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Post Info TOPIC: 30 years since end of Rock Island Line


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30 years since end of Rock Island Line
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30 years since end of Rock Island Line
April 1 marks the 30th anniversary of the end of Rock Island Railroad operations in Trenton, Mo., the Republican Times reports.

The Rock Island was an interegal part of the history of Trenton, Grundy County and the surrounding area and the affects its closing had were astronomical.

There seems to be two eras in Trenton: the time when the Rock Island Railroad was operating and the time since the railroad ceased operations, taking with it hundreds of good jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue and income to area businesses.

By 1886, Rock Island trains had begun serving Trenton, making the trip from Kansas City in a record time of three hours and 40 minutes. While The Rock was here, it served as a division terminal and brought a steady income to its employees (the average salary was $23,192 per year), tax revenue to several entities and a lot of money to area businesses.

When it left, it took those things with it, leaving Trenton and Grundy County residents wondering what the future would hold.

While the railroad had been in financial trouble for years and had been hindered by the nearly 13-year delay of the Interstate Commerce Commission to approve a merger with the Union Pacific Railroad, the closing still stung.

The Kansas City Terminal Railway Company has notified all Rock Island employees their jobs are abolished as of 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 31 when the Kansas City Terminal will cease its operation of the Rock Island lines. - Trenton Republican-Times, Thursday, March 25, 1980

According to that edition of the R-T, the uncertain fate of the jobs had not just come about during a recent strike, but had been in the wings since about 1975 when the railroad had declared bankruptcy.

The strike only prolonged the demise of the railroad, said B.J. Clark, a local railroader and spokesman for the United Transportation Union.

The results of the closure were outlined in a study conducted by the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission in June 1980. The study said 151 employees had lost their jobs for a total annual loss of salary of $3,502,000.

It was estimated that only about one-third of the employees would choose to leave Trenton, partly because of legislation that would provide Rock Island employees with compensation payments of up to 75 percent of their former wages for up to three years.

Grundy County faced a loss of $33,744 in taxes to schools, townships, etc., and $2,256 in railroad property taxes.

With the closing of the Rock Island, the Chicago Northwestern Railroad took over the tracks, followed by the Union Pacific Railroad.

While those are the facts, the real story of the Rock Island in Trenton can best be told through the words of those who experienced it as a vital part of the community. It is true that the economic benefits of the railroad may be gone, but the memories definitely are not. It is those memories shared in this special section that we hope will keep the spirit of The Rock alive in Trenton.

(This item appeared April 1, 2010, in the Republican Times.)

April 1, 2010


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A Classic (and original lyrics, especially concerning Engineers thirst)




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQmEwwuGZD0


-- Edited by Calvin on Thursday 1st of April 2010 06:14:08 PM

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"...the affects its closing had"

Them Republican'ts need sum lessons.

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