Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad

The BSVY depot and excursion train in May 2004
Overview
Headquarters	Boone, Iowa
Reporting mark	BSVY
Locale	Boone County, Iowa
Dates of operation	1983–present
Predecessor	Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length	11 mi (18 km)

The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad (BSVY) is a special kind of railway in Boone County, Iowa. It's a "shortline" railroad, which means it's shorter than big railway lines. It's also a "heritage railroad," which means it helps keep old trains and railway history alive. The BSVY runs both freight trains (for carrying goods) and passenger trains (for people to enjoy scenic rides).

History of the Railroad

How the Railroad Started

The idea for this special railway began in 1983. A group of people who loved trains wanted to save a beautiful part of an old railway line. This old line was called the Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad (FDDMS). The original tracks were built way back in the 1890s.

Changes Over Time

At first, the FDDMS used electricity to power its trains. But in 1954, a big flood damaged the power plant that supplied the electricity. After that, the railroad started using diesel engines instead. Later, in 1968, a bigger company called Chicago & North Western bought the FDDMS. They soon started closing down parts of the line.

Saving the Scenic Valley

In 1983, the Boone Railroad Historical Society stepped in. They bought an 11-mile (18 km) section of the old track for $50,000. More than 2,200 people joined the society to help. This part of the track is very scenic. It goes through the Des Moines River Valley and crosses a tall bridge. This bridge is 156 feet (47.5 meters) high and goes over Bass Point Creek. The line runs from Boone, through an old coal mining town called Fraser, and ends at a place called Wolf.

Growing and Expanding

The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad was a big hit right away! It has grown a lot since it started. A special building for passengers, called a depot, was opened in 1985. Today, more than 30,000 people visit each year to ride the trains.

Fun Train Rides

The railroad offers many fun rides. You can ride the regular trains or special ones like the Thomas the Tank Engine train in September. In October, there's the Pumpkin Express, and around Thanksgiving and Christmas, you can ride the Santa Express. The Santa Express even has a special book written just for the trip! They also have special dinner trains where you can eat in a dining car.

The Railroad Museum

In 2012, the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and History Center was added next to the depot. This museum is a treasure chest of Iowa's railroad past. It has thousands of items like old track tools, toy trains, dishes from dining cars, old timetables, photos, lanterns, and telegraph equipment. The museum also has special exhibits, a library for research, and a small theater.

Types of Trains and Cars

The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad has many different types of trains and cars. They have powerful steam locomotives, which are trains that run on steam. They also have diesel locomotives, which are more modern trains that use diesel fuel.

Passenger Cars

When you ride the train, you might sit in a passenger coach. These are cars designed for people to ride in comfortably. They also have special open-air cars, which are great for enjoying the views. And, of course, they have dining cars where you can enjoy a meal on the go.

Other Special Cars

The railroad also has cabooses. A caboose is a special car that used to be at the very end of freight trains. It was a place for the train crew to ride and work. They also have trolley cars, which are like electric streetcars, and even some old freight cars like tanker cars.

See also

• List of heritage railroads in the United States

Images for kids

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  No. 8419 crosses the Bass Point Creek High Bridge.

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  Steam locomotive 8419

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  Steam locomotive 17

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  Diesel locomotive 244

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  Diesel locomotive 1098

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  Diesel locomotive 1858

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  Diesel locomotive 2254

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  Diesel locomotive 6540

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  Trolleycar 50

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  Trolleycar 106

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  Bi-Level coach 96

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  Coaches 3203, 3207, 3208, 3213, 3218, 3238, 9101

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  Coach 2584

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  Open-air car 12517 (Valley View)

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  Caboose 17051

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  Caboose 11136

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  Former unit 475

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  Former unit 2921