Abilene Smoky Valley Railroad
In 1993, two Abilene railfans, Joe Minick and Fred Schmidt, had an idea. The tracks of the bankrupt Rock Island Railroad that run through Dickinson County were about to be taken out by the Union Pacific, the monolithic railroad company that absorbed the assets of the Rock Island's successor, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad.
Determined to preserve the Rock Island's memory, Minick and Schmidt approached the U.P. about buying the Rock Island rails between Abilene and Woodbine. After raising $250,000 from a consortium of banks in Dickinson County, the men established the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad Association, a non-profit, all-volunteer railroad doubling as a transportation museum featuring antique railroad cars and engines.
This "museum on wheels" ran its first trains in 1994.
And the rest is history. In that time, A&SV trains have hauled over 280,000 passengers from all points in Kansas, from every state in the Union and from several foreign countries.
“I don't know if anyone back in 1993 would have dared predict that this railroad would haul over 280,000 passengers and serve as such a major Abilene tourist attraction," said A&SV President and General Manager Ross Boelling.
"But every year, we grow in terms of passengers, and in terms of educational programs that we offer to the community. We do more than just offer train rides to people. We provide an experiential learning environment that makes us the most unique museum in Kansas."
This Saturday, the A&SV wants to add you to the passenger count, as they host their special "Birthday Cookout." dinner train powered by the iconic Santa Fe steam locomotive.
The train leaves the depot at 6 p.m. Ride in air conditioned comfort and enjoy the Hitching Post Restaurant's menu of hamburgers, brats and hotdogs, potato salad, baked beans and more.
As part of the A&SV birthday present to you, they are reducing the price of the cookout on the rails to $60/ adult and $40/child aged 3-11. Free drawing onboard for two people to win a free locomotive cab ride from Enterprise to Abilene.
Sunday, Father's Day on the train
A&SV will also host a 2 p.m. train on Sunday. It is now an extended-run Father's Day/A&SVRR Birthday Train. The train will depart the o1887 Rock Island Depot in Abilene, 200 SE 5th St, Abilene for our trip to Enterprise at 2 p.m.
Next on the itinerary is a hamburger cookout for you and everyone else present at the Hoffman Grist Mill (Meal Cost is your donation). As you dine, the “Fiddlers From Chapman” will serenade you with some great music At 4 p.m.
After the program, around 4:30 p.m., the program will head into the sunset to Abilene, arriving there around 5:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
The A&SV is thriving at thirty and proud to be Kansas' only steam powered railroad and a partner in Abilene's "Five Star" museum district. The train leaves Abilene's historic Rock Island Depot at 6:00 p.m. Tickets: asvrr.org.