Rick Mills is the curotor of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City, adjacent to the popular "1880 Train" depot. Mills was the subject of a recent KEVN-TV feature, which we've posted below (Editor's Note: Alas, KEVN has withdrawn the link, and it is no longer available. Sorry!)
After the Chicago & Northwestern Railway pulled out of Chadron in the 1980's, Mills obtained numerous documents and artifacts relating to its operation.
After the Chicago & Northwestern Railway pulled out of Chadron in the 1980's, Mills obtained numerous documents and artifacts relating to its operation.
Over the years, a few Chadron area folks have had ties to the 1880 Train — originally called the Black Hills Central Railroad — as well as the Railroad Museum. The late John Miller, a long-time machinist at the C&NW roundhouse, helped repair and maintain old steam engines used by the line.
Road Foreman Jerry Drager served as an engineer on the line after retiring from C&NW until his death in 2007. Another C&NW engineer, Kenny Kritenbrink, became well-aquainted Mills and donated various items to the museum. He also provided Mills with a few train rides when the C&NW was operating in South Dakota. Kritenbrink retired many years ago and still lives south of Chadron. And while 1973 CSC grad Jim Alcorn worked several years for Burlington-Northern, he, too, worked for 1880 Train founder Bill Heckman back in the '70s. Alcorn now lives in Spearfish.
Road Foreman Jerry Drager served as an engineer on the line after retiring from C&NW until his death in 2007. Another C&NW engineer, Kenny Kritenbrink, became well-aquainted Mills and donated various items to the museum. He also provided Mills with a few train rides when the C&NW was operating in South Dakota. Kritenbrink retired many years ago and still lives south of Chadron. And while 1973 CSC grad Jim Alcorn worked several years for Burlington-Northern, he, too, worked for 1880 Train founder Bill Heckman back in the '70s. Alcorn now lives in Spearfish.
Keep your eyes open for a few C&NW artifacts in this KEVN report.
