1880 Train FAQS
What is the 1880 Train?
It is a two-hour, narrated 20-mile round
trip between Hill City and Keystone.
Passengers view
vistas of Harney Peak,
mining encampments
and participate in
good old-fashioned
fun. Trains follow the
original route of the
Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy Railroad
laid down in the late 1880s to service the
mines and mills between Hill City and
Keystone. The Black Hills Central Railroad
is the oldest continuously operating tour
railroad in the nation and operates three
steam and two diesel engines throughout
the season. One of our steam engines is
close to 100 years old!
How long does the ride take?
It is an hour ride each way, with a
15-minute turnaround time. The 11:15 am
and 5 pm Keystone round trip takes about
45 minutes longer because there is a lunch
and dinner break in Hill City.
Who owns the 1880 Train?
The train is owned by the Black Hills
Central Railroad formed by a small group
of stockholders who were interested in
preserving steam railroading.
What kind of oil does the train use?
The steam engines burn recycled motor oil.
Why does the train go so slowly?
We have some of the steepest grades in
the U.S. The track has several sharp curves.
It’s hard work for the engine to get up the
hills, and we go slowly down the hills and
curves to reduce the chance of accidents.
Why is it called the 1880 Train?
Bill Heckman, the man who originally
started the 1880 Train, wanted a railroad
like a train from the 1880s, and the name
stuck.
Did the train run to
Deadwood at one
time?
Yes, special runs
along the High Line
to Deadwood were
made before the rail
line was removed to
make Rails to Trails.
Where does the sand come from?
A couple times each trip, the reman
throws sand into the rebox. This sand is
drawn through the ues to clean them and
is exhausted from the stack. Some of this
sand may fall on passengers, but it is easily
brushed o.
How much oil and water is used?
It takes about 200 gallons of oil and 1,000
gallons of water for one round trip with
engine #104. Engine #7 takes almost twice
as much fuel, and Engine #110 takes 200
gallons of oil and 2,000 gallons of water.
Can children meet the engineer?
Yes, while the engine is taking on water.
Why is the engine shop called a Round
House?
When steam engines were in use by the
railroads, the engine house was set up like
a wheel with a turntable at the hub and
stalled for the engines radiating from it.
With this arrangement, an engine could
be brought on to the table, then turned to
position it to enter the appropriate stall.
Can someone in a wheelchair ride the
train?
Yes, we can accommodate up to three
wheelchairs per run.
What does ‘narrow gauge’ mean?
A standard gauge track has rails that are 4’
8 ½” apart. On most narrow gauge track,
the rails are 3’ apart – although there are
other narrow gauges as well.
What will people see on a train ride?
The central Black Hills is abundant with
forests, meadows and wooded canyons.
Much of the train route follows Battle
Creek, home to gold prospectors before
and during the turn of the century. The
train passes throughout National Forest
Service land on its way from station to
station, and passengers can also see
the remnants of old mines and mining
operations. Some of these mining claims
have been turned into residential land,
and some houses are visible from the train.
County Road 323, along with a few private
drives, crosses the train tracks several
times, giving passengers the opportunity
to enjoy the sound of a steam whistle.
get steamed!
What kind of wildlife is around?
Many dierent kinds of woodland animals
call the Black Hills
home. Most often,
passengers will see
white tail deer, mule
deer, wild turkey,
wood chucks, mallard
ducks and cottontail
rabbits.
Is the train ride
narrated?
Yes, the train ride is narrated by a host, and
a speaker system allows each car to hear
their narration, which includes information
about the train, the Black Hills and also
points of interest along the route. A guide
book is for sale at either depot as well as
onboard the train. This guide book tells the
history of the 1880 Train, includes technical
information about the equipment and has
a section in which you can follow along
with the train ride.
Is food served on the train?
Drinks, popcorn and candy bars are
available onboard. The High-Liner Snack
Shoppe in Hill City sells food such as
hot sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, soft
pretzels, nachos and ice cream.
Are there restrooms on the train?
No. They are only available at the stations.
Are pets allowed on the train?
We only allow certied service animals
onboard the train.
Can a stroller, car seat or cooler be
brought onboard the train?
We can store collapsible strollers onboard,
or they can be stored in either gift shop.
Car seats may be brought onboard the
train. If it is a sold-out train ride, passengers
will need to hold the car seat or pay for
the child riding in the car seat. Normally,
children under the age of three ride for
free, but when the
train is sold out,
they need to ride
on an adult’s lap or
purchase a child’s
ticket. Small coolers
may be brought
onboard the train
and kept under the
seat.
Are there assigned seats?
Regular-priced train rides do not have
assigned seats. Certain special event train
rides do have assigned seats.
Do passengers need to ride on the
immediate return or can they come back
later?
Passengers may spend time in the town.
However, tickets are time specic, and
visitors must check their tickets for details
or talk to a ticket agent about their plans.
Can passengers walk around during the
ride?
No, for our passengers’ safety, we ask
that all riders remain in their seats during
the train ride. At the opposite station,
passengers will have the opportunity to
switch to a dierent seat if they wish.
Black Hills FAQS
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial
is located on Hwy 244, 12 miles from
the Hill City station traveling through
Keystone or 15 miles traveling toward
Custer on Hwy 385 to Hwy 244. It is
three miles from the Keystone station.
• Crazy Horse is 10 miles from the Hill
City station on Hwy 16. It is 17 miles
from the Keystone station, traveling
Hwy 244 to Hwy 385.
• Other top attractions in the area are
Bear Country and Reptile Gardens
located on Hwy 16.
• Custer State Park is 16 miles away from
Hill City and includes Harney Peak, the
Needles, Iron Mountain Road, hiking,
climbing and wildlife viewing.
• Badlands National Park is
approximately 110 miles away on I-90.
• Jewel Cave National Monument is 28
miles away from Hill City, taking Hwy
385 to Hwy 16 through Custer.
• Wind Cave National Park is 35 miles
away from Hill City on Hwy 385 toward
Hot Springs.
• Shopping abounds in Keystone and
Hill City.
Is There a Shuttle for that?
Shuttle service only available for passengers riding the one-way departure from
Keystone on the following dates:
June 26-29
July 6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27
Shuttle is $6 per child or adult. Call 605-574-2222 or email o[email protected]om to
reserve a seat on the shuttle.
