ROCKOME LEARNING FOUNDATION INC

ARCOLA, IL

Hanging onto Hayes When M396 had the IC heritage unit 3008 leading it earlier this year, my buddy and I had originally only planned to start our day at Hayes, but we decided to go find it, hence our viewing at Tuscola previously. It was a pretty easy race to Hayes thanks to the speed restrictions in and around Tuscola at the time. Hayes has been my go-to spot on the IC this year it seems like, I think I'm subconsciously making up for missing the old Lodge elevator.

At any rate, the classic Hayes elevator makes a wonderful framing device for CN3008 and CN3219 as they lead M396 north towards Champaign. They'll stop there for yard work, though we didn't follow beyond there. Something else caught our attention to the west after we saw them into town... — Hanging onto Hayes Credit: Leo Blackwelder

Rockome Learning Foundation Inc in Arcola, Illinois is an educational nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a unique learning experience for students. The foundation was founded in 1997 by Dr. John and Carol Lantz, parents of three children and longtime supporters of education in their community. The foundation provides educational services to students of all ages and backgrounds, including those with special needs. The main focus of the foundation is to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment that encourages students to be creative, critical thinkers.

The Rockome Learning Foundation has a number of programs and services that help students to develop their skills and knowledge. These include after-school programs, summer camps, tutoring, and career exploration. The foundation also offers a range of classes and workshops focused on topics such as robotics, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The foundation has a computer lab and a library, which provide students with access to a variety of resources and materials.

The Rockome Learning Foundation is actively involved in the local community and works to promote education in the Arcola area. The foundation organizes events, workshops, and seminars for students, parents, and teachers. The foundation also provides scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need.

The Rockome Learning Foundation is committed to providing educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their background or special needs. The foundation works to create a learning environment that is safe, encouraging, and inspiring.

ROCKOME LEARNING FOUNDATION INC is a History Museum in ARCOLA IL. US MID #8401700439

The museum is classed as HST (History Museums). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin).

Second Choice Hayes old grain elevator makes for an interesting sight beside the CN 8952, the Grand Trunk heritage unit. This elevator hasn't been used in many decades, but still manages to stand proudly in the fields. It's a treat to still be able to shoot it.

Originally, our plan with 8952 and E271 was to shoot it at Pesotum, however thanks to its work in Champaign, long shadows were eclipsing our shot. Not ideal, so we bailed on that and decided to go for Hayes. I toyed with various angles at the elevator, but finding something I was happy with was a struggle, though I've got ideas for future shots here for sure. The tight frame may not be the best for this spot, but I decided to give it a go anyway. Good learning experience here anyways.

Real or Fake? In the span of one week, two fakebonnets lead the elusive roadrailers through central Illinois. I was on the other side of the world when the first one happened, but the day after landing back in America after a very nice week abroad with the wife and some great live music, I got the heads up we had a very special 256 headed our way. Suffice to say, even though I was severely jetlagged still, I was interested.

Just west of Sadorus, NS256 comes flying by, led by BNSF751. Though a little grimy and a bit faded, this fakebonnet still looks pretty sharp - not as sharp as a real warbonnet, but still pretty slick. I've also never shot either a fake nor warbonnet so this was a nice first - and to get it on roadrailers? A very handy thing. While I was overseas, the rumour of the imminent end of roadrailers once again sprouted, though this one suggested they would end literally days later, on Easter. Turns out it was a traffic lull for the holiday. Now others say it'll be the end in a few weeks from now, or a few months, or...

Who the hell knows. Fakebonnet leader is still cool though!

Always On The Move CN E271 came through the area recently with a surprise - CN 8952, the Grand Trunk heritage unit leading. Probably the nicest of the CN heritage units in all honesty. I got word of its imminent arrival, picked up a friend, and headed up to Rantoul to meet the thing just in the nick of time. Naturally, we wound up chasing the thing for a while, though it did spend a good while in Champaign. We had some shots lined up, but a fast moving train and lighting changing quick, our plans were changing a fair bit too. Looking back, we had some other opportunities we could have taken, but you work with what you've got in the moment.

Although we'd expected E271 to head straight through Mattoon, RTC had a different plan and wound up sticking him in the hole at Humboldt. We learned of this when we got to Humboldt and checked the signals out. Amtrak was coming north, so they were sticking him in the siding prematurely. We didn't have enough time to get back to Arcola for a shot, but midway along the Humboldt siding we just nabbed something quick. Golden hour was nearing, but so were long, low shadows that made us have to change plans yet again afterwards. You win some, you lose some, you learn some.

Something neat worth noting is the 5-pack of 48ft intermodal well-cars that headed up the train. 48 footers are becoming rarer and rarer, making this just a little more neat than it already was.

Terminating the Terminal NS 1072 leads the 256 Roadrailer through Sadorus. To my surprise, the thing had slowed right on down. I had been expecting to have to really put my foot down to stay ahead for another shot or two, but then it wasn't really necessary. Turns out 32N was stopped just ahead of it, and CN had revoked NS control of the Tolono diamond just minutes after giving it to them. They just kept lining CN trains through the diamond for ages and got 256 and 32N stuck for quite some time. Got a chance for some long distance glamour shots though, so that was fun. Wacky day out!

The Boy Who Cried Roadrailer Well, I naturally had to join the frenzy with the Illinois Terminal heritage-led NS 256. Geez, that whole thing about my quota the other day suddenly feels moderately outdated. I guess if I start doing this regularly this means roadrailers will disappear within the next year or something. There is a rumour of that sort out again, funnily enough, but you know... rumours. This comes after the big one last year, and probably about a decades worth of &quot;this is the end!&quot; rumours on these things at this point. Makes it hard to believe them anymore... Oh well.

Anyway, at Ivesdale, NS 1072 was really moving as it blasted past the old and new elevators alike. The old wood box elevator is a treat, and one I've been shooting a few times recently. Thanks to the heads up the night prior, I was up reasonably early enough to head on down to Ivesdale and wait for our roadrailer. Not a long wait either, 40 minutes or so. Not too bad! I would learn I really should have been at Sloan to see it meet the 255, but you win some you lose some. Anyway, heritage roadrailer at old elevator. I dig it.

Marginal Improvements You know how they say 'if you got nothing nice to say, don't say it at all?' Well, yeah, that's pretty reasonable for pretty much any context. Anyway, I have a lot of negative things to say about CNs take on the Illinois Central heritage unit. But then don't we all? However, I will say one nice thing this time. I completely missed it until my buddy pointed it out the other day, but CN evidently removed the IPO25 sticker on the sides of the nose like a year ago. It certainly makes the unit look a little better than it did previously. Promise I won't complain about the... issues this time around.

We started our chase of the CN 3008 down in Tuscola. Starting at about South Tuscola, something is putting on a speed restriction of just 35mph between that end of the siding and CP Champaign. It's been like this for over a week, I dunno what's up with that. Anyway, it made chasing this fella down that much easier. Can't complain about that, hey?

CN3008 (IC Heritage) / CN3219 (CN100), CN M396 @ Tuscola, IL

Triple Greys NS255, led by the NS8025 Monongahela heritage unit, passes by the old wood grain elevator in Ivesdale, IL. Though this elevator is inactive today, a modern elevator still operates in the village today. The rare Triple Crown roadrailer train has had to slow on its way through town as some maintenance of way work is carried out by the bridge over the creek just behind the elevator.

Clinging to Life Chasing a train on the Lafayette District is no easy task since the roads and rails rarely parallel nicely - I always like to say it's because Pythagoras is a dick - but yet, I found myself doing it anyway. NS 255, one of two roadrailer trains left in the country, was led solo by the Monongahela heritage unit NS8025. Never an easy chase with a speedy train like the Triple Crown, but it was hard to say no. These roadrailers were meant to go away last summer, but yet they're still plugging along. I'm sure time is running out, but they continue to cling to life a little longer.

Though codeline is by and large obsolete and no longer serving practical use, chunks of it remain along the tracks, such as here just outside of Bement near CP Wiggins. Trackside codeline has become something of an endangered species over the years as technology moves on and swaths are cleared out, so it's always nice to see some good looking poles still hanging on trackside.

Contact ROCKOME LEARNING FOUNDATION INC

ROCKOME LEARNING FOUNDATION INC
125 N CR 425 E
ARCOLA
IL
61910

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ROCKOME LEARNING FOUNDATION INC Information

MID #	8401700439
Name	ROCKOME LEARNING FOUNDATION INC
Alternate Name
Classification	History Museums, , Midwest
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)	260869541
NTEECC	A54
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)	201212
INCOME	0
REVENUE	0
LAT/LONG	39.687978, -88.362699
CODES	FIPS State Code: 17 FIPS County Code: 041 US Census Tract: 952300 US Census Block: 5097