Central States, Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association: 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.

ref Detailedpedia Boone and scenic Valley Railroad vignette