Ride behind a Santa Fe Pacific or an Alco S-1 on an 11-mile, 90-minute round trip over an ex-Rock Island line from the restored Rock Island depot in Abilene to Enterprise and return. Cross the Smoky Hill River on an early steel truss bridge and visit the 1880s-vintage Hoffman Grist Mill in Enterprise.
Choices
A restored coach, open-air (but shaded) gondola cars, and an ex-Union Pacific caboose are the regular consist; extra fare will get you on board the caboose or in the cab of the steam or diesel locomotive. While in Enterprise, passengers may tour the replica of an 1880s grist mill and see how they grind the Turkey Red Wheat and corn.
When to go
Trains run from Thursday through Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and on weekends in May, September, and October. Steam locomotive No. 3415 operates on select days year-round. ASV also operates for school field trips and dinner trains on selected Saturday evenings.
Good to know
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum complex, including IKE’s boyhood home, is just across the tracks from the ASV depot. The museum tells the story of Eisenhower’s career as a military leader and president of the United States.
Worth doing
Wander Abilene Old Town just south of the depot and enjoy a fried chicken dinner. Visit the Dickinson County Heritage Center northeast of the depot to ride the carousel and view the Museum of Independent Telephony. See the Greyhound Hall of Fame a block northwest of the depot. Stroll the Victorian downtown area.
Don’t miss
The museum, containing historic railroad artifacts, is in the ASV depot. In addition to the ASV’s Rock Island depot, the Santa Fe (now BNSF Railway) combination depot, and the Union Pacific depot and freight house are still standing. The UP depot is open to the public and houses the Abilene Visitors Center, where you can take home a copy of Mamie Eisenhower’s sugar cookie recipe.
Getting there
Abilene is on Interstate 70 about 150 miles west of Kansas City and about 90 miles north of Wichita on Kansas Highway 15. The ASV depot is about 2 miles south of Interstate 70 on State Route 15.
Location: 200 Southeast 5th Street, Abilene, KS
Phone: 785-263-1077 or 785-263-0118
Website: asvrr.org
E-mail: gm.asvrail@gmail.com
