Quarter size railroad track in Deadwood almost complete

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Story Published: Feb 6, 2007 at 6:14 PM PST

By Carla Castano

When it comes to hobbies, model trains and railroading are up there as the most popular. But one Deadwood man is building his own railroad system.

For the last 11 years Ray Robinson has put all of his extra time and money into a dream and he's on track to have it finished soon.

Polished up and ready to go, this quarter size railroad has been Ray Robinson's dream. "I've always loved trains," say Robinson.

He's been working on the track of his dreams called the Meadows & Lake Kathleen Railroad For more than a decade. No matter how you look at it, it shows.

One trestle alone took a couple years to complete. Robinson tells us, "it is 370 foot long and 17 foot above the creek your head is about 21 or 22 foot above the creek."

Robinson has created a scenic ride over the river and through the woods. "I built the first third of the railroad myself built the first bridge and that trestle and when I needed help Kathy would help me." His wife, Kathy calls herself a "train nut" by marriage. She says, "I pounded spikes doing everything right along with Ray."

Now she sits back and enjoys the ride because these days they have dozens of volunteers on board.

Volunteer Peter Boshart says he has "Bolted down the track, spikes, picked up rail."

Robinson only has about 900 feet left to connect the track and he says that's a day he's been looking forward to for more than 11 years. He's says, "That's really when the railroad will take a different shape."

Due to the high cost of materials, completion is still a year or so off and Kathy is also ready. "I definitely am because he promised me a trip to Italy when he finishes."

Robinson has kept all of his receipts but says if he added them up now he probably wouldn't be able to sleep at night, so he won't until the project is finished.

The Meadows and Lake Kathleen Railroad is a private rail system, the couple runs their trains on Sunday afternoons by invitation only. For more information on how you can get on board log on to http://www.peak.org/~kmr3/M&LKRailroad/ or email kmr3@pioneer.net

For more information, visit The Meadows and Lake Kathleen Railroad.

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