. This division operated on 600 volts DCDirect current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
electric power and used typical interurban standards, with tighter curves and narrower rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
than in use on mainline railroads. Passenger service was operated for two decades, ceasing in 1926 following a decline in ridership brought on by increased automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
use. Freight service continued to be provided by an assortment of electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s and box motor
Box motor
A box motor, in railroad terminology, is a self-propelled boxcar, normally powered by electricity and running on an interurban railway or a streetcar line. Many box motors were converted from passenger cars on the systems that ran them, with the seats and most of the windows removed and large...
s, but during and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
even freight traffic declined precipitously. All service over this division was abandoned on March 30, 1951.
Northern Division
The better known of the two RIS divisions was the line from Monmouth north to Rock Island, which took several years to build and was completed in late 1910. Unlike the line to Galesburg, this division was built to mainline railroad standards. The long cuts, fillFill
Fill may refer to:*Fill dirt, soil added to an area.*Fill , a short segment of instrumental music.*In textiles, the filling yarn is the same as weft, the yarn which is shuttled back and forth across the warp to create a woven fabric....
s and high trestle
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
s that the line used to traverse the hilly Mississippi Valley country south of Rock Island were notable features of this division. Freight was hauled by steam locomotives but the line was also electrified using a single-phase
Single-phase electric power
In electrical engineering, single-phase electric power refers to the distribution of alternating current electric power using a system in which all the voltages of the supply vary in unison. Single-phase distribution is used when loads are mostly lighting and heating, with few large electric motors...
high voltage
High voltage
The term high voltage characterizes electrical circuits in which the voltage used is the cause of particular safety concerns and insulation requirements...
AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
system which was unusual among interurban lines. Large interurban cars bought secondhand from the Washington Baltimore and Annapolis
Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway
The Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway , now defunct, was an American railroad of central Maryland and Washington, DC built in the 19th and 20th century. The WB&A absorbed two older railroads, the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad and the Baltimore & Annapolis Short Line, and...
were used. The line leased Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific tracks from downtown Rock Island to Southern Junction and from Milan
Milan, Illinois
Milan is a village in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,257 at the 2000 census.The village is located near the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Before ceasing operations in 2003, Eagle Food Centers was based out of Milan....
to Sherrard
Sherrard, Illinois
Sherrard is a village in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 694 at the 2000 census. Sherrard is home to the Sherrard Junior / Senior High School, home of the Sherrard Tigers.-Geography:Sherrard is located at ....
; in addition to the main line there were branches to Aledo
Aledo, Illinois
Aledo is a city in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,613 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mercer County.-Geography:Aledo is located at ....
and Alexis
Alexis, Illinois
Alexis is a village in Mercer and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 863 at the 2000 census.The Warren County portion of Alexis is part of the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Mercer County portion is part of the Davenport–Moline–Rock...
. With the abandonment of passenger service in 1926 the northern division was de-electrified, but freight service continued. In 1929 a trestle near Burgess
Burgess, Illinois
Burgess is an unincorporated community in Suez Township, Mercer County, Illinois, United States. Burgess is south-southwest of Viola....
burned, breaking the line in two, and over the following two decades the line gradually shrank back towards Rock Island as trestles rotted away and collapsed. This slow death culminated in the last run of a RIS steam engine in Rock Island in February 1952.
External links
- Photos of the RIS on Don's Rail Photos
- Ex-WB&A car on the Northern Division, from Dave's Railroad Photos
- Electric freight service in Monmouth, from Dave's Railroad Photos