About

In 1874, gold was discovered in the Black Hills of South Dakota by the Custer Expedition.  The Hills, land sacred to several nations of the Great Plains, quickly became a target for the next gold rush.  But before the vast wealth of minerals in the Hills could be extracted, rails needed to be ran across hundreds of miles of prairie, badlands, and river valleys.  This blog is dedicated to telling the history of those railroads which made tracks for the Black Hills.

Being a fan for several years of the Black Hills and its railroad history, I wish to model the unique landscape and trains in the region.  From the Rapid City Pierre and Eastern of modern times to the Black Hills and Ft. Pierre Railroad of the early days, there are so many stories to be told in miniature.

Black Hills Railroad will provide detailed posts about South Dakota's railroad history, complete with citations and source info as well as obtaining permission prior to material being used.  This is not ment to be a complete guide to the history of railroads in the state, but rather a supplement.

Thank You!

--James Willmus