The line original began in 1893 as the Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad (FDDMS) as a significant freight carrier.[1] A second line on the FDDMS was built 4 miles to the west from Fraser, were it connected to the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway at Fraser Junction.[1] In 1907 when the construction of the power plant at Fraser was finished, the line was electrified with interurban cars running from Fort Dodge to Des Moines.[1]
After massive flooding damaged the power plant (located at Fraser, Iowa) providing electricity to the line in 1954, the railroad soon turned to diesel equipment to pull its trains in September 1955.[1] The Chicago and North Western (C&NW) purchased the entire FDDMS system in 1968.[1] Shortly after acquiring the line, the C&NW began to place portions of it up for abandonment.[1]
In 1983, an 11-mile (18km) section of the line was purchased by the Boone Railroad Historical Society, and its 2254 charter members, for $50,000.[1] The railroad began its first tourist operation in November 1983.[1]
In February 2001, the railroad entered freight operations with they purchase 1.66 miles of the original Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad trackage in the Boone Industrial Park.[1]
The stretch of track winds through the Des Moines River Valley and across a 156-foot (47.5m) tall bridge spanning Bass Point Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River. The line runs from Boone, through the old coal mining town of Fraser, and ends at the site of the former junction with the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway at Wolf.[1]
The BSVY depot and passenger train in May 2004
The railroad, an immediate success, has expanded regularly since its founding. A depot was dedicated in 1985.[1] Today, more than 30,000 visitors take a ride on one of the regular or special event trains, including the Day Out with Thomas (September), the Pumpkin Express (October), and Santa Express (weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas) that features a book written and illustrated especially for the trip. Dining cars are reserved for special dinner trains.[1]
The James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and History Center was added to the existing depot and dedicated in 2012.[2] It displays and preserves thousands of Iowa railroad artifacts and memorabilia such as track equipment, toy trains, dining car china, timetables, photos, lanterns, and telegraph equipment.[2] The museum hosts special exhibitions, maintains a research library, and has a small theater/conference room.[2]
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