Located in Deadwood, South Dakota, this baggage cart has serviced it's last train.

I love the sights and sounds of the railroad. As a youngster, some of my favorite memories were formed by the every day sounds around the trains.

Waiting in the stations to see someone off on a journey, or to meet them as they came to visit, one conspicuously vibrant sound- the steel wheels of the baggage carts as they grated on the cobblestones of the station, formed some of my the fondest memories.

To today, I still can hear that sound, even though they sit empty, their wheels motionless, waiting for long forgotten trains that no longer polish the rails.

Monday 20 August
Deadwood, South Dakota





















Deadwood, South Dakota is famous for Gold being discovered there, and for Wild Bill Hickok being shot dead in the #10 Saloon. Not much more.





Signs make the best
of history's famous names.














Kevin Costner owns a casino with two restaurants upstairs in the middle of downtown. Diamond Lil's, more of a cafe, and Jake's, which is fine dining. Posters and other memorabilia of his movies line the walls - everywhere.

































This building must have been a dealership for the Hudson Motor Car Company. Manufactured from 1909 to 1954 as Hudson products, and later produced by the American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1957. They were very popular cars - won a lot at the race tracks.















Charlie Utter

In the spring of 1876, he and his brother Steve organized a wagon train in Georgetown, Colorado and headed for South Dakota. When the wagon train passed through Cheyenne, Wyoming he ran into his old friend Wild Bill Hickok who joined the caravan, along with more than 100 others including prospectors, gamblers, and a troop of “working girls.” Later, in Fort Laramie, Calamity Jane also joined the wagon train.




































The Number 10 Saloon, is where Bill Hickok was shot!
This saloon is in a different location than the original #10.
So this is the #2 , #10.































































Deadwood Train Depot.
Like most old depots, it has been made into an information center.























































Mt Moriah cemetery overlooks the town of Deadwood.





















Bust of Wild Bill at his burial site. He probably turned over in his grave when Calamity Jane insisted on being buried next to him.



































Prostitution was allowed until 1980. Now, mannequins watch the streets from dismal second story windows.

Gambling was made legal in Deadwood in 1989 -- which literally saved the town from dying. Today, it is still the only city in South Dakota where gambling is legal.





















History revisited, the original #1, #10 saloon located in the "badlands" section of town burned down. A new #2, #10 opened up the street, the sign is shown in the photo below. So then this building (above photo) was built on the original site, so it's the #3, #10.


























This is on display
in the new location
of the #2, #10 saloon.


























Not bad enough being shot in the back of the head, now poor old Bill's picture is every where - even on the Public Works trucks.