The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RailroadRockets were lightweight, streamlineddiesel-electric passenger trains built by the Budd Company. These six trains were the first streamlined equipment purchased by the Rock Island, as well as being its first diesel-powered passenger trains. Four of the trains consisted of three cars each, the other two each had four cars.
The trains were articulated except for the observation cars. Later, as the railroad streamlined more trains on more routes, the list of "Rocket" trains grew.
28 seat coach, lounge, observation car #454 Minnesota
Articulated 2 car set:
18 seat Baggage-dinette-coach #405 Mesabi
76 seat coach #305 Ioway
28 seat coach, lounge, observation car #455 Missouri
References
^"Rock Island Rockets". Railway Classics. December 16, 2009.
^"Streamliners Now Obsolete With 1937 Model on "Market"". Reading Eagle. October 16, 1936. Retrieved March 28, 2012 – via Google News.
^Hansen 2017, pp. 76–77
Hansen, Peter A. (2017). "The Rock's Camelot". In McGonigal, Robert S. (ed.). Great Trains Heartland. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. pp. 70–81. ISBN 978-1-62700-497-8.
"Rock Island Lightweight Passenger Equipment". Rock Island Technical Society. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
"Rocky Mountain Rocket Consists". Rock Island Technical Society. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
"Twin Star Rocket Consists". Rock Island Technical Society. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015.
"Choctaw Rocket Consists". Rock Island Technical Society. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015.
"Des Moines Rocket Consists". Rock Island Technical Society. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015.
External links
"Rock Island Jet Rocket (EMD LWT12 General Motors Aerotrain)". c. 1956. Archived from the original (photograph) on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Flickr.
The Peoria Rocket/The Des Moines Rocket - September, 1938 timetables and consists - from Streamliner Schedules