A 57-car Canadian Pacific train from Belle Fourche to Rapid City is kicking up some of the new powder just north of St. Onge on Monday, March 7th. Windchill? – Well, let just say the air temp was 7 above with about a 25mph breeze from the southeast…
Railroad Museum Announces $150,000 Founders Campaign Drive
The Board of Directors of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City is thrilled to announce its Founders’ Club campaign.
The goals of this campaign are twofold. The non-profit Museum’s 10-member Board from across the state and membership are announcing the Museum’s 2011 Founders’ Club campaign, a one time, six-week effort to raise $150,000 for projects that will allow the expansion and educational programming for the Museum including planned traveling exhibits that will appear at schools and community events, new interactive displays inside the Museum, library and research enhancements, promotion of the Museum, and other statewide outreach initiatives. Donors to the Founders’ Club will be recognized with their names, corporate names, names in memorial, or names “in honor of” designations placed on the Museum’s website, as well on a permanent display inside the Museum.
Secondly, according to SDSRM Board president James Grimes of Custer, “We want to encourage kids, well, kids from 1 to 101, that have not visited the new facility in Hill City since its opening last May to stop in and learn about railroading and history in South Dakota, but also to enjoy the facility – to have fun.”
Rick Mills, the Museum’s Executive Director said, “We see that after the Museum’s attendance in 2010 that this facility is a necessity in South Dakota. It complements educational activities throughout the year for our students, residents, and visitors alike, while promoting family togetherness and educational opportunities in cooperation with the venerable 1880 TRAIN and other learning facilities and museums in Hill City and across the state. People, Places, and Trains is our motto, and those four words define our mission and facility quite nicely.”
But, as Board member Ann McKay-Thompson of Sioux Falls added, “A great vision, a common goal, and hard work are all important in the creation of a Museum, but without financial support and the public’s input that important legacy to the railroaders, their families, and what the railroads helped to develop in South Dakota just won’t happen – it is like putting down the rails and ties but then not having the train to run on track.”
Individuals and businesses interested in becoming a Founder for the SDSRM may call 574-9000 or 605-877-6629 for information on the Founders’ Campaign, as well as for the dates and hours of operation.
Imagine this as a coal train? An eastbound Canadian Pacific Railway Rapid City to Huron manifest train awaits clearance to depart Philip, South Dakota on January 18, 2011. Rick Mills photo
Canadian Pacific talks of Powder River Basin Access
January 27, 2011
(from TRAINS Magazine web site)
CALGARY, Alta. — A Canadian Pacific official said President Obama’s nod to “clean coal” technology could lead to the railroad tapping the Wyoming Powder River Basin coalfields, Toronto’s Globe & Mail has reported. CP’s Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern subsidiary holds the regulatory authority necessary to construct a new line into the basin.
“The coal market is what’s really been driving the overall business case,” said Kathryn McQuade, CP’s chief financial officer. “That’s still a work in progress.”
CP purchased DM&E for $1.48 billion in 2008, and extending the line from western South Dakota into the coalfields would likely cost an additional $6 billion. The future of coal is uncertain at best, due to potential future environmental regulations. And while Powder River coal is low in sulfur, giving it an environmental advantage over eastern coal, demand for it hasn’t grown as quickly in recent years as it has in the past.
McQuade said CP would likely only build into the basin if it found a partner willing to invest in the project. Those could include utilities, construction companies, financial institutions, or another railroad. Though it holds the permits, CP would need to acquire land and rights-of-way into the major coal mines in the basin. Currently, Union Pacific and BNSF Railway serve the mines off a jointly owned route built in the 1970s.
A cold and breezy day in Alliance, Nebraska - but of course not too cold to shoot train photos!
On my way back from eastern South Dakota and Nebraska last week I happened on a set of retired GE C30-7 locomotives on a side track in Alliance – can it be that it has been over a decade since I last saw one of these units pulling tonnage on the Black Hills Subdivision?
Time rolls on…
Rick
KEYSTONE – The Rev. Dr. Robert T. Wagner, 78, Keystone, passed away peacefully Jan. 17, 2011, at the Dougherty House, Prince of Peace Hospice in Sioux Falls, of complications caused by lung cancer.
Wagner was born Oct. 30, 1932, in Sioux Falls, to H.H. and Helen Wagner. He spent his childhood in Sioux Falls and on the family farm in Bridgewater. Wagner graduated from Washington High School in 1950, where he was senior class president and excelled in debate and extemporaneous speaking. He then went on to obtain his Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College in 1954 with a major in Philosophy.
Wagner was married to Mary K. Mumford of Howard on June 23, 1954. The couple moved to Evanston, Ill., where Wagner studied theology at Seabury Western Seminary. Their first child, Christopher, was born in 1956. Wagner received a Masters of Divinity from Seabury in 1957, and returned to Sioux Falls where he was ordained a priest in the Episcopal church, and assumed the roles of vicar at St. Peter’s Church and Chaplain at All Saints School. A second child, Andrea, was born in 1961. During this period, Wagner was entrusted with supervision of the planning and construction of the new Church of the Holy Apostles in Sioux Falls, which was dedicated in 1962. In 1964 Wagner became rector of Trinity Church in Watertown, where he was again responsible for the construction a new church building for that congregation, which was dedicated in 1965. He continued his formal education, receiving a Masters of Sacred Theology from Seabury Western Seminary in 1970.
Wagner relocated to Brookings in 1971, where he earned a Ph.D. in sociology from South Dakota State University in 1972.
Wagner was appointed Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology in 1971, and became a full Professor in 1978.
He taught a number of subjects, including an extremely popular course in Marriage and the Family and was the recipient of University Teacher of the Year on multiple occasions. He was also the author of 64 publications, and chaired numerous academic committees. Beginning in 1980, Wagner joined the administration at SDSU where he served as Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 1984 he became Vice President of Dakota State College in Madison, and in 1985 he was appointed the President of South Dakota State University, a position he held until his retirement in 1997.
During Wagner’s tenure at SDSU, the University experienced substantial growth in enrollment, and the completion of a number of major building and infrastructure projects.
Among Wagner’s initiatives was an enlarged emphasis on the University Endowment as an increasingly important contributor to the sustained expansion of the institution. In recognition of his achievements as an educator and administrator, Wagner was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Augustana College in 1994, a Doctor of Public Service to SDSU and the State of South Dakota by the South Dakota Board of Regents in 1998, a Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of South Dakota in 2001 and a Doctor of Divinity by Seabury Western Theological Seminary in 2002.
Upon retirement from SDSU, the Wagners moved to their home in the Black Hills above Keystone. Among Wagner’s many interests were trains and railroading, and he was instrumental in founding the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City. Following the death of his spouse Mary in 2004, Wagner renewed his activities in the church, and served as rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Rapid City from 2005-2006, and Canon and Dean Emeritus of Cavalry Cathedral in Sioux Falls from 2006-2009.
Through his talents as a communicator, his scholarship, his dedication to teaching and learning and his deep religious faith, Robert Wagner touched many lives. He consecrated his life to his students, his parishioners and his family and to reinforcing the values of South Dakota and the Christian faith.
Wagner is survived by a son, Christopher, and his spouse, Johanna, of Geneva, Switzerland; a daughter, Andrea Radke of Irene; three brothers, Peter and his spouse, Connie, of Sibley, Iowa, John and his spouse, Annie, of Sioux Falls, and Tom and his spouse, Tenia, of Omaha, Neb.; his stepmother, Ann Wagner of Sioux Falls; and four grandchildren, Erin, Lee, Lara and Helena.
He was predeceased by his spouse, former state senator Mary K. Wagner, in 2004.
In accordance with his wishes, Wagner will be cremated.
A Memorial Requiem Eucharist will be offered at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at the Calvary Cathedral in Sioux Falls, and at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Rapid City. Bishop John T. Tarrant will officiate at both services, which will be followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, a Robert T. and Mary K. Wagner Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at South Dakota State University in Brookings.
Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Service at Serenity Springs of Rapid City is in charge of arrangements.
Friends may sign his online guest register and offer condolences at www.serenityspringsfuneralchapel.com.
Gene Jackson puts some final touches on his magnificent HO layout which he donated to the SDSRM in 2010
Come on up to Hill City and help us plan for our model layout’s future, as well as for our 2011 programming and exhibits on Saturday, January 8th!
Saturday, January 8 – Museum Closed for Board Meetings
10am – Model/HO Layout and Displays meeting for Board and volunteers (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)
11am – Education/programs meeting for Board and volunteers (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)
1pm – Quarterly Board meeting (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)
Sunday, January 9 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 10 – Museum Closed
Tuesday, January 11 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Wednesday, January 12 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Thursday, January 13 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Friday, January 14 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Saturday, January 15 – Museum Closed
Sunday, January 16 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 17 – Museum Closed
Tuesday, January 18 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Wednesday, January 19 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Thursday, January 20 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Friday, January 21 – Museum Closed (Rick in Nebraska; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Saturday, January 22 – Museum Closed (Rick in Nebraska; Museum closed to public – new exhibit construction)
Sunday, January 23 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 24 – Museum Closed
Tuesday, January 25 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Wednesday, January 26 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Thursday, January 27 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Friday, January 28 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Saturday, January 29 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Sunday, January 30 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 31- Museum Closed
February days and hours:
Sunday and Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday through Saturday: 10am-4pm daily
Saturday, February 5 – 11-3pm Special Program – “Antiques Railroad Show” – railroad and related antiques appraisal day at the SDSRM
The magic of the Christmas Season is here! Bring the family to see the SDSRM’s Trees and Trains Exhibit through January 7.
View on YouTube – Gene Jackson’s amazing HO layout in operation at the Museum:
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
Dates and Times:
Wednesday, December 29 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 30– 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 31 – CLOSED
Saturday, January 1 – CLOSED
Sunday, January 2 – CLOSED
Monday, January 3 – CLOSED
Tuesday, January 4 through Friday, January 7 – 10am to 4pm daily
ADULTS – $5
AGES 10 and Under – FREE
See our Info page for remainder of January and February dates and times.
Thanksgiving Weekend
Friday, November 26 – Noon to 8pm*
Saturday, November 27 – Noon to 8pm*
Sunday, November 28 – Noon to 4pm
Wednesday, December 1 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 2 – 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 3 – 10am to 4pm
Saturday, December 4 – Noon to 5pm
Sunday, December 5 – Noon to 4pm
Wednesday, December 8 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 9 – 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 10 – 10am to 4pm
Saturday, December 11 – Noon to 8pm*
Sunday, December 12 – Noon to 4pm
Wednesday, December 15 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 16 – 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 17 – 10am to 4pm
Saturday, December 18 – Noon to 8pm*
Sunday, December 19 – Noon to 4pm
Wednesday, December 22 – 10am to 8pm*
Thursday, December 23 – 10am to 8pm*
Friday, December 24 – CLOSED
Saturday, December 25 – CLOSED
Sunday, December 26 – Noon to 4pm
Wednesday, December 29 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 30– 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 31 – CLOSED
Saturday, January 1 – CLOSED
* Holiday Train operates on the 1880 TRAIN (call 605-574-2222 for reservations)
A great success! This special evening of dining, dancing, art, and antiques was held at the spectacular Sylvan Lake Lodge in the central Black Hills – thanks to our generous hosts at Custer State Park Resort Company, and all of our donors and sponsors. Thank you all!
We are very pleased with the response that we are hearing about TimeRail, our dramatic and educational 8 by 70 foot mural/timeline! Some of the comments:
“The mural is BEAUTIFUL”
“Super Timeline presentation!”
“What a wonderful tour of railroad history”
TimeRail, combined with our other rail and South Dakota history exhibits, is making history! Come in and see it for yourself.
Photo by Sarah Mills