For decades, I’ve been recording interviews with former employees of the Rock Island in Arkansas to document their experiences working for the long-gone railroad. Hearing first-hand accounts can be extremely fascinating. Typically, anyone who has spent much time working for a railroad is full of amazing stories and experiences, including occasional horrific and deadly accidents.
I have also been working to digitize hundreds of cassettes featuring interviews recorded around the country by Tom Sandlin.
Below are some of the interviews I’ve interviewed with people who either worked for the Rock Island or were in some way connected with the railroad.
ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS:
Bill K. Robbins Jr.
Robbins started with the Rock Island as a brakeman on July 14, 1966, later becoming a conductor. He talked about being on the last eastbound passenger train through Arkansas, then shifting into freight service. After the railroad was shut down Robbins eventually bought the shortline Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad, which is the oldest continuously operated shortline in the state. It was a fascinating discussion. INTERVIEW NOTES AND TRANSCRIPT.
AUDIO: Bill K. Robbins Jr. on Sept. 27, 2016 discussing his 14 years working as a brakeman, then conductor for the Rock Island. He later owned the shortline Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad.
James Springer
Springer did not work for the Rock Island, but three family members did, African-Americans in Little Rock, mostly during the era of segregation. He said his grandfather James Gilbert worked for the railroad from about 1900-1945 primarily working on the track, maintaining switches. His father Worthy Springer worked at Biddle Yard from about 1940-1955 servicing steam locomotives, and his brother Charles Springer spent three to four years in the car department before going into the military. INTERVIEW NOTES.
