Power in reserve: Black Hills Central #104. Sitting outside the Hill City Shops of the Black Hills Central Railroad is yet another saddle-tank engine which has worked here for decades. Locomotive 104 is a 2-6-2T Baldwin product that was originally built in 1926 for the Silver Falls Timber Company. It was acquired by the Black Hills Central in 1965, along with a sister engine (#103). The 103 is stored in the yard and primarily used as a parts source to keep the 104 running. Because the 104 can only handle 4 cars on the steep grades of Tin Mill Hill, she's pretty much been relegated to a back-up role, especially since the restoration on the second, big Mallet, #108 was completed in 2020. Although some have reported that #104 is now retired, railroad personnel assure me that's not the case. This engine still has a current Form 4 and could be operated with the completion of an Annual Inspection and some minor maintenance. She has not been used in some time, simply because the railroad's level of business has outgrown her, but she is held in reserve in case a major problem develops with one of the other steam locomotives, or her power is required for smaller, off-season trains.
Interestingly, this engine faces west, so if you're ever lucky enough to see her run, she'll be running smokebox first on the long climb from Keystone to Hill City.
