The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Association was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, dedicated to restoring and operating historic railroad equipment and educating the public on the history of railroads. The railroad is operated by volunteers which includes our engineers, conductors, brakemen, car attendants that narrate every trip, and depot workers. Volunteers also take care of our mechanical and track maintenance. Most of our excursion trains operate using the 1945 ALCO S-1 (former Hutchinson & Northern Railroad), with it’s 660hp diesel-electric engine that was originally designed for WWII submarines. The normal Abilene & Smoky Valley excursion train consist includes a 1902 wooden KATY passenger car that has been converted to a dining car, two open air gondola cars with canopy tops, and a former Union Pacific caboose. The train departs Abilene eastbound for a 10½ mile round trip through the Smoky Hill River Valley to the neighboring community of Enterprise, KS. We also offer school field trips, dinner trains, private charters, and Silver Flyer Rail Bus trips. The recently restored former ATSF 4-6-2 “Pacific” #3415 steam locomotive will operate once again this season on a limited schedule. Click HERE for dates and times. This engine sat in Eisenhower Park in Abilene, Kansas for over 40 years, having been retired by the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1950’s. The City of Abilene donated the 3415 to the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. It took over four years to restore the locomotive to operating condition with about 12,000 volunteer hours and the help of two grants.
