UP FOR SALE: Rock Island Lines Railroad "The Rock" Readyriter Vintage Ball Point Pens 15 pcs None of them write, they all come with the original ink. The Solid Red ones only say USA on them and not Readyriter The Rock Island Lines, officially known as the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI P), was a major American railroad that operated from the mid-19th century until its bankruptcy and liquidation in 1980. It was commonly referred to as the Rock Island Railroad or simply "The Rock." Key Facts About Rock Island Lines: Founded: 1852 Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois Peak Operations: Operated over 7,000 miles of track across 14 states, mainly in the Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest. Primary Routes: Served major cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Denver, and Minneapolis, with lines extending into Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Significance Operations: Passenger Services: The Rock Island was known for famous passenger trains such as: The Rocket Streamliners ? Fast, modern trains introduced in the 1930s to compete with other railroads. The Golden State ? A partnership with the Southern Pacific Railroad, running between Chicago and Los Angeles. Freight Services: The railroad transported grain, coal, livestock, and manufactured goods, playing a major role in Midwest agriculture and industry. Innovations: One of the first U.S. railroads to introduce diesel-electric locomotives in the 1930s. Decline Bankruptcy: Faced financial struggles in the mid-20th century due to competition from automobiles, trucks, and airlines. Suffered from poor management, lack of investment, and deferred maintenance, leading to deteriorating infrastructure. Attempted mergers with other railroads (such as the Union Pacific), but these efforts failed. Declared bankruptcy in 1975 and was liquidated in 1980, with its assets sold to various other railroads, including Chicago North Western, Southern Pacific, and Missouri Pacific (later part of Union Pacific). Legacy: The Rock Island name still survives in cultural references, including the famous folk song "Rock Island Line." Many of its old routes are now operated by Union Pacific, BNSF Railway, and regional railroads. Collectors and rail enthusiasts still seek Rock Island memorabilia, including signs, timetables, and train models. AS IS AS SHOWN Please take a look at the pictures for the best description. A photo is as good as a thousand words and is the best description of cosmetic condition. Use your ZOOM TOOL to best see this item! Please look closely at all the photos for condition--Thank you *Vintage and secondhand items may have flaws. Please review item(s), description and picture(s). I do my best to research and describe the items accurately, but I am not an expert on all of the items I sell. Unless specified in the listing, all items are sold AS-IS AS-SEEN in photos* All of My Items Come from a Smoke Free Home and have been cleaned per's standards I do Ship everyday Monday - Friday I do my best to ensure that my photos are as true to color as possible. However, due to inconsistencies of various monitors, lighting sources, digital photography, product color may slightly vary Feel Free to Visit My Store and Browse Through My Other Listings as I am happy to combine shipping for you. Please contact me with any issues prior to leaving negative/neutral feedback or low detail ratings, as I will always do my best to solve any problems that may come up! If you have any further questions, please feel free to message me Any props that are used in the taking of the photos are not included. Only the item/items in the title of the listings are being sold