Western South Dakota Railroads

From the Land of Infinite Variety comes railroading of all varieties! Tourist steam trains, short lines and main lines make western South Dakota a "hot spot" for all railfans! View such railroads as the Black Hills Central, Dakota Southern, Burlington Northern, Dakota Minnesota & Eastern, Chicago & North Western, and Union Pacific.

The video begins in the Black Hills and with the 1880 train. This line operates in the summer and takes tourists for a scenic ride between Keystone and Hill City.

The Dakota Southern runs over ex-Milwaukee Road rails and runs grain shipments between Kadoka and Mitchell.

Burlington Northern trains haul Powder River Basin coal on the Black Hills Subdivision between Dewey and Ardmore in the southwestern most part of the state.

The Dakota Minnesota and Eastern pulls freight that is transferred by the Chicago and North Western. The DM&E is seen pulling trains on their PRC line from Rapid City to Pierre.

And finally, you view the Colony Line of the late Chicago and North Western, now the Union Pacific. Power from both roads are seen pulling south from Belle Fourche.

Copyright 1996, C. Vision Productions

Color/60 Minutes