Railroad History: Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad; By G.C. Stevens

 

Brochure photos, courtesy BSVRR

 Trains are big part of the American West. It was the rails that conquered the day!

Besides being a historian and writer, I have been a huge railfan most of my life. My father was a Conductor and Brakeman for the Chicago and Northwestern railroad back in the 1950's, and he would tell me the stories of the rails and traveling far from home for his job. I was also very lucky to have lived near the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois for many years and I was a regular visitor and rider of trains and trolleys there. When I moved to Iowa, I found out that I was very close the Boone & Scenic Railroad Museum which is located in Boone Iowa. Boone is a vibrant railroad town that is also the local headquarters for the Union Pacific Railroad. The town is totally dedicated to its railroading history and is a prime spot for railfans looking for a train-spotting. There are plenty of sites and restaurants around the area. It is also close to the Kate Shelly bridge and historic site.

History

The Boone and Scenic Railroad has a very colorful and romantic railroading history. The railway traces its roots back all the way back to 1893, when the Boone Valley Coal and Railroad Company was founded by businessman Hamilton Browne and headquartered in Boone who built a 3-mile spur to mine and ship coal between Fraser and Fraser Junction, Iowa, where it connected with the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. In 1902, the company became the Newton and North Western Railroad (N&NW) and planned to expand their operations throughout Iowa, extending southward into Des Moines and Newton, expanding westward past Rockwell City and into the Dakotas, and connecting with other major railroads. In January 1904, the N&NW completed their southern extension to Boone, where it was connected with the Chicago and North Western Railway's (C&NW) former Cedar Rapids and Missouri River line. Apparently, a brief dispute over the Boone extension occurred: the N&NW initially laid rails on C&NW property, which in turn ordered for them to be ripped up, and then they were re-laid after Browne secured permission to use the property. Then Later that same year, Browne was forced to resign from the railroad, as it underwent a takeover by Boston-based capital firms H. T. Loring and Son and H. V. and H. W. Poor Co.. In 1909, the N&NW was acquired by the Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad (FDDMS), which electrified the line for interurban service and expanded their freight operations, and they would later ship gypsum along the route.

Photos of engine #2254 a GE 80 ton center cab at BSVRR

both photos taken by the author

 FDDMS obtained GE 70-ton switchers, and all their remaining passenger operations were discontinued. Also in 1954, the FDDMS fell under ownership of the Des Moines and Central Iowa (D&CI), owned by scrap dealer and shortline operator Murray Salzberg. In 1968, the D&CI and FDDMS were acquired and absorbed by the Chicago and North Western, which subsequently filed multiple petitions to abandon the trackage.

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ref Detailedpedia Boone and scenic Valley Railroad vignette

All photos are by the author

Video from Steam Heritage

                                   Above four photos by the author taken at BSVRR

Trolley line brochure BSVRR

Watch for my book, Trains, Trails and Outlaws

Article updated 04/09/2026 ecs

Trains, Trails & Outlaws: Remembering Jimmie Rodgers, the Singing Brakeman

 

Jimmie Rodgers Public domain publicity photo ref wikipedia

Jimmie Rodgers was an early legendary country and western singer and guitarist known as "The Singing Brakeman," he was a very significant figure in the emergence of early country music. He appeared in a 1929 short film titled "The Singing Brakeman," which features him singing three of his well-known songs: “Waiting for a Train,” “Daddy and Home,” and “Blue Yodel No 1”. Rodgers is celebrated for his contributions to music and could be recognized as one of the founding fathers of country music. He's often referred to as “America's Blue Yodeler”. He was inducted into multiple halls of fame, solidifying his legacy as a pioneer in the country music genre. Jimmie was from Meridian, Mississippi, and was the son of railroad worker Aaron Rodgers. During Jimmies early childhood his family moved often due to the needs of his father's employment. As a teenager Jimmie was influenced by vaudeville shows that he often attended. At the age of 13 he won a local singing contest and then traveled through the Southern United States with a medicine show. After he returned to Meridian, Jimmie dropped out of school and joined the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, beginning as a waterboy on his father's gang; he later performed other functions on the railroad, eventually becoming a brakeman. During his time working with different railroad companies, the singer further developed his musical style; he was influenced by blues performances and other performers, He was later was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1924. By 1927, as a result of his declining health, he stopped working for the railroad and decided to focus on his music career.          

As you may already know, Jimmie Rodgers is one of the most celebrated country musicians of all, and deservedly so. Possibly no other country artist has been so heavily imitated or influential. He was much more than a hillbilly artist that could yodel (though his yodel was top of the line). Jimmie was an innovator, and a walking musical juxtaposition in the most beautiful of ways. When I think of Jimmie I think of the complex and often conflicting images he portrayed through his music – the rambler, the sentimental crooner, the caring son, and the rounder, just to name a few. Many speculate that had he lived longer, and as his appeal and development as a musician continually grew, he would have been one of the most celebrated American musicians without the constraints of genre.

-Birthplace of country music website

More on Jimmie Rodgers

      250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY 

Trains, Trails & Outlaw Podcast

 

 Join me later this week as I talk about the wild west movie: 

       THE MAGNIFICENT

           SEVEN! 

John Wayne Birthplace Celebration 2026: TRIBUTE TO AMERICA!!

 

Mark your Calendars!

2026 John Wayne Birthday Celebration Welcome Reception

Friday, May 22, 5pm at John Wayne Birthplace Museum

and The Iowa Theater, $50

Please join us on Friday, May 22 for a lively reception at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum where guests will enjoy a casual mingle with John Wayne fans from across the United States and beyond. The reception will include beverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Afterwards we’ll move up the street to The Iowa theater for a special screening of “John Wayne’s Tribute to America.”  Originally aired on NBC in 1970, the all-star spectacular is a patriotic journey through American history and features entertainment legends Lucille Ball, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Ann-Margret and many, many more. 

250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY!

Western Movie Review: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, By" G.C. Stevens

 "This is the west sir. 

When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) is one of the authors favorite movies and one of John Ford’s most provocative films and it seems to break ranks with previous westerns made by the famed director and takes the course of deconstruction of the frontier myths that John Ford had spent decades romanticizing. Separated from the sweeping Monument Valley epics of Ford’s earlier career, this film moves from grand landscapes to the confined studio set, where the actions take place in a quintessential black-and-white western town, focusing instead on ideals, character, and the bittersweet cost of progress. It remains as one of the genres most essential films for western movie buffs, especially for those who are interested in how the West was mythologized, even as it quietly mourns what was lost in the progress.

The story begins with a lengthy flashback framed by an elderly Senator Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) and his wife Hallie (Vera Miles) returning to the old dusty town of Shinbone for a funeral of the true hero in the western saga. Young Ranse (Stewart) arrives as an idealistic Eastern lawyer, promptly beaten up by the stereotypical sadistic outlaw "Liberty Valance" (Lee Marvin at his snarling best). Rescued and mentored by the tough, independent rancher Tom Doniphon (John Wayne), Stoddard begins teaching the townsfolk to read, respect the law and pushes for statehood. A legendary gunfight ensues, in which Valance is allegedly killed by Stoddard, and it cements his reputation as “the man who shot Liberty Valance, propelling him into politics. Though in the final analysis, it's revealed that Doniphon was the person who shot Valance and not Stoddard. The film’s most famous line “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”—delivered by a pragmatic newspaperman, solidifies its core irony: nations and careers are often built by convenient fiction.

Ford excels at telling the human side of his stories. Stewart’s Stoddard embodies nervous intellect, law books, the ideals of republic, and law and order while Wayne’s Doniphon represents raw frontier justice, self-reliance, and quiet sacrifice. The tension between these ideas are apparent, each actor playing subtly against type—Stewart vulnerable and morally torn, Wayne swaggering and bitter. Supporting actors shine too: Marvin’s Valance is a pure force of chaotic evil, Edmond O’Brien brings boozy energy as the editor, and Woody Strode adds dignity as Pompey. The film’s political sequences feel surprisingly modern, portraying town meetings, elections, and media complicity with a mix of cynicism and hope.

What elevates the movie is its willingness to be downbeat. There are no glorious sunsets or heroic rides into the sunset. Instead, Ford presents a transition from violence to order that feels inevitable yet laced with regret. Tom Doniphon’s unsung heroism carries genuine tragic weight, highlighting the personal price paid for civilization. The black-and-white photography and soundstage confinement reinforce the darker tone, stripping away spectacle to force viewers to confront the ideas: the role of violence in founding societies, the civilizing power of education and the press, and the ethical ambiguities of myth-making. In many ways, it functions as a political allegory, echoing Plato’s Republic in its exploration of justice, power, and the founding of a community.

Critically, the film appears to have limitations, it is not flawless. It was Shot mainly indoors due to budget and perhaps intentional restraint, but for what it lacks the visual appeal, it makes up in total acting, dialog and interaction of characters. It's more like a visual book tell all.  

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance endures because it questions the very legends it prints. It’s intelligent, emotionally resonant, and profoundly American—bittersweet in its acknowledgment that progress demands sacrifice and that truth often yields to useful stories. For fans of thoughtful Westerns that prioritize character and consequence over spectacle, it stands as a late-career masterpiece from a director confronting his own legacy. This movie is Highly recommended, especially if you’ve moved beyond simpler tales of six-shooters, dusty trails and sunsets. 

*Note: The drawing here was created by AI. 

Photo Essay "The Cripple Creek Narrow Gauge Railroad." By Dan Oelrich

 

I am grateful to Dan Oelrich for sharing his experiences and photos. Dan is an avid historic researcher and photographer who has travelled throughout Colorado. The photos provided by Dan here are from the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. The description found Online for the CC&VRR is as follows: The track system begins at Bennett Avenue/5th Street going south out of Cripple Creek, goes past the old Midland Terminal Wye, then over a reconstructed train trestle, continues past historic mines and terminates very near the abandoned Anaconda mining camp. The return trip to Cripple Creek completes a total of 4 miles (6.4 km). The railroad does not actually terminate at Victor, Colorado, as the railroad's name implies. The Bull Hill Station, in Cripple Creek was originally built at the Anaconda Mine in 1894 by the Midland Terminal Railway. However, it was moved to Bull Hill in 1912, east of the town of Victor. In 1968, the depot was moved to Cripple Creek.

More on the Cripple Creek Narrow Gauge RR

One of the goals of mine is to locate all of the old railroad beds in the CC District and walk the length of them. Most, of course, are gone because of the open pit mine, so it’s not an impossible task. In the course of doing it, I came across these old cars. Thought you might find them interesting. Noticed there’s even a mineshaft just off the tracks. There were many de railings , probably because of the shifting underground near where they had to go in order to collect the Ores. Hope you enjoy these photos.

-Dan Oelrich

Photos by Dan Oelrich

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Support The Track and Artifact Recovery in Adair Iowa By G.C. Stevens

 

Support The Jesse James Robbery Site Track

 and Artifact Recovery Project!

In 1873, Jesse James and his gang robbed the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Train at Adair Iowa. This was the first train robbery west of the Mississippi River, and a historic moment that launched the fame of Frank and Jesse James. Two local historians, Author Gene Stevens and historian Dennie Anderson who are both from Iowa, set out to investigate the site further and discovered that railroad track and other possible artifacts might still be located at the historic site. We approached the county board and told them the story and set the goal of recovering the historic pieces of track and sharing them with other historic organizations and museums. The county board gave us the green light to proceed. But funding will be needed for logistics such as insurance, excavation equipment and transportation of the track to the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad Museum, who will help us to process the track and other artifacts that may be located there.

MORE ON THE STORY HERE

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Spring 2026 Newsletter: In this issue, The First Railroad War!

 

Our New Logo

 

Our  new logo is a bit of re-branding to tip our hat to the real frontier dust heros of the American West. Lots of great things coming in the near future.  Watch for Trains, Trails & Outlaws which will be my 3rd book in the Dusty Trails of The Old West Anthology. We are also planning on having some T-shirts made up with these graphics!