With thanks to Bruce O, for pointing the way to the Great Rock Island Route, here it is, compliments of the Levy site. Those of you able to check the differences as far as the tune is concerned might want to go there and look at the sheet music. It is absolutely clear that Kindt lifted a good share of his words from this song, though it does sound pretty much like an advertising jingle for the Rock Island!

As a child, I often visited relatives, (a retired railroader in Minooka, Illinois) whose house directly faced the Rock Island tracks, with only a small road in between. At that time, most (if not all) of the freights were still steam powered, but the passenger trains were the brightly colored red diesels. Standing right between the road and the tracks and feeling the power as they went by is an experience never to be forgotten. Many years later when it became obvious that the Peoria Rocket and the Rock Island Rocket were soon to be no more, I thought about making plans to ride one of them just once, but I never did. By then those beautiful red "streamliners" were old and faded, but I still wish I had gone.

Here is a link to a picture of an old E-8A, restored to its former glory. Unfortunately, all too many looked almost as bad as this F-7A when the end was in sight. There is a lot more information and pictures at rock-island.org for those who might be interested.

THE GREAT ROCK ISLAND ROUTE!
words and music by J. A. Roff, 1882

From a rocky bound Atlantic, to a mild Pacific shore,
From a fair and sunny southland to an icebound Labrador,
There's a name of magic import and 'tis known the world throughout,
'Tis a mighty corporation, called the Great Rock Island Route.

chorus
Now listen to the jingle, and the rumble, and the roar,
As she dashes thro' the woodland, and speeds along the shore,
See the mighty rushing engine, hear her merry bell ring out,
As they speed along in safety on the "Great Rock Island Route."

All great cities of importance can be found along its way,
There's Chicago, and Peoria and Rock Island so they say,
With Davenport, and westward still is Council Bluffs far out,
As a western termination, of this Great Rock Island Route.

chorus

To the great southwest another, and a mighty line they run,
Reaching far famed Kansas City, Leavenworth and Atchison,
Rich in beauty, power, and grandeur, and they owe it all no doubt
To the fact that they are stations on the Great Rock Island Route.

chorus

There's their "Northern Route," a daisy as you all can plainly see
To St. Paul, and Minneapolis, 'tis the famous "Albert Lea."
To the lakes of Minnesota, and all points there 'round about
Reached directly by no other, than the "Great Rock Island Route."

chorus

Now let music soft and tender, in its mystic power reveal
Praises to the "Great Rock Island," that the heart can only feel;
And to swell the mighty chorus--comes the glad re-echoing shout,
That for safety, time, and comfort, take the "Great Rock Island Route."

chorus


Roff wrote another song in 1883 entitled "A Famous Railway Line." Bet you can't guess what railroad it was about!

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Click to play

(MIDI transcribed by Joe Offer from sheet music found at the Levy Sheet Music Website)