Steam in South Dakota

There is also a great little railroad museum at the Hill City station. Nice H.O layout and some tinplate on display. They even let me in with an Irish Setter!

the 2-6-2 saddle tank engine gets down to its hands and knees with an extremely loud chuffing on the 6% grade which makes for a awesome video it you get in the car next to the engine going from hill city towards keystone.  I do not think you will hear any steamer today work that hard.  Then when they need more cars out comes the 2-6-6-2 true mallet when the add extra cars.  This engine works hard with 7 cars but nothing like the 2-6-2.

The number of places to catch it in the open are pretty limited, but it is a fun ride.  We used to go every December for the "Santa" train.  I would love to have it make some night runs so I could get some night shots, but they have a deal with neighbors to not run after dark because of fears of annoying locals.   There is now also an 0-6-0 that runs a few times a year on the eastern side of the state.  I put some photos of that on last week's "Mid Week Photos."

Kent in SD

Limited places to catch it out in the open?  I give you that it's rather treed in, but there must be at least 20 grade crossings on that line.  That little road crosses the tracks about every 1000 feet for a while down in that canyon.

Would like to get some pics of that 0-6-0 at some point.  That had to be the most unknown steam restoration in the country.  It went from didn't even know they were working on it to being under steam.

Kevin

Nice pics of the 1880 trains.  They also have a old GP7 they use at times on the weekdays.  My Father-in-law was a engineer on the 1880 in 1970 and 71.  When he got back from Vietnam he was hired by BN, they owned the line then and was one of the last firemen hired by BN.  He met his wife while up there, she had work on the diner car that used to be parked at the station.   BN had sold the line in 72 and my Father-in-law finished up in Alliance working for BN/BNSF till retirement.   The engines run from Hill city to Keystone and is a great way to spend half a day if up in the hills.  If I recall there are about 25 crossings and a few stretches of road that you can chase the engine.  If you do stay up in Hill city stay at the Holiday Inn, its next to the station and train shed/shop.  Nick  

Steam rated ball valve in the second picture? Likely a penberthy injector under the cab?

Wow..a logging articulated tank engine you can ride behind!  What is that balloon-

stacked critter in some of the photos?

a 2-6-2, which was running just a few years ago.  Now on indefinite semi-retirement and display.  The crew said the engine will run again, but no plans currently to rebuild.  Here's a current picture of her.

Thank you.  Never been to the museum.  In fact I just realized I have not been back to South Dakota since, oh, 1955.  That looks to be a fantastic museum/restored RR.  Thanks for sharing.  Nice little saddle tank engine.

The No.7 engine in this photo was modified for a couple of movies.  The added the stack to resemble the old wood burning engines of the west.  He operated it in 2 different movies at the time.  I need to ask him the names again but I think one may be Orphan train.   In the 70s No.7 and 104 where the main engines used by the 1880 and the grounds did not look so nice then.  We make it up there every year and my Father-in-law comments on how nice it looks.  More equipment has been brought in too through the years.  Nick