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Rock Island Rail: Reviving The Classic CRI&P Name

Published: July 25, 2024

By: Adam Burns

Short line railroads have long been the unsung heroes of the American freight network, bridging the gap between large national railroads and local communities.

Among these, Rock Island Rail (reporting mark, RILX) stands out as a notable newcomer.  The operation began in 2017 when owner Robert Riley acquired the naming rights and logos of the long since liqudated Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad - better remembered as the classic Rock Island.

He subsequently formed the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad LLC and quickly set out to not only provide first class service over a former GM&O line in Mississippi but also sell merchandise bearing the Rock Island name.

.Since then, Riley has acquired other properties and expanded his short line operations.  This article explores the origins, operations, and impact of Rock Island Rail, shedding light on how this ambitious short line railroad is making its mark on the industry.

Rock Island Rail NW2 #767 is seen here on their Gulf & Ship Island line in Gulfport, Mississippi on June 14, 2023. Doug Kroll photo.

Origins

Rock Island Rail, headquartered in Mississippi, is a shortline holding company specializing in contract railroad services. Originally established as Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad LLC, the company was founded in 2017 by Robert and Gwen Riley.

Leveraging their extensive experience in mainline railroading and contract switching services since 2010, the Rileys acquired the rights to the historic Rock Island mainline system's names and logos, which had been liquidated in 1980.

In early 2019, Rock Island Rail finalized an agreement with Coahoma County in northwest Mississippi to lease and operate the county's 60-mile Mississippi Delta Railroad, commencing service on March 1, 2019.

The prior lease with C&J Railroad had been terminated effective February 8, 2019. However, the startup was delayed due to the slower-than-anticipated approval from the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which was complicated by partial references to a previous operator, Gulf and Ohio Railways, doing business as Mississippi Delta Railroad, and objections raised by both C&J Railroad and CN's Illinois Central.

Following the withdrawal of C&J's objection and the rejection of CN's appeal, a second application was submitted to the STB on May 22, 2019. This application was approved on June 7, 2019, granting Rock Island Rail common carrier operation on approximately 0.2 miles of track at Swan Lake, Mississippi.

The remainder of the county's infrastructure had been designated as non-common carrier, contract service since 2001. Rock Island Rail's inaugural revenue run occurred on April 28, 2019, and since then, the company has been providing freight services on the Mississippi Delta Railroad, primarily utilizing the infrastructure for storage-in-transit of empty or loaded rail cars while serving some local customers.

Today, the company operates two rail lines and is in the process of rehabilitating a third, all within the state of Mississippi. Rock Island Rail maintains a fleet of second-generation locomotives, many of which are adorned in the classic Rock Island liveries.

Additionally, the company owns and operates the "Royal Street," a storied 5-bedroom lounge observation car built by Pullman in 1950 for the Louisville & Nashville. This car is available for charter and excursion services.

The Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad itself was a significant player in American rail history, flourishing during the golden age of railroads before facing decline in the mid-20th century.

At its peak the CRI&P operated a network of more than 7,500 route miles stretching from Chicago to Denver and the Twin Cities to Galveston.  When the Rock Island ceased operations in 1980, many of its lines were abandoned or sold off.  The current Rock Island Rail does not actually operate any former CRI&P lines.

Other Operations

Rock Island Rail has plans to reopen the rail line between the river port of Rosedale, Mississippi, and Greenville, Mississippi.

Owned by the county port authority, this line was acquired from Illinois Central in 1981 and operated as the Great River Railroad until it was embargoed in 2001.

In August 2020, Bolivar County and Rock Island Rail reached an agreement to commence clearing and repairing the infrastructure.

On December 21, 2020, Robert Riley established Gulf & Ship Island Railroad LLC, reviving the historic name of a railroad that originally operated between 1882 and 1925.

In May 2021, Harrison County and Rock Island Rail announced that Gulf & Ship Island Railroad, in collaboration with Kansas City Southern Railway, would recommence operations on the Seaway lead in the Bernard Bayou industrial park in Gulfport.

On February 18, 2023, Rock Island Rail acquired the track, rolling stock, and real estate from the Midland Railway Historical Association and its subsidiary, the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad, which operates as the Baldwin City & Southern Railroad.

The Midland Railway had operated as a popular heritage railroad over 16 miles of a former Santa Fe branchbetween Ottawa and Baldwin City, Kansas since 1987.

The acquisition became part of the wholly owned subsidiary, Ottawa Northern Railroad (ONR). ONR plans to continue the tourist operations and resume freight services. The ONR interchanges with BNSF at Ottawa.

On February 26, 2024, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Blackwell Industrial Authority petitioned the Surface Transportation Board to permit Rock Island Rail to resume operations on the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad. Riley plans to operate the line as the Oklahoma and Kansas Railroad.

Diesel Roster

Rock Island Rail C40-8 #2127, an ex-CNW unit, is seen here at Sumner, Mississippi on June 16, 2023. Doug Kroll photo.

Since its inception in 2017, Rock Island Rail has emerged as a dynamic and forward-thinking player in the short line railroad industry.

Through a combination of infrastructure investment, operational excellence, and community engagement, the railroad has revitalize former Illinois Central and GM&O lines in Mississippi, as well as expanding operations as well.

As Trains Magazine noted from their October, 2020 issue:

The [Rock Island] name was available, and the Rileys set out to secure it for future operations and to bring The Rock out of the ashes. Riley quickly acted to trademark and copyright nearly a dozen associated logos and variations of The Rock name.

The company now sells a variety of Rock merchandise on its website, and has information about licensing the logos. 'The idea was to make a splash in the railroading industry on the scale of dropping a meteor into a swimming pool,' says Robert. 'I believe we have accomplished that feat'."

While challenges remain, Rock Island Rail's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction positions it well for future growth.

As it continues to navigate the evolving landscape of the freight transportation industry, Rock Island Rail stands as a testament to the enduring relevance and potential of short line railroads in America.

By preserving the legacy of "The Rock" and charting a path toward a sustainable future, Rock Island Rail embodies the spirit of the golden age of railroads while adapting to the demands of the modern era.