ABILENE, Kan. — The operating season is ramping up for the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. The same is true for major work on the railroad’s former Rock Island branch — between Abilene and Enterprise — and its Santa Fe steam locomotive No. 3415.
Accoring to a May 7 article from KSAL radio, the railroad’s board of directors recently chose one of three companies who submitted sealed bids to perform major track work along the 5.5-mile line. This will include installing 1,000 new ties, adding new ballast, and rebuilding switches in Abilene and Enterprise. The railroad was awarded a $471,722 grant on Dec. 18, 2024, as part of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s $13 million Rail Service Improvement Investment program.
“This is a major project that will improve the safety on the line and give our passengers a much smoother ride,” said A&SV President and General Manager Ross Boelling in a news release on the railroad’s website. “These are improvements that we’ve needed for a long time.”
Boelling confirmed to Trains News Wire in a May 21 news release that the winning bid was from R&S Track Maintenance, Inc. of Columbus, Neb. A&SV board of directors shared the results with KDOT’s Freight and Rail Division, which authorized construction to begin effective May 13. The project is expected to start next week once materials and machines are delivered and can conclude by the end of June. Track work will take place Monday-Thursday each week for the railroad’s excursions to remain operating on weekends, according to Boelling.
An additional $180,000 must be raised to fullfill the $588,395 price tag. The release also states that the railroad “has procured a construction loan to cover the entire cost of the project and will be reimbursed by KDOT for up to 70 percent of the cost, or $411,876 as expenses accrue, leaving the A&SV to cover the balance.” Grants and donations are being explored for the railroad to cover the remaining cost.
“It’s a catch 22,” said Boelling. “We don’t want to take on additional debt, but we need to take advantage of KDOT’s 70 percent funding. We’re hopeful that we can end the project with only a small remaining loan balance.”
Meanwhile at the Abilene shop, 4-6-2 No. 3415, out of service since 2023, is in the midst of its federally mandated 1,472-day boiler inspection and rebuild, currently estimated at $600,000 [See “Santa Fe No. 3415 headed for rebuild…” News Wire, Oct. 13, 2025]. The A&SV was awarded another grant of $79,152 in February 2025, this time from the Kansas State Historical Society.
The grant will help cover the cost of the locomotive’s boiler inspection while replacing flue and tubes, a process that’ll require outside consulting and skilled labor, according to the Feb. 3 news release. The overall rebuild is reported to include work on the drivers, engine truck, and bearings on the tender trucks. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad staff were present in January to assist in the initial teardown with the inspection and rebuild expected to pick up again this summer.
“We would like to have the engine back in service late this year,” said Boelling. “Santa Fe No. 3415 figures to play a major role in Abilene’s observance of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, so we need to get the engine up and running.”
Visit the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad website for more information.
— Updated May 22 at 11:30 with additional information on the track work.
Great news for this 106-year-old “Pacific” type rail veteran… Note that it is the only operating steam locomotive in Kansas and is one of four Santa Fe steam engines still operating in the States… Remember that the beloved Santa Fe 3415 was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 2012.
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