Much of this former RI line is owned and preserved today by the state of Oklahoma. In the 1960's the railroad kept open many small town stations until the agent retired. Then the station was closed.

Passing sidings were way too short for modern trains. RI removed the sidings to reduce property taxes and ran this railroad one way eastbound 12 hours per day and westbound 12 hours per day. Trains passed at division points.

The Cherokee Rocket was replaced by a RDC car that was one of the longest RDC car runs in the country from Memphis to Amarillo. The passenger local also ran between Tucumcari and Memphis. The local usually consisted of one coach and a number of head end cars. Railroad passes were not valid on the RDC car but were valid on the local. The RDC car did not carry checked baggage. If you checked a suitcase from off line to a station on this line, you had to wait for the local about 12 hours later for your suitcase to arrive.

The Cherokee Rocket was one of the early streamlined light-weight equipment trains. It was pulled by one of the pre-war diesel locomotives. It had a Pullman car and a diner in the consist with several coaches. At one time I believe the Pullman was a through car to Los Angeles on the SP Golden State route.

After the Cherokee Rocket was replaced by an RDC car, at meal time a crew member would take meal orders from passengers. He would wire the order ahead. Then the train would be met by a person from a local restaurant with some absolutetly delicious hot box lunches. Some of the best fried chicken I have ever eaten was in the box lunch.