1980 - 1983 Rock Island - After the Shutdown, Along the "Choctaw Route"

A few slides found in our collection show what remained of the Rock Island "Choctaw Route," not long after the railroad ceased operations. We found photos in only a few locations. Beginning with the farthest east, Perry, AR heading west to Bushland, TX. Unfortunately, the photographers did not make a comprehensive documentation of the entire route, but what was found in the collection is worth posting for those interested in Rock Island history.
Our photo journey begins from our eastern-most image, Perry, AR and we move westbound toward the furthest western image we have at Bushland, TX.
It is interesting to see what remained of the Rock Island Railroad and the condition immediately after shutdown extending into 1983.
00:01 Perry, AR 1983
00:05 Ola, AR 1983
00:10 Danville, AR 1983
00:15 Booneville, AR 1982
00:20 Howe, OK - Looking east at about the KCS diamond 1982
00:25 Howe, OK - Looking west at about the KCS diamond 1982
Trustee's equipment will have to be fetched form the small yard at Howe, OK in order to complete liquidation. Judging from track condition and two years of overgrowth, this must have been a challenge, indeed.
*Please Note* Some great pictures of the Rock Island operating at Howe, OK can be found at -
Mike Condren condrenrails.com Arkansas Boston Mountains Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Thank you.
00:30 Hartshorne, OK 1982
00:35 What I believe to be near Hartshorne, OK. This slide shows condition indicative of much of the mainline by 1982
00:40 Harter Yard Office, Oklahoma City, OK (circa 1982)
00:45 Yard Office, El Reno, OK 1980
00:50 Division Office, El Reno, OK 1983
00:55 Passenger depot, El Reno, OK 1980
01:00 Passenger depot, El Reno, OK 1980
01:05 Looking toward Calumet, OK 1980
01:10 Geary, OK 1980 - Visible is the branch line north to Homestead, OK. The depot is alongside the mainline. Note the unique structure used as a depot.
01:15 Bridgeport, OK 1981
01:20 Weatherford, OK (no other picture of the Weatherford, OK depot has been found)
01:25 Elk City, OK
01:30 Elk City, OK
01:35 Amarillo, TX
01:40 Near Bushland, TX
01:45 Bushland, TX
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