Near Edgemont in Fall River County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Siding 7
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2018
1. Siding 7 Marker
In early 1890, the Burlington Railroad established Siding 7 three-quarters of a mile up the tracks north from here. The siding consisted of four short, fan-shaped tracks and a hand-operated turntable over an open pit used for servicing engines. There was also a small machine shop. The railroad planned to use this installation as a permanent location for their yards and as a terminal, since it was near the junction of the main rail line to the coal fields of Wyoming and the branch line into the Black Hills. After two attempts to secure additional adjacent property needed for expansion failed, the Burlington purchased land from a homesteader, Hand Carsley, on the south side of the Cheyenne River and constructed what was to become a permanent terminal - thus Edgemont, “edge of the mountains,” was born in the summer of 1890, growing into and remaining a thriving railroad town.
the Burlington Northern Railroad, the South Dakota State Historical Society,
and the State Department of Transportation as a Centennial Legacy.
this page online
Erected 1989 by Edgemont State Centennial Committee, Burlington Northern Railroad, South Dakota State Historical Society, and South Dakota State Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 505.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 43° 18.575′ N, 103° 49.582′ W. Marker is near Edgemont, South Dakota, in Fall River County. Marker is on Highway 18, half a mile west of Cemetery Road (County Highway 185), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located in small pull-out on the north side of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Edgemont SD 57735, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Cheyenne River Crossing (here, next to this marker); Teddy Roosevelts's Visit to Edgemont (approx. 0.8 miles away); Edgemont: Where the Trail Begins (approx. 0.8 miles away); Camp Collier (approx. 3.1 miles away); MAFFS 7 (approx. 6½ miles away); Battle the Blaze (approx. 6½ miles away).
More about this marker. Marker is facing US Highway 18, and it is placed immediately to the left of a different marker related to this same location.
Also see . . .
1. The Burlington Route: Wyoming’s Second Transcontinental Railroad
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 9, 2018
2. Siding 7 Marker (wide view; this marker left; present-day BNSF railroad line in background)
2. City of Edgemont South Dakota. Edgemont came into being in 1889 with the arrival of the railroad three days before South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. Since then the town has seen many periods of boom and bust. First was the railroad itself which included a roundhouse for repairs, then a 110 mile spur to Deadwood (now the Mickelson Trail). (Submitted on July 10, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 9, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
