Joe Rook started with the Rock Island in Little Rock at the age of 17. After initially working in the storeroom at Biddle Yard in the summer of 1951, he worked his way up to becoming a brakeman, then conductor. He would remain with the railroad, witnessing its slow demise, until the Rock Island finally went bankrupt in 1980. He traveled on routes throughout Arkansas, even working for a time as a conductor on passenger trains. He had his share of near death experiences in train wrecks and nearly slid off the bridge over the Arkansas River at Little Rock.

After the Rock Island shut down, Rook was among employees who lobbied lawmakers at the Arkansas State Capitol for a plan that would involve the tracks being purchased by the state and leased to another railroad. But it failed by one vote, which would lead to much of the track eventually being taken up. He also learned how good he had it at the Rock Island when he then worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

I knew Joe for nearly two decades through his daughter Louisa, who has remained a close friend. After years of hearing him talk about his experiences, it was great to be able to record some of his stories in December of 2003. The photo to the right is he and his wife Jane a year later outside a meeting of former Rock Island employees.

MP3 AUDIO: JOE ROOK 1 - STARTING WITH THE ROCK ISLAND. He got his first position shortly after graduating high school. He talks about later becoming a brakeman on freight trains, life in cabooses and the routes through Arkansas. MP3 audio runs 9:59 (4.00 mb).

MP3 AUDIO: JOE ROOK 2 - PASSENGER TRAINS. For a time he worked as a conductor on passenger trains. He discusses the different trains, the demise of passenger service and why, despite the easy pace, he preferred working on freights. MP3 audio runs 4:50 (1.94 mb).

MP3 AUDIO: JOE ROOK 3 - ACCIDENTS & TECHNOLOGY. One of his more dramatic accidents was in a caboose that derailed, tipping over near a trestle with a 50-foot drop. He hurt his neck in another accident at the depot in Carlisle. MP3 audio runs 4:38 (1.85 mb).

MP3 AUDIO: JOE ROOK 4 - MORE ACCIDENTS. Discusses a fatal head-on collision between two passenger trains in North Little Rock that was caused by human error. He also had a friend who was killed in Malvern in a switching accident. MP3 audio runs 2:13 (914 kb).

MP3 AUDIO: JOE ROOK 5 - EXPERIENCES ON TRAINS. Passing time often included pranks. He also talks about nearly slipping off the bridge over the Arkansas River, cabooses and experiences with fellow employee L.T. Walker. MP3 audio runs 10:07 (4.05 mb).

MP3 AUDIO: JOE ROOK 6 - ROCK ISLAND SHUTS DOWN. Discusses his experiences as the railroad declined, then went bankrupt. He then worked for Cotton Belt, which, for a while, ran on Rock Island tracks through Arkansas. MP3 audio runs 16:45 (6.71 mb).

MP3 AUDIO: JOE ROOK 7 - SELL OFF. Discusses the final days of the railroad, low moral and the equipment and land then being sold. He was surprised the Rock island was allowed to die and discusses working for other railroads. MP3 audio runs 14:31 (5.81 mb).