South Dakota Railroads – Jim Pearson Photography

Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad at Piedmont, SD

Rapid City, Pierre, and Eastern Railroad locomotives 3433, 3469 and 3454 lead a northbound at Piedmont, South Dakota on the Black Hills Subdivision, as the rain cooperated by slacking off long enough for me to grab a few aerial shots of the trains move, on June 28th, 2023.

According to Wikipedia: Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad is a Class II freight railroad operating across South Dakota and southern Minnesota in the northern plains of the United States. Portions of the railroad also extend into Wyoming and Nebraska. It is owned and operated by Genesee & Wyoming.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive 108 heads to Hill City, SD

The 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive 108 heads through the countryside as it pulls its train from Keystone to Hill City, SD on May 30th, 2022 under stormy skies.

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70mm @ 24mm, f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 100.

Black Hills Central Railroad 108 heads for Keystone, SD

The 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive crew on 108 rounds a curve as they head through the Black Hills on the way to Keystone, SD on May 30th, 2022, under stormy skies.

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced “Malley”) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 110.

he Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 rounds a curve out of Hill City, SD

The Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 rounds a curve as it heads through the countryside as it makes its first trip of the day in stormy, wet weather of the forest to Keystone, South Dakota on my birthday, May 30th, 2022! I for one can’t recall a better way to spend the day then chasing a steam locomotive and they later in the day riding it with family! Despite the wet and rainy weather, it was a great day, and I even got the drone up a few times!

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 16mm, f/4, 1/400, ISO 180.

The 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive crew on 108 blows for a crossing as the head through the Black Hills on the way to Keystone, SD on May 30th, 2022, under stormy skies.

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 110.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

The 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive heads through the Black Hills on the way to Keystone, SD

The 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive crew on 108 blows for a crossing as they head through the Black Hills on the way to Keystone, SD on May 30th, 2022, under stormy skies.

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 110.

Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad3482 at Wall, South Dakota

Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad (RCPE) 3482 leads a train westbound through downtown Wall, South Dakota on May 29th, 2022, as it passes its eastbound counterpoint at Dakota Mill and Grain.

According to Wikipedia: Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad (reporting mark RCPE) is a Class II railroad operating across South Dakota and southern Minnesota in the northern plains of the United States. Portions of the railroad also extend into Wyoming and Nebraska. It is owned and operated by Genesee & Wyoming.

The Genesee & Wyoming, a holding company of mostly shortline railroads, formed the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern to acquire the western end of the former Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) rail line from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The acquisition was completed on May 30, 2014, for $210 million. Most of its employees came over from the DM&E.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 270mm, f/5.6, 1/2500, ISO 280.

Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive crew on 108 performs a blow down at Hill City, SD

The 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive crew on 108 performs a blow down on the engine as they arrive back at Hill City, SD on May 30th, 2022, under stormy skies.

A Blowdown, where the left and right blow down cocks, located at the lowest portion of the firebox sides (mud ring), are opened to blow out mineral sediments in the boiler water. Addition of various chemicals in the tender water is designed to keep the sediments (mud, etc.) from sticking to the internal steel components of the firebox/boiler. On a regular basis, those “settled” sediments need to blown out at safe locations on the railroad. Thus, the locomotives are being “blown down”.

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: iPhone 13 Pro Max, 5.7mm, f/1.5, 1/1147, ISO 50.

The 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive 108 passes an old windmill in a flat section of the Black Hills as it pulls its train from Keystone to Hill City, SD on May 30th, 2022 under stormy skies.

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70mm @ 24mm, f/4.5, 1/400, ISO 100.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #blackhillscentralrailroad #STEAM #steamtrains

The Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive 108 passes an old windmill

The Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive 108 passes an old windmill in a flat section of the Black Hills as it pulls its train from Keystone to Hill City, SD on May 30th, 2022 under stormy skies.

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70mm @ 24mm, f/4.5, 1/400, ISO 100.

The Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 climbs the grade as it approaches the Hill City - Keystone Road Crossing, as it makes its first trip of the day to Keystone, South Dakota from Hill City on May 30th, 2022!

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 150mm, f/5, 1/400, ISO 320.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #blackhillscentralrailroad #STEAM #steamtrains

Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive 108 climbs the grade out of Hill City, SD

The Black Hills Central Railroad locomotive 108 climbs the grade as it approaches the Hill City – Keystone Road Crossing, as it makes its first trip of the day to Keystone, South Dakota from Hill City on May 30th, 2022!

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 150mm, f/5, 1/400, ISO 320.

Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 heads through the countryside from Hill City, SD

The Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 heads through the countryside as it makes its first trip of the day in stormy, wet weather of the forest to Keystone, South Dakota on my birthday, May 30th, 2022! I for one can’t recall a better way to spend the day then chasing a steam locomotive and they later in the day riding it with family! Despite the wet and rainy weather, it was a great day, and I even got the drone up a few times! A big shout out to Cory Jakeway for all the help on finding my way around on the railroad and railfanning with me!

According to their website: Locomotive #108 joined its nearly identical twin, #110, at the beginning of the 2020 season following a four-year restoration. It is a 2-6-6-2T articulated tank engine that was built by the Baldwin Locomotives Works in 1926 for the Potlatch Lumber Company. It later made its way to Weyerhaeuser Timber Company and eventually to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington.

The acquisition and subsequent restoration of locomotive #108 completed a more than 20-year goal of increasing passenger capacity which began with the restoration of #110 and the restoration of multiple passenger cars. Both large Mallet locomotives (pronounced Malley) can pull a full train of seven authentically restored passenger cars, up from the four cars utilized prior to their addition to the roster.

Keep an eye out over the next few weeks for images from this 3,600-mile trip!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 13mm, f/3.8, 1/400, ISO 250.