Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad

The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad reporting mark|BSVY is a heritage railroad in Boone, Iowa.

History

The railroad was started in 1983 by a group of volunteers primarily to preserve a scenic section of the former Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad. This stretch of track through the Des Moines River valley includes a beautiful high bridge. It runs approximately twelve miles from Boone through the small town of Fraser, Iowa and ends at the site of the former town of Wolf.

The railroad was an immediate success and has expanded regularly since its founding. A permanent station/museum/ticket office building was built with considerable parking areas for the busy summer season.

Collection

The railroad now owns numerous locomotives and dozens of cars. It gained notoriety in the late 1980s for acquiring one of the last new 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotives built in China. This locomotive has had maintenance problems but is still operating.

In 2002 the BSVY acquired and restored an EMD FP9 that was formerly a passenger locomotive owned by VIA Rail Canada. It has been painted in Chicago and North Western Railway inspired colors and powers the line's dinner train.

The railroad also runs a short trolley ride and has even begun to do light freight switching at Boone industries in recent years. Its station is located just one block from the Union Pacific Railroad mainline.

Rail line

The railroad, which is the one Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad operates over, was begun in 1893. Fraser had just become the center of the newly discovered coal deposits and transportation was needed to move the coal. A line was built about convert|4|mi|km to the west from Fraser to connect with another railroad at Fraser Junction, which is now called Wolf.

Railroads were expanding rapidly in those days and they built north to Gowrie and Rockwell City for connections with other railroads. The line underwent several name changes, management and goals and by 1907 reached Fort Dodge and Des Moines, the line was electrified and inter-urban cars were operated.

At its peak, electric cars were operated on an hourly basis. As automobiles became numerous, passenger service was cut back but the line continued to push their freight business. With the increase in gypsum mills, sewer pipe and drain tile, freight business flourished, especially in the Fort Dodge area.

The last interurban cars were operated in September 1955, electric lines were removed and diesel engines handled the freight business. In 1968 the Chicago & North Western purchased the entire line. Shortly thereafter portions of the line were discontinued but they did continue serving some grain elevators and shippers with freight service until 1983.

Boone Railroad Historical Society

A group in Boone, comprised of Hans Goeppinger, George Eckstein, and Mel Hansen, formed the "Boone Railroad Historical Society" to preserve the town's railroad heritage. Together they raised funds through donation and grants to purchase convert|11.3|mi|km of track, including the bridges, in order that this scenic portion of the line might be preserved. The first trip handling passengers was made in November 1983. Tickets were sold out of a tent for rides out onto the high bridge.

Work began in 1984 on the present depot and it was dedicated in 1985. Other buildings have been acquired along with additional equipment which is being restored as funds become available. In 1989 the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad purchased the last commercially built steam engine, the JS8419 from Datong in the People's Republic of China.

The Society has purchased 25 acres of land which will provide for expansion of our museum. Long range plans include expanding trolley operations both east and west.

Facts

* The original track was built in the 1890s.

* The power plant at Fraser was finished in 1907 and the line was electrified with cars running from Fort Dodge to Des Moines, with side line to other towns. It was originally known as the Fort Dodge, Des Moines, & Southern Railroad.

* The steel bridge was erected in 1912-13.

* The last trolley service ran in August 1955.

* The line was purchased by the Boone Railroad Historical Society in 1983, for $50,000.

* The depot was dedicated in 1985 - built new after the style of the depot in Rockwell City, IA. The interior oak woodwork was from the depot at Tama. The brick platform was built using bricks from several other old platforms.

* The purchase price of the steam locomotive was $350,000.

* The first dinner train operated in April 1999.

ee also

*List of heritage railroads in the United States

External links

* [http://www.scenic-valleyrr.com/ Railroad home page]