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

Locomotive #202 from Logging Workhorse to Hidden Treasure: By Ken Hulsey

 Unearthing History: 

The Remarkable Journey of Locomotive #202 from Logging Workhorse to Hidden Treasure

You can read Ken's blog at Miracle Mindset

Photos Courtesy of Ken Hulsey

 The Legacy of Locomotive #202: A Snapshot of Railroad History in Louisiana

For railroad history enthusiasts, few stories encapsulate the rich tapestry of early 20th-century logging operations in the United States like that of Locomotive #202. This venerable machine, with its beginnings dating back to 1913, provides a fascinating glimpse into the timber industry’s reliance on rail transport and the technological evolution of locomotives during that era.

Locomotive #202 was part of an ambitious order by the Crowell Interests, consisting of twelve distinct locomotives, each crafted to meet the burgeoning needs of the Meridian Lumber Company in Meridian, Louisiana. Designed primarily as a woods engine, #202 was instrumental in transporting timber from the expansive forests to the mill, symbolizing the industrial energy that characterized the American landscape in the early 1900s.

In the years following its launch, #202’s role expanded as Meridian Lumber navigated the challenges of logging operations. In 1919, the company bolstered its fleet with the purchase of a nearly identical sister locomotive, #204, further enhancing its capacity to manage timber logistics from the logging camp in Sieper, Louisiana. Another notable addition was the acquisition of the robust 2-8-0 #206 in 1923, which took on the vital task of operating the main log train from Sieper to Meridian until a devastating fire claimed the Meridian mill in 1928. This event marked a turning point for both the operations and #202's life in the service.

Following the fire that destroyed the Meridian mill, its operations transitioned to Alco, and with them, Locomotive #202 also changed its working territory. Throughout the 1930s, #202 continued to serve as a woods engine, facilitating the movement of timber, likely from both Sieper and Alco. This was a time of uncertainty for the lumber industry, yet #202 proved its resilience, thriving in the challenging terrain of Louisiana’s forests.

The years leading up to World War II presented further challenges, as the Sieper Camp ultimately ceased operations. However, rather than being retired, #202 was redirected to Longleaf, where it worked along the eastern extension of the Meridian tram line. Its sister locomotive, #204, became a favorite in this new role—until a fateful accident in December 1952, which saw #204 overturn, leading to #202’s return to full-time service.

By the fall of 1954, when the entire logging operation came to a halt, #202 became the last steam locomotive in service for the Crowell log tram. This moment marked the end of an era, as the transition from steam to diesel gradually reshaped the industry. Following its retirement, #202 was stored near the intersection of the Meridian tram line and LA 497, where it remained largely forgotten for decades.

In a remarkable turn of events, the locomotive was rediscovered and rescued from obscurity by the 1990s, hidden under a layer of vegetation. Today, it resides within the Southern Forest Heritage Museum, representing the last of the wood-burning steam locomotives in Louisiana—a testament to the region’s rich logging history and the integral role of railroads in its development.

For railroad enthusiasts and historians alike, Locomotive #202 is more than just an engine; it is a living relic of a bygone era, chronicling the stories of those who relied on its strength and reliability to build their livelihoods and shape their communities.

- Southern Forrest Heritage Museum

     250 Years of American History