Ellsworth AFB - South Dakota Railroad Museum - 2024

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We spent 2 weeks in South Dakota. We checked out the South Dakota Railroad Museum and road the 1880 steam train from Hill City to Keystone and back.


Our assigned car.


In 1957, the 1880 Train was started by a man named William Heckman. He believed "there should be one working steam railroad, for boys of all ages who share America's fondness for the rapidly vanishing steam locomotive." He also wanted a railroad that was reminiscent of one from the 1880s. The 1880 Train is the oldest continuously operating tourist train!

Loading the engine with water. It takes 2,000 gallons of water and 200 gallons of oil for the trip to Keystone.



Blowing out the steam.


An interesting piece of history from the museum.




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