Category: History - SDSRM

“T” Time in Hill City

8/4/2013

Northbound freight to Deadwood – 1941

Number 4107, one of the original articulated 2-6-6-2 class T-2 Mallets used on the Black Hills “High Line” by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad is shown taking a drink at the Hill City water tank in July of 1941. Rick Mills collection

Train Time in Spearfish

10/9/2012

It is train time at the Spearfish depot in the late 1890s. A sturdy little Burlington and Missouri River 2-6-0 locomotive is ready to head its short consist back up Spearfish Canyon, through Englewood, and on into Deadwood. The locomotive, cars, depot and trackage will all become a part of parent company Chicago, Burlington and Quincy in 1904.

Orphan Train Revisited

9/23/2012

In our research and interviews leading into the Museum’s railroad films and TV programs exhibit we are locating some classic images! This image from the collection of Johnny One Feather captures re-enactor Jerry Root of Rapid City, Black Hills Central’s number 7, and Custer’s wooden depot during filming of the CBS movie “Orphan Train” in 1979. Keep watching our web site and newsletter for updates on the Film/TV exhibit at the SDSRM.

They Don’t Build ‘Em Like That Anymore…

9/12/2012

CB&Q SW1 #9147 – 1948 (Council Bluffs, Iowa)

Burlington Northern #91 – 1977 (Kirk, South Dakota)

Midwest Locomotive #1940 – 2012 (Kansas City, Missouri)

Here is a real railroad veteran that served the majority of its career based in Deadwood (1948-1982) for the Chicago Burlington & Quincy and later Burlington Northern, and can still be found working at a railcar maintenance facility in Kansas City.

Model:   EMD SW1
Built As: Chicago Burlington & Quincy 9147
Built:   6/1940
Serial Number:   1074
Order No:   E310
Frame Number:   E310-7
Notes:   ex-MWLX 91, ex-Kansas City Power & Light 91, ex-BN 91, nee-CB&Q 9147

That’s the Ticket – Stub

9/4/2012

A little ticket stub can tell a big story – note the “family” or connected railroad companies, the destinations, the punch shapes, and the other details that illustrate a simple but vital part of railroad and South Dakota history.

Happy Independence Day!

7/2/2011

Can it be! Yes, American celebrated its Bicentennial 35 years ago this month!

How many of you were around to witness the red, white and blue that America’s railroads displayed on its locomotives and cars? Here are three locomotives that visited South Dakota on multiple occasions during that celebration – Enjoy the sights, but enjoy and be thankful for your freedoms every day!

Dakota Southern rebuilding details

6/26/2011

Here are some details on the upcoming rebuild of the upcoming Dakota Southern Railway’s ex- Milwaukee Road line between Mitchell and Chamberlain from former DS principal Alex Huff:

Bids have been let. Rail will be a mix of #2 relay 136#, 132# and 115#. Heaviest rail will be laid west of Mitchell, stepping down to 115# into Chamberlain. Material has begun to arrive, as has track machinery for the prime contractor. Contractor was expected to begin work, putting in relay 9′ x 7″ x 9″ ties with spike holes plugged, this past week. There may have been some delay due to rain the first part of the week. To my eye, the ties appear to be changeouts where concrete ties replaced wood. Two competing elevators are proposing to build 110 car shuttle facilities at Kimball. Investment will include 8,000′ turning loops, 2.5 to 3.5 million bushel elevators, etc. at an estimated cost of $26 million each. Kimball is about 40 miles west of Mitchell. Estimated carloadings is 6,000/year. Big change from 65# rail and grass track.

180 Years Ago Today in South Carolina

6/17/2011

The “Best Friend of Charleston” was built at West Point, New York, and delivered by ship to Charleston, South Carolina. She was the first locomotive built entirely in the United States. When she made her inaugural run on Christmas Day 1830, she became the first locomotive in the US to operate in regularly-scheduled passenger service.

“The one hundred and forty-one persons flew on the wings of wind at the speed of fifteen to twenty-five miles per hour, annihilating time and space… leaving all the world behind. On the return we reached Sans-Souci in quick and double quick time, stopped to take up a recruiting party – darted forth like a live rocket, scattering sparks and flames on either side – passed over three salt creeks hop, step and jump, and landed us all safe at the Lines before any of us had time to determine whether or not it was prudent to be scared.”

On this date in 1831, she became the first locomotive destroyed in the USA.

180 years ago today, her fireman became annoyed by the sound of steam escaping from the safety valve, and tied the valve shut. According to some accounts, he placed a board atop the valve and sat on it. The resulting explosion killed the fireman, scalded the engineer, and destroyed BFOC.

Southern Railway constructed a replica of BFOC in 1928, using the original blueprints. That replica now belongs to the Charleston chapter of National Railway Historical Society. It is currently displayed at Norfolk Southern’s corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

30 Years Ago…

6/12/2011

Five GP20s lead Burlington Northern train number 856 north past the Crazy Horse Memorial in a never to be repeated image from the summer of 1981. Greg Walters photo, Rick Mills collection

50 Years Ago…

5/31/2011

Fifty years ago (May 22, 1961) the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha made its last departures from Chicago and Seattle/Tacoma. Unnamed Nos. 15 and 16 continued between Minneapolis and Deer Lodge, the first division point west of Butte. A September 1961 photo shows a minimum four-car consist behind an E unit: baggage car, coach, tap-cafe car and Touralux sleeper. It was discontinued west of Aberdeen on January 31, 1964, but its nocturnal turnaround between Minneapolis and Aberdeen lasted until April 16, 1969.