Deadwood Central Railroad

Deadwood Central Railroad
Locale South Dakota's Black Hills, USA
Dates of operation 1888–1930
Track gauge 3 ft  (914 mm)
Headquarters Deadwood, South Dakota

The Deadwood Central Railroad was a 3 ft  (914 mm) gauge narrow gauge railroad in the U.S. state of South Dakota. It was founded by Deadwood, South Dakota resident J.K.P. Miller and his associates in 1888 to serve their mining enterprises in the Black Hills.[1]

In 1902, the track between Lead and Deadwood was electrified and passenger service was provided with narrow-gauge interurban cars. Between Pluma and Deadwood, the tracks were shared with the standard-gauge Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, with a third rail laid to make the track dual gauge. This service was abandoned in 1924[2] with the permission of the Interstate Commerce Commission due to operating losses and deterioration of equipment.[3]

References

  1. ^ Hilton, George W. (1990). American Narrow Gauge Railroads. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-2369-9. 
  2. ^ "I.C.C. Applications". The Wall Street Journal. 1924-05-13. p. 4. "Deadwood Central Railroad Co. has asked for permission to abandon 4 miles of its electric trolley line from Deadwood to Lead, S. D." 
  3. ^ Hilton, George W.; Due, John F. (1960, 2000). The Electric Interurban Railways in America. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-4014-3.