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On Again?

1/31/2011

Imagine this as a coal train? An eastbound Canadian Pacific Railway
Rapid City to Huron manifest train awaits clearance to depart
Philip, South Dakota on January 18, 2011. Rick Mills photo

Canadian Pacific talks of Powder River Basin Access
January 27, 2011
(from TRAINS Magazine web site)

CALGARY, Alta. — A Canadian Pacific official said President Obama’s nod to “clean coal” technology could lead to the railroad tapping the Wyoming Powder River Basin coalfields, Toronto’s Globe & Mail has reported. CP’s Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern subsidiary holds the regulatory authority necessary to construct a new line into the basin.

“The coal market is what’s really been driving the overall business case,” said Kathryn McQuade, CP’s chief financial officer. “That’s still a work in progress.”

CP purchased DM&E for $1.48 billion in 2008, and extending the line from western South Dakota into the coalfields would likely cost an additional $6 billion. The future of coal is uncertain at best, due to potential future environmental regulations. And while Powder River coal is low in sulfur, giving it an environmental advantage over eastern coal, demand for it hasn’t grown as quickly in recent years as it has in the past.

McQuade said CP would likely only build into the basin if it found a partner willing to invest in the project. Those could include utilities, construction companies, financial institutions, or another railroad. Though it holds the permits, CP would need to acquire land and rights-of-way into the major coal mines in the basin. Currently, Union Pacific and BNSF Railway serve the mines off a jointly owned route built in the 1970s.

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Visiting Old BN Warriors at Alliance

1/30/2011

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A cold and breezy day in Alliance, Nebraska.
But of course not too cold to shoot train photos!

On my way back from eastern South Dakota and Nebraska last week I happened on a set of retired GE C30-7 locomotives on a side track in Alliance – can it be that it has been over a decade since I last saw one of these units pulling tonnage on the Black Hills Subdivision?

Time rolls on…

Rick

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Obituary – Rev. Dr. Robert T. Wagner

1/21/2011

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KEYSTONE – The Rev. Dr. Robert T. Wagner, 78, Keystone, passed away peacefully Jan. 17, 2011, at the Dougherty House, Prince of Peace Hospice in Sioux Falls, of complications caused by lung cancer.

Wagner was born Oct. 30, 1932, in Sioux Falls, to H.H. and Helen Wagner. He spent his childhood in Sioux Falls and on the family farm in Bridgewater. Wagner graduated from Washington High School in 1950, where he was senior class president and excelled in debate and extemporaneous speaking. He then went on to obtain his Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College in 1954 with a major in Philosophy.

Wagner was married to Mary K. Mumford of Howard on June 23, 1954. The couple moved to Evanston, Ill., where Wagner studied theology at Seabury Western Seminary. Their first child, Christopher, was born in 1956. Wagner received a Masters of Divinity from Seabury in 1957, and returned to Sioux Falls where he was ordained a priest in the Episcopal church, and assumed the roles of vicar at St. Peter’s Church and Chaplain at All Saints School. A second child, Andrea, was born in 1961. During this period, Wagner was entrusted with supervision of the planning and construction of the new Church of the Holy Apostles in Sioux Falls, which was dedicated in 1962. In 1964 Wagner became rector of Trinity Church in Watertown, where he was again responsible for the construction a new church building for that congregation, which was dedicated in 1965. He continued his formal education, receiving a Masters of Sacred Theology from Seabury Western Seminary in 1970.

Wagner relocated to Brookings in 1971, where he earned a Ph.D. in sociology from South Dakota State University in 1972.

Wagner was appointed Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology in 1971, and became a full Professor in 1978.

He taught a number of subjects, including an extremely popular course in Marriage and the Family and was the recipient of University Teacher of the Year on multiple occasions. He was also the author of 64 publications, and chaired numerous academic committees. Beginning in 1980, Wagner joined the administration at SDSU where he served as Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 1984 he became Vice President of Dakota State College in Madison, and in 1985 he was appointed the President of South Dakota State University, a position he held until his retirement in 1997.

During Wagner’s tenure at SDSU, the University experienced substantial growth in enrollment, and the completion of a number of major building and infrastructure projects.

Among Wagner’s initiatives was an enlarged emphasis on the University Endowment as an increasingly important contributor to the sustained expansion of the institution. In recognition of his achievements as an educator and administrator, Wagner was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Augustana College in 1994, a Doctor of Public Service to SDSU and the State of South Dakota by the South Dakota Board of Regents in 1998, a Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of South Dakota in 2001 and a Doctor of Divinity by Seabury Western Theological Seminary in 2002.

Upon retirement from SDSU, the Wagners moved to their home in the Black Hills above Keystone. Among Wagner’s many interests were trains and railroading, and he was instrumental in founding the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City. Following the death of his spouse Mary in 2004, Wagner renewed his activities in the church, and served as rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Rapid City from 2005-2006, and Canon and Dean Emeritus of Cavalry Cathedral in Sioux Falls from 2006-2009.

Through his talents as a communicator, his scholarship, his dedication to teaching and learning and his deep religious faith, Robert Wagner touched many lives. He consecrated his life to his students, his parishioners and his family and to reinforcing the values of South Dakota and the Christian faith.

Wagner is survived by a son, Christopher, and his spouse, Johanna, of Geneva, Switzerland; a daughter, Andrea Radke of Irene; three brothers, Peter and his spouse, Connie, of Sibley, Iowa, John and his spouse, Annie, of Sioux Falls, and Tom and his spouse, Tenia, of Omaha, Neb.; his stepmother, Ann Wagner of Sioux Falls; and four grandchildren, Erin, Lee, Lara and Helena.

He was predeceased by his spouse, former state senator Mary K. Wagner, in 2004.

In accordance with his wishes, Wagner will be cremated.

A Memorial Requiem Eucharist will be offered at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at the Calvary Cathedral in Sioux Falls, and at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Rapid City. Bishop John T. Tarrant will officiate at both services, which will be followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, a Robert T. and Mary K. Wagner Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Service at Serenity Springs of Rapid City is in charge of arrangements.

Friends may sign his online guest register and offer condolences at www.serenityspringsfuneralchapel.com.

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Jackson’s masterpiece at home in SDSRM

1/2/2011

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Gene Jackson puts some final touches on his
magnificent HO layout which he donated to the SDSRM in 2010

Come on up to Hill City and help us plan for our model layout’s future, as well as for our 2011 programming and exhibits on Saturday, January 8th!

Saturday, January 8 – Museum Closed for Board Meetings
10am – Model/HO Layout and Displays meeting for Board and volunteers (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)
11am – Education/programs meeting for Board and volunteers (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)
1pm – Quarterly Board meeting (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)

Sunday, January 9 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 10 – Museum Closed

Tuesday, January 11 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Wednesday, January 12 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Thursday, January 13 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Friday, January 14 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Saturday, January 15 – Museum Closed

Sunday, January 16 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 17 – Museum Closed

Tuesday, January 18 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Wednesday, January 19 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Thursday, January 20 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Friday, January 21 – Museum Closed (Rick in Nebraska; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)

Saturday, January 22 – Museum Closed (Rick in Nebraska; Museum closed to public – new exhibit construction)
Sunday, January 23 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 24 – Museum Closed

Tuesday, January 25 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Wednesday, January 26 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Thursday, January 27 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Friday, January 28 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Saturday, January 29 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)

Sunday, January 30 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 31- Museum Closed

February days and hours:
Sunday and Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday through Saturday: 10am-4pm daily

Saturday, February 5 – 11-3pm Special Program – “Antiques Railroad Show” – railroad and related antiques appraisal day at the SDSRM

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On Again?

Visiting Old BN Warriors at Alliance

Obituary – Rev. Dr. Robert T. Wagner

Jackson’s masterpiece at home in SDSRM

SDSRM Blog

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We are all about the
People, Places, and Trains... Join Us!

On Again?

Visiting Old BN Warriors at Alliance

Obituary – Rev. Dr. Robert T. Wagner

Jackson’s masterpiece at home in SDSRM

SDSRM Blog

Archives

Categories

We are all about the People, Places, and Trains... Join Us!

We are all about the
People, Places, and Trains... Join Us!