Rapid City, Black Hills and Western Railroad

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Crouch Line" redirects here. For the similarly-named railway line in England, see
Crouch Valley Line
.
Rapid City, Black Hills and Western Railroad
Overview
Headquarters
standard gauge
Length36.043 miles (58.006 kilometres)

The Rapid City, Black Hills and Western Railroad, also known simply as the Black Hills and Western Railroad and commonly referred to as the Rapid Canyon Line or the Crouch Line,

railroad line that operated in the Black Hills in the U.S. state of South Dakota. The railroad became known throughout the area for its crookedness and later became a tourist attraction. It ran from Rapid City to Mystic for a distance of 36.043 miles.[2] The railroad ceased operations in 1947.[3]

Naming

Though the official name is the Rapid City, Black Hills and Western Railroad, many sources refer to it as simply the Black Hills and Western Railroad. It is also called the Crouch Line, in honor of its founder, C.D. Crouch. Through the years, the line's name varied as it switched owners. These names were as follows: Dakota & Wyoming Railroad; Missouri River & North Western Railroad; Dakota, Western & Missouri River Railroad; Dakota, Wyoming and Western Railroad; Dakota Pacific Railroad; Dakota, Wyoming & Missouri River Railroad; Black Hills & Missouri River Railroad; and Black Hills & Wyoming Railroad.[4]

History

The Crouch Line was one of many railroads in the Black Hills that experienced the area's

flash flooding.[5] The Crouch Line entered the planning stages in the early 1890s, with the purpose of connecting Rapid City to the central Black Hills.[4] The initial line from Rapid City to Dark Canyon was completed in 1893.[1] In 1896, C.D. Crouch raised money to extend the line to Mystic. Crouch also hoped to later extend the line into Wyoming and to the Missouri River.[6] Construction on the line from Dark Canyon to Mystic began in 1901 and was completed in 1906,[1] and a celebration was held on May 27, 1906. In June 1907, a flood wiped out a small portion of the line, but by late 1907, the railroad had been repaired.[4]

During the night of November 15, 1907, a bridge in a narrow gorge located north of

cars of coal ignited shortly after the wreck.[4]

The railroad received a widespread reputation for its crookedness; it was once called the "crookedest line in the world", and some accounts claimed that there were bends in the line that allowed the

engineer and brakeman in the caboose to shake hands.[4] Some rails were specially manufactured to be bent before they were placed, in order to fit the bends.[5][7] 105 bridges were built over Rapid Creek in only 26 miles.[4]

In February 1908 Crouch Line employees in Rapid City, S.D. reported that a boxcar loaded with building materials on the Milwaukee railroad became uncoupled and rolled away from the station. This unplanned departure began just northeast of the Crouch Line depot. The runaway boxcar was not stopped until it reached Creston, S.D., by the action of telegraph operator H. C. Troth who blocked the track with wood.[8]

From 1910 to 1913, the line flourished, hauling Wyoming coal.

yard tracks. No property had been constructed by the line.[2]

By 1920, the railroad was having significant financial difficulties, but local businessman and politician

hiking trail, which starts at Silver City.[5]

A collection of 12 photographs taken by rail photographer Otto Perry (1894-1970) of Crouch Line rail equipment used from 1933-1947 is held in the Denver, CO public library's Special Collections. [11]

In summer 2013, the Crouch Line was featured in an exhibit in the

The Journey Museum in Rapid City.[12]

Route

The railroad started on the west side of

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.[5][7]

The present-day

US 385 crosses over the old path at Pactola Lake.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Hufstetler, Mark; Bedeau, Michael (December 2007) [First published July 1998]. "South Dakota's Railroads: An Historic Context" (PDF). South Dakota State Historical Society. Pierre, SD: South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office. pp. 76, 82–83, 86. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Steele, Richard S. (July 28, 2009). "Rapid City, Black Hills & Western Railroad" (PDF). La Belle Woodworking. Cheyenne, WY: Interstate Commerce Commission. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  3. LCCN 64-21320
    .
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Silver City History: The Crouch Line". Silver City Volunteer Fire Department. Silver City, SD. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d "Black Hills and Western (Crouch Line), South Dakota". University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. Green Bay, WI. April 25, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  6. ISBN 978-0-87351-552-8
    .
  7. ^ a b c "Railroad History". Roosevelt Inn. Rapid City, SD. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  8. ^ "horatio h. c. troth saves runaway rail car details". The Black Hills Weekly Journal. 1908-02-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  9. ISBN 0-8476-8120-3
    . Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  10. ^ "James Halley II Biography". Rapid City Public Library. Rapid City, SD. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  11. ^ "CONTENTdm". digital.denverlibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  12. ^ Butler, Pat (July 12, 2013). "Journey to host Crouch Line discussion". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD: Rapid City Journal. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rapid_City,_Black_Hills_and_Western_Railroad&oldid=1215371959"