Abilene Smoky Valley Railroad

Goal: $50,000.00

Specific Need

Donations, gifts, grants and ticket sales are our only funding source. We are working on making the organization self-sustaining into the future as.  There is always mechanical work on the equipment and track and bridge repairs that need to be made to keep the train safe for everyone, passengers and crew.

Mission

The purpose of the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Association is preservation, education and entertainment. We preserve and operate vintage rail equipment and use our trips to help educate our riders about the importance of railroads and rail travel in building the United States, Dickinson County, Kansas and Abilene.  We also focus on the how the railroads built Kansas Agriculture and how Kansas Agriculture built the railroads.  We also provide entertainment through special event trains, such as Peanuts Great Pumpkin Express and Cowtown Christmas, and Smoky Valley Limited dinner trains that operate between Abilene and Enterprise throughout most of the year.

Profile

ASVRR provides train rides from Abilene to Enterprise, KS.  We also provide school field trips, private charters for groups and dinner trains.

In 2023 over 12,000 passengers rode our train from over 50% of Kansas' communities, 42 states and at least 10 foreign countries.

We operate the only operating Kansas-based steam engine, ATSF 3415, a 1919 Baldwin Pacific-class locomotive. The 3415is down for a mandatory 15-year   rebuilt as a requirement of federal regulations.  We expect to spend upwards of $600,000 on this project over the next few years.

There is a museum in the frieght room of the depot with tools, lanterns, etc. that were used in the past plus a working model railroad.