Water at Hill City. Shortly before departing for on the first trip of the day, Black Hills Central Locomotive #108 pauses at the wooden water tower in the yard at Hill City, SD. Unlike mos... (more)

Eastbound out of Hill City. Engineer Kirston Hilpert settles into the right seat of the beefy Black Hills Central Locomotive #108, as she takes the 11:30 AM edition of the "1880 Train&... (more)

Two of a kind. Two of a kind may be a common hand in poker, but it's certainly not a common hand when it comes to steam tourist railroads. Outside of the Colorado Narrow Gauge lines, it is... (more)

The Keystone run-around. The Black Hills Central Railroad's depot at Keystone, SD is located at the bottom of a narrow, rocky canyon, which is barely wide enough for the railroad, Old Hill ... (more)

Headed for Oblivion. Somewhere between Mile Markers 3 and 4, the Black Hills Central's 11:30 AM train is heading east through what's known as Palmer Gulch, with Locomotive #108 on the point... (more)

Sanding the flues. Black Hills Central Railroad Locomotive #108 pours out a strong, salt and pepper plume as she hauls the first "1880 Train" of the day past the second crossing a... (more)

Morning blow-down. With Locomotive #108 positioned just short of the the wooden trestle at the north end of the Hill City Yard, Black Hills Central Engineer Cesar and his fireman open the b... (more)

Seeing double. Yes indeed, there are two, big, Baldwin 2-6-6-2T, articulated, compound mallet locomotives steaming in the yard at Hill City, SD this morning. The duty engine for the first... (more)