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The city of Boone grew up when the
railroads arrived in the 1800s. Trains are still
rumbling through Boone (about 70 a day). The Kate Shelley
High Bridge carries the mainline of the Union Pacific
Railroad over the Des Moines River Valley west of Boone.
This bridge is the longest and highest double-track
bridge in the world, and was finished in 1901. The bridge is
located 3 1/2 miles northwest of Boone. Visitors can
reach the bridge by heading north on Marion Street to
198th Road, and taking a left turn onto the blacktop road to
the bridge. This bridge is named for Kate Shelley, a 15-year-old girl. During a terrible rain storm the
night of July 6, 1818, Kate crawled across the bridge to
warn an oncoming passenger train had to stop. Thus
doing, she saved many passenger deaths.
The construction
on the railroad, operated by Boone & Scenic
Valley Railroad, was begun in 1893. Fraser had
just become the center of the newly-discovered
coal deposits and transportation was needed to
move the coal. A line was built about 4 miles to
the west from Fraser to connect with another
railroad at Fraser Junction, which is now called
Wolf.
Railroads were
expanding rapidly in those days and they built
north to Gowrie and Rockwell City for connections
with other railroads. The line underwent several
name changes, management, and goals. By 1907
the railroad reached Fort Dodge and Des Moines, the line was
electrified, and interurban cars were operational.
At its peak, electric
cars were operated on an hourly basis. As
automobiles became numerous, passenger service was
cut back, but the line continued to push freight business. With the increase in gypsum
mills, sewer pipe, and drain tile, freight business
flourished, especially in the Fort Dodge area.
The last interurban cars were
operated in September of 1955, electric lines
were removed, and diesel engines handled the
freight business. In 1968 the Chicago & North
Western purchased the entire line. Shortly
thereafter, portions of the line were
discontinued, but they did continue serving some
grain elevators and shippers with freight
service until 1983.
A group in Boone
formed the "Boone Railroad Historical
Society." They purchased 11.3 miles of track,
including the bridges, in order that this scenic
portion of the line might be preserved. The first
trip handling passengers was made in November
1983. Tickets were sold out of a tent for rides
out onto the high bridge.
In 1984, work was begun
on the present depot, which was dedicated in 1985.
Other buildings have been acquired, along with
additional equipment which is being restored, as
funds become available. In 1989 the Boone &
Scenic Valley Railroad purchased the last
commercially-built steam engine, the JS8419, in
Datong, China.
 The
town of Boone is also known for being the
birthplace of Mamie Doud Eisenhower. The
home where she was born is located at 709 Carroll Street, Boone,
Iowa. To drive there, you would proceed
north from Highway 30 on Story Street to 8th
Street. Then proceed west four blocks to
Carroll Street, and then 1/2 block south.
The house is open 1:00
p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, during
April and May, and open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
daily, June through October. The house is
open other times by appointment only. Group tours are
welcome.
For more information
on the birthplace of Mamie Doud Eisenhower, call
515-432-1896 or fax 515-432-3097.
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