1880 Train/BHCRR

Spectacular Train Ride in the Snow

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:05:00 +0000

If you happened to be in Hill City on Sunday, you may have noticed something a little out of the ordinary.

Engine #7 departed the Hill City station with three cars in tow. The train ran to oblivion, the engine switched to the opposite end, and they returned to station.

What was the reason for this special train ride? Country singer, Tracy Lawrence, was filming a video onboard the train.

Martin Fischer, President of High Five Entertainment in Nashville, said, "There's a lot of musical variety in Christmas in the Black Hills, but I believe the audience will really enjoy our on-location segments - Thompson Square on a sleigh ride near Deadwood and Tracy Lawrence on the 1880 Train in Hill City."

"Experiencing the Black Hills and meeting the people who live and work here were the highlights for the production team; the history, locations, and hospitality make the area a great place to shoot," he continued.

Christmas in the Black Hills stars Big & Rich, Thompson Square, Tracy Lawrence, Andy Gibson, The Farm, and Bradley Gaskins. The show premiers on Great American Country (GAC) on December 12th.

We Have A Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:43:00 +0000

This season, we held a QR code contest. Our ad in the Southern Hills Vacation guide contained a QR code that potential passengers could scan with their smart phone. This code would lead them to our reservation page. Participants could then make a reservation for the 1880 Train, and automatically be entered to win a digital camera!

The contest ran throughout the summer, and in the end, Mary from Iowa won. She said it was her first vacation with two of her grandchildren, and they really enjoyed the 1880 Train and Mt. Rushmore. Congratulations Mary! We hope the camera will help you capture future family memories.

Vacations Made Easy Blog

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 15:38:00 +0000

We had a great Mother's Day Express again this year, and it was great to find this blog post about our trip for Moms on the Vacations Made Easy Blog. They also had some great information about the Journey Museum, and the Presidential Wax Museum. Check it out!
http://bit.ly/lfgjgO

Mother's Day Express Ticket Winner

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:25:00 +0000

We have a winner!

Shanna won our two Mother's Day Express tickets with her great entry about her mom. Check it out:

I am actually sending this entry for my mother, she is an amazing lady and I am planning a trip into the Black Hills for her during this exciting month of May!

May is a special month every year since it holds Mother's Day and her Birthday! However, this year is extra special because she is also graduating from college!
Deb, has two children, both girls ages 28 (me!) and 19, and is the grandmother of a 2 year old! I recently moved back home last year to work on my Master's degree, and she graciously openned her home for us, and has endured the stress and love of housing a infant/toddler and daughter while trying to work 2 jobs and attend school full time!

I am in the process of scheduling a trip up into Keystone for that weekend, since her birthday is the 5th, she graduates the 7th and then of course mothers day follows! So I just ran across your website while looking for fun things to do during our visit and am excited to include you in our itinerary!

Congratulations Shanna & Deb, hope you enjoy your train tickets and have a very happy Mother's Day!

Hilyo Restoration Photos

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:31:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, while digging through some old photos from the '90s, I ran across pictures taken of the Drovers car, Hilyo.

Anytime I look at old photos of the equipment before our staff began restoration work, it blows me away how much of a transformation it is.

Hilyo was restored in 1997, and added to the line up in 1998. It still looks great for having been restored over a decade ago!

Mother's Day Express Ticket Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:27:00 +0000

We're having a Mother's Day Express ticket giveaway again! Simply email us at office@1880train.com and tell us why you deserve to win Mother's Day Express tickets. Please type 'Mother's Day Express Giveaway' in the subject line.

The winner will receive two tickets onboard the Mother's Day Express, Sunday, May 8th, 2011. The winning answer will be posted on Facebook!

Entries are due on Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 and we will contact the winner via email on that day. The winning entry will be posted on Facebook the following day. If you have already reserved Mother's Day Express tickets, or would like to go ahead and make a reservation, we will credit the winning tickets to your reservation!

Reservations may be made online at http://www.1880train.com, or you can also give us a call at 605-574-2222.

March Roundhouse Update

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Our staff in the roundhouse has been working away to make sure the equipment is up and running for the summer season. Read on to find out about all of their hard work.

All of our coaches are being repainted by a contractor. They will all be the same burgundy red color. The photo above shows the Keystone car in the process of having its stain sanded off so it will be ready for paint.

Thomas sands the Keystone car.

Engine #104 had new ends installed on its super heaters and has successfully passed its Hydro test. It's ready for the summer season.

Engine #110 also had extensive work done on its super heaters. It has passed a flexible staybolt inspection and its Hydro test, but the roundhouse staff says there are still a lot of loose ends to tie up before it is ready for the summer season.

Mike on top of engine #110.

Engine #63's air system was overhauled and its components are ready to be installed.

It's sure to be a busy month and a half as they finish up all the loose ends and get ready to hit the rail!

Scott and Cesar give the welder some much needed attention.

David cuts out an old bushing from 110's suspension.

Scott uses engine #1 to switch engine #104 out of the shop.

Tasty Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:31:00 +0000

If you've ridden either the Wine Express into the West, or the Fright Train, you know how tasty the food is at Prairie Berry. If you didn't know, they have a page on their website for various recipes, many of them featuring their wines. Just reading through them makes me hungry for the Wine Express food!

I think I'm going to have to try out the Artichoke and Peppadew Pepper Dip. :)

Anyone else finding a recipe they just have to try?

Our 10th Year Back in Keystone!

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:15:00 +0000

In 2001, the 1880 Train finally returned to Keystone Station after 29 years.

June of 1972, a severe flood took place throughout the Black Hills area as well as Rapid City. Keystone was one of the communities that were badly hit, and several sections of the rail between Hill City and Keystone were torn up.

At the time, most of it was repaired, but only as far as Keystone Junction, which is about one mile from Keystone Station proper.

Our return to Keystone Station in 2001 meant several things for the 1880 Train. A new depot had been constructed along the main street in town, making it convenient for passengers to board the train. Also, 2001 was the first summer engine #110 was ready for operation. This engine was able to pull 7 cars. Engines #104 and #7 had previously only been able to pull 4.

This summer, 2011, marks our 10th year pulling the 1880 Train into Keystone. We look forward to another great year!

A view from what is now the boarding are in Keystone.

More than one train at your wedding!

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:10:00 +0000

Are you, or someone you know, looking for that one-of-a-kind wedding venue? The 1880 Train may be exactly what you are looking for! Many couples have tied the knot at the train over the past years in varying types of ceremonies.

Both ceremonies and receptions are an option at the 1880 Train. The train also makes for a great activity for your friends and family before or after the big day.

For more information on what the train has to offer, give us a call at 605-574-2222. Our staff will be happy to discuss ideas and options with you, and do what we can to make your wedding day everything you want it to be!

Changes to the 2011 Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:04:00 +0000

The 2011 schedule is now updated on the website, so the reservation system is officially ready for making reservations. The online system is now a little more user-friendly. If you've been waiting to schedule your 2011 vacation, or a trip on a 2011 special event train ride, now's the perfect opportunity!

Santa's Coming to Town!

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:17:00 +0000

November 26th kicks off Santa's visits to Hill City for the Holiday Express. We're lucky enough to have him visit the Black Hills so close to Christmas!

The 1880 Train will be journeying to the North Pole in order to pick him up and take him back to Hill City. Along the way, passengers will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies served by Santa's helpers. This is the perfect chance to make sure Santa knows what you want for Christmas!

Book your ride on the Holiday Express now at 1880train.com or give us a call at 605-574-2222!

Rail Fan

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:23:00 +0000

We've found out about a new 1880 Train fan! His mother says every morning he has to watch a couple YouTube videos of engine #110. If it's not #110, he won't watch!

We're lucky to have rail fans of all ages!

Prost!

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:02:00 +0000

As many of you know, this summer we had our first annual Oktoberfest Express in conjunction with Eagle Sales of the Black Hills. Passengers were served four seasonal beers along with other Oktoberfest fare. Here's what some of our passengers had to say about this event!

"We’ve attended the Wine Train several times so we knew Oktoberfest would be fun. This past weekend was even better than expected. Thanks so much. We’re already planning on attending next year." - Kristi B.

"Gail and I were on the Oreville coach; we had a great time. The weather was beautiful, we saw wonderful scenery including lots of deer and wild turkeys, and enjoyed the tasty food.
The event seemed to be well planned, orderly, and reasonably priced. The ticket window ladies seemed to have everything organized, the line moved quickly, and they easily found our reservations. On the train, all of the 1880 Staff knew their jobs and kept order among the passengers. By this I mean no passengers were allowed to walk around from car to car and the “Beer Ladies’ controlled the beer distribution. One beer at the station before departing (some did get refills), one bottle on the way to Keystone, two bottles on the way back to Hill City. Food accompanied the beer; I think serving food on the train is a good idea. The 1880 Staff were almost like airline flight attendants – Well Done!
One consideration: one glass and 3 bottles of beer may be too much for some folks, causing waste. I did see some folks pour some beer out the coach windows in order to give an empty bottle to the trash collectors.
In comparison with your competitors, we’ve been on several other October BBQ trains and wine trains, including the Virginia & Truckee RR in Virginia City, NV. The V&T serves all the food at the station before boarding. The wine trains are the worst; there is a lot of wine available with passengers moving from car to car in search of more wine when the wine supply finally runs low. Some folks get loud and stupid when they drink too much. I think the 1880 Train’s approach of controlling passenger movement and eating on the train is a good idea.
Thank you again for the enjoyable evening and we are wishing you every success on the 2nd Annual Oktoberfest Train." - Stan and Gail

The Oktoberfest Express will return during our 2011 summer season. Give us a call to find out more information! 605-574-2222.

Haunting Happenings in Hill City and Keystone

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:31:00 +0000

The train won't be having its Fright Train this October, but there are plenty of other fun events going on in Hill City and Keystone.

Hill City will again be having its Merchant Trick or Treating on October 29th. The trick or treating begins at 4:00 pm at Integrity Reality and runs through 6:00 pm.
Also on the 29th is the Boys & Girls Club's Halloween Carnival, running from 6:00 pm - 8:15 pm.

Keystone will also have The Haunting of Keystone which includes three haunted attractions. The will be having a Hayride into the Keystone Cemetery, the Haunted Big Thunder Gold Mine, and a haunted house at the old Keystone school house. All three events will be on the 28th, 29th, and 30th and will start at 7:00 pm and go through Midnight.

If you're looking for some Halloween fun, come check out Hill City and Keystone!

2010 Wine Express

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:59:00 +0000

Another Wine Express into the West has come to an end. We had a great time last weekend. As usual, Prairie Berry's wine and food was excellent and the fall colors along the route were beautiful!

If you missed this year's train ride, check out the story KOTA did on the Wine Express. bit.ly/aErP1N

Oktoberfest Express!

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Oktoberfest at the 1880 TRAIN!

October 2nd, 2010, the 1880 Train will hold its first annual Oktoberfest Express.

Passengers will enjoy authentic seasonal beer while enjoying traditional German foods such as Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, and pretzels.

The train departs Hill City at 4:00 pm for a round trip ride to Keystone. Tickets are $48.00 per passenger. This train ride is only for passengers 21 and older. A costume contest will be held, so wear your lederhosen!

For reservations, call 605.574.2222 or visit us online at our reservation page!

This event is made possible with support from our friends at Eagle Sales.

Experience One of the Nation's Greatest Train Rides

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:13:00 +0000

With the 2010 season well underway, passengers are getting a chance to see why the 1880 Train was named one of the 9 Greatest Day Trips by Parade Magazine and one of the 5 Great American Train Rides by The New York Post.

Come see for yourself what's so special about the 1880 Train!

Smokey Bear

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:10:00 +0000

This May, Smokey Bear visited the 1880 Train on a couple occasions to speak with students about forest fires. Check out these video clips from the local FOX station and the Rapid City Journal.

Rapid City Journal

FOX

Mother's Day Express Giveaway, Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:51:00 +0000

We had five correct answers, thank you to everyone that participated. If you would still like to ride the Mother's Day Express, tickets are available online or by calling 605-574-2222.

It's the final day of the Mother's Day Express coded question. After decoding today's entry, read the question as a whole. Then email the answer to the question to office@1880train.com. The first five correct answers will win two tickets each to the Mother's Day Express. Good luck!

Mother's Day Express Giveaway, Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:18:00 +0000

Here is part four of the code. Remember, the final piece of the code will be revealed tomorrow! Then, the first five people to email the correct answer to the coded question will each win two tickets on our Mother's Day Express, May 9th, 2010. You're getting close!

Mother's Day Express Giveaway, Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:30:00 +0000

We're flying now, here's part three of the code. If you're not familiar with the rules, check back a couple posts. Still getting gibberish? This might help.

Mother's Day Giveaway, Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:50:00 +0000

Here's the second part of the code. If you're stuck, check back a few blog posts for some help. Remember, the contest is on-going throughout the week and the final piece of the code will be revealed on Friday. Most of you are on the right track!

Mother's Day Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (The 1880 Train) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:50:00 +0000

Here's your chance to win the perfect Mother's Day gift. Throughout the week, we will be posting coded pieces of a question. On Friday, we'll post the last piece of the puzzle and the first five people to email us the correct answer will each win two tickets on our Mother's Day Express, May 9th, 2010.

We've given you all the tools you will need to crack this code. Here's the first piece. Good luck!

Click on the picture to see a larger view.

1880 Train Shop Updates for April 1, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Joe Belczak Shop Dept.) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:36:00 +0000

Happy April! It's almost that time to start another great season of railroading here at the Black Hills Central. The shop crews have had a very productive winter, and look forward to seeing a busy summer. We were able to get quite a few big jobs completed this year, so it will be nice to see all are engines and equipment running this year. Listed below are some of the many tasks completed this winter. Enjoy, and will see you this season.

Joe Belczak (Conductor and Shop Crew, BHC Railroad)

Engine #104

This year, 104 had its cap inspection and some various repairs done to its boiler. A lot of the boiler work required the removal of the saddle tank and cab floor. The saddle tank was reinstalled yesterday, and the locomotive will see a new cab floor this next week. Engine #104 is ready to start the season this year on May 3rd thanks to the hard efforts of the engine crew.

Engine #110
Due to quite a bit of work done last year to 110's boiler side sheets, very little work was done to the actual boiler of the locomotive. Quite a few flue tubes were replaced this year due to water scale build-up. Engine #110's running gear has been thoroughly inspected, and all driver axles have been examined and repaired if needed.

Engine #7
Since Engine #7 sees less mileage than our other engines, less work needed to be accomplished this winter on the locomotive. Engine #7 had a successful hydro test, and awaits its next Doubleheader this season sometime in June.

Car Shop
All work has been completed on car#65, and with many successful winter runs we will see Edward Gillette begin the car roster this season. On your trip to see the 1880 train make double sure to check out this beautiful car inside and out! Various cars in the BHC roster received new wheels this winter as well, including much truck rebuild. Season begins this year with our enclosed car line-up.