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The Black Hills Central Railroad is a for profit company which operates The 1880 Train over a 10 mile long route located between Hill City and Keystone South Dakota. Although it depends on the thriving family tourist industry in the region, the Black Hills Central is a must-see for any serious railfan. The original standard gauge line dates to the 1890’s mining boom and constructed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Due to its location close to Mount Rushmore, the line was used to haul equipment and supplies used in the carving of the iconic monument.

With declines in mining and rail traffic, the Black Hills Central Railroad’s tourist trains began running here in 1957, with the goal to preserve steam railroading. In 1972 a massive and deadly flood destroyed the last mile between Keystone and Keystone Junction. This portion was not restored until 2001.

Currently Black Hills Central Railroad  has four steam locomotives and two diesels. GP9 number 63 usually handles the first round trip of the day with one of several steam engines handling the rest of the schedule.

On the day we visited, Baldwin 2-6-6-2T #110 pulled three trips. This unusual engine is articulated to handle tight curves found on logging railroads. It was built in 1928 and, according to the Black Hills Central website, is the last operating locomotive of its type. Its original owner was the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and later went to Rayonier Lumber. It was sold to the Black Hills Central in 1999 by the Nevada State Railway Museum. Since it is the most powerful steam locomotive on the railroad, it's often used during the heavy summer tourist months.

Shortly after leaving the station in Hill City, the train begins to climb the 4-6% grade on Tin Mill Hill. If you are fortunate enough to be there when #110 is in charge, you will witness one of the LOUDEST steam locomotives I’ve ever heard as it works its way up the grade!

Once at the top, the line passes through beautiful forest and meadow areas, along with some family farms. Some of the land is administered by the National Forest Service. Much of the Black Hills Central follows Battle Creek, once the home of gold prospectors in the earlier days of the railroad. At Keystone Junction the engine runs around the train and operates tender first for the return trip. The entire round trip is about two hours and fifteen minutes.

Hill City is also the home of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum (SDSRM), a not for profit operation located right next door to the Black Hills Central depot.

SDDRM has collections which include memorabilia, rolling stock, and other items relating to various railroads that served South Dakota both in the past and today. There’s also an HO railroad layout depicting South Dakota scenes.

You definitely should plan to make a trip to the Black Hills Central and the South Dakota State Railroad Museum. 

You can see a short video of 2-6-6-2T #110 here. If you enjoy that, then you might be interested in my 27 minute video documentary of 110 and the Black Hills Central, one of four chapters found on the Steam in the Mountains Volume 1 DVD from Yard Goat Images.

Thanks,

Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images

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About the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad

The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad runs on former Milwaukee Road tracks in the shadow of the volcanic mountain. Visitors board trains at the depot in the small town of Elbe, Washington for the seven mile trip to Mineral, where the railroad has a large yard and shop.

Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad is a not-for-profit operation run largely by volunteers. Its collection of geared logging type locomotives from each of the major builders: Climax, Heisler, Shay, and Willamette is well known and respected. In fact, the railroad’s Willamette is the only operational example in the world. These locomotives were built for steep  grades and tight curves typically found in the forest industries.

In addition, Mount Rainier Scenic has several conventional rod-style steam  locomotives and a couple of diesels in operation. There are an even greater number of heritage steam and diesel locomotives in the collection but not currently operational. 

The normal operation is over a curvy line between the small mountain hamlet of Elbe and the even smaller town of Mineral, however occasionally special trains run all the way to Tacoma. The line used by Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad are actually part of the extensive rail network owned by the City of Tacoma. The city operates commuter services as well as freight traffic serving the region’s port and manufacturing industries. The museum has long-term arrangements with Tacoma Rail for using their portion of the line. 

Our Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad experience

We visited this working railroad museum twice in June, 2011, just days apart. Our first visit came on a sunny day which happened to coincide with a charter for some German railfans who had arranged for two steam locomotives and a string of empty log cars to operate with several photo runbys. A few days later we were there for the 2011 National Railway Historical Society convention, which included rare mileage on a portion of the Tacoma Hill line and some changeable Washington State summer weather. On both days we were welcomed to safely look around the yard and shop facilities at Mineral.

The log car train was interesting in many ways. West Fork Logging Heisler #91 brought the empty cars and a caboose to Elbe, and then switched the train so the caboose would be on the rear as it returned to Elbe. Meanwhile, Hillcrest Lumber Climax #10 traveled light from Mineral. At Elbe, #10 took charge and headed to Mineral. Right after leaving, an unknown problem developed with one of the log cars, so #91 hooked on to the rear and pulled  the train back to Elbe, followed by #10. The issue was quickly resolved and the train was on its way again.

Six days later, the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad hosted the NRHS convention trip. My wife, Jan, was now with me to cover this event. As the train arrived from Eatonville rained poured down on us and it rained periodically the rest of the day. 

The star attraction for the NHRS trip was newly restored Rainier #2, built by Willamette. While not much for speed, the engine put on a fine performance. There was ample time to look around the shops and yard at Mineral. The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad volunteers also moved some of the other equipment around, which was a nice bonus.

Visit Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad

If you visit Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad, the line between Elbe and Mineral has limited accessibility. At Elbe, a small yard near the depot competes with the nearby highway and logging trucks. It has a large parking area shared by the railroad, the historic Little White Church, and nearby businesses. After leaving Elbe there are spots along a short stretch of State Route 706/National Park Highway to pull off to watch the trains. Further along, the tracks go away from all road access until veering south to cross the highway near park Junction Road. After this point the line is largely going through private land until it reaches Mineral.

There is plenty here to see and do. The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad is professionally run and offers a variety of experiences for rail enthusiasts and the general public. It's easily accessible from the Seattle-Tacoma area. The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad website has a great deal of information about the equipment, area attractions, and even current weather conditions and forecasts.

Go! You will love this place!

Our visit to Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad is now a 45 minute chapter on Steam in the Mountains - Volume 1 DVD from Yard Goat Images. Previews and additional information about Steam in the Mountains Volume 1 & 2 can be found here. 

Thanks, Steve Mitchell, Yard Goat Images

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