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South Dakota Railroads and Railfanning In "The Mount Rushmore State"

South Dakota are not what they once were as the state has seen its mileage plummet since it spiked during the industry's heyday of the 1920s. Today, both Class Is BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific continue to have a significant presence in the Mount Rushmore State along with one Class II, regional and just a few shortlines. Part of the reason South Dakota has lost so many miles of railroad is the result of numerous branch lines that tapped grain elevators and other agricultural business in the stateâ€™s eastern regions, which by the 1950s was either switching to other modes of transportation or could no longer support so many railroads in the granger region. Western South Dakota in the mountains of the Black Hills used to include much trackage serving numerous mines although today only include the CP and BNSFâ€™s line to Wyomingâ€™s lucrative Power River Basin coal region (it remains to be seen as to whether the Canadian road will ever complete the DM&E extension into this area).

South Dakota railroads date back to 1872 when the original Dakota Southern Railroad completed its main line between Vermillion and Sioux City, Iowa a distance of roughly 37 miles. Interestingly, the idea for the railroad began in January of 1872 and by early fall that same year it was completed and in operation. The Dakota Southern would eventually become part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad (predecessor to the company today commonly known as the Milwaukee Road). Following the Dakota Southern the Mount Rushmore State would find itself home to well-known Midwestern railroads like the Milwaukee Road, Chicago & North Western Railway, CB&Q and CRI&P. To learn more about these lines please check out the links below.

Milwaukee Road

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific

Chicago & North Western

Minneapolis & St. Louis

Soo Line

Great Northern

While what remains of South Dakota's rail network is mostly owned by BNSF and CP there are several smaller companies in operation there as well. These include regional Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western Railroad and shortlines D&I Railroad, the new Dakota Southern Railway, Ellis & Eastern Railroad, Sisseton Milbank Railroad, Sunflour Railroad, and the Twin Cities & Western. To learn more about these railroads please click here to visit the state's career page. While the page is meant for job seekers it also lists brief descriptions of all of the smaller companies operating in the state as well as available contact information.

South Dakota railroads today operate just 1,800 miles of a network that once featured more than 4,200 miles. Having lost 57% of its railroad infrastructure since the 1920s the state is far above the average declined during that time for most states which ranges between 45% to 50%. Much of this loss can probably be explained by the fact that agriculture has always played such a large role for the state's economy and railroads began to lose a lot of this business following World War II. For a more in-depth look at the stateâ€™s rail mileage over the years please take a look at the chart above.

While South Dakota railroads do not include many museums or tourist railroads they do feature the famous Black Hills Central Railroad which operates the last running Mallet, a 2-6-6-2T type. For more about South Dakota railroad museums and excursion trains please click here. The guide is broken down by state and covers most such facilities found around the country. Also, for great reading about a few now-abandoned South Dakota rail lines please click here.

As for passenger train services, historically only the Milwaukee Road's transcontinental Olympian Hiawatha traveled through South Dakota as competitors Great Northern and Northern Pacific traveled through North Dakota with their important streamliners. Unfortunately, today, Amtrak provides no services in the state.

In all, South Dakota railroads include some interesting and unique operations on a beautiful backdrop setting of our countryâ€™s Northern Plains region. While railroading here is not as prolific as it once was you will quite likely enjoy seeing that which remains, from main line railroading to local shortline operations. For more history of South Dakota railroads please check out the link below.

Surviving South Dakota Train Stations

Please Click Here To Return To The Main States Section

Also, for more reading about railroads in the west you might want to consider picking up a copy of the book The Story of the Western Railroads: From 1852 Through the Reign of the Giants by Robert Riegel, which describes western railroading from its beginnings in the 1850s, before the transcontinental line was built (when west meant across the Mississippi) to how the large systems that dominated the 20th century came about. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing the book please visit the link below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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