The Black Hills Central Railroad is a heritage railroad that operates in Keystone, South Dakota, United States. They operate between early May and early October over the scenic 10-mile (16 km) line. The railroad was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 5, 2003.
History[]
In 1956, two steam enthusiasts, William Heckman and Robert Freer, promoted to "have in operation at least one working steam railroad, for boys of all ages who share America's fondness for the rapidly vanishing steam locomotive." They soon gathered financial, political and popular support for this venture adjacent to the tourist destination of Mount Rushmore. The intention was to have summer steam train operations with 1880-period equipment.
It currently operates the 1880 Train on the former Keystone Branch of the Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) between Hill City, South Dakota and Keystone, South Dakota. This railroad line was originally built by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) to serve mining and timber interests in the Black Hills. It reached Keystone on January 20, 1900 and was later used to haul equipment for carving nearby Mount Rushmore.
Equipment[]
Locomotives[]
| Number | Images | Heritage | Type | Builder | Built | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 
|
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company | 2-6-6-2T | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1928 | Operational | |
| 7 | 
|
Ozan-Graysonia Lumber Co. | 2-6-2 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1919 | Display | |
| 104 |  |
Silver Falls Timber Company | 2-6-2T | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1926 | Storage | |
| 108 |  |
Potlatch Lumber Company | 2-6-6-2T | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1926 | Operational | |
| 103 |  |
Silver Falls Timber Company | 2-6-2T | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1922 | Storage, awaiting restoration | |
| 63 |  |
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) | EMD GP9 | Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) | 1956 | Operational | |
| 1 |  |
U.S. Army | Whitcomb 80 Tonner | Whitcomb Locomotive Company | 1943 | Operational |
Connection to the Hesston Steam Museum[]
Shay No. 7 at the Black Hills Central
In the 1960's, Elliott Donnelley had 2 3ft engines stored on the property, those being the former Oregon Lumber Company No. 7 and the Companhia Agricola No. 1. No. 7 wore a Black Hills Central RR livery during its time on display.