Welcome to Iowa's largest 1 1/2" scale railway
EJ&K Mission Statement: Maximizing Inefficiency Through Unnecessary Complexity
The EJ&K Ry is a 1/8 scale model railroad in Boone, IA designed for live steamers and model railroaders. It is not an amusement park open to the general public. We are usually open for visitors on Sundays, but we can also accommodate visitors on Saturdays and some weekdays with advance notice. Maintenance of facilities, grounds, and equipment is done by amateurs to rural residential standards. Visitors assume risk of injury. Rule G strictly enforced.
Videos of operations on are YouTube: Search - EJ&K Train Farm.
2025 Schedule
April 6: Steam Day
May 4: Dispatch Day (May the Forth Be with You)
June 8: Dispatch Day
CGW Day: One Sunday in June or July will be dedicated to the four CGW locomotives, date to be determined
July 24: 724 Day. All equipment numbered 724 will operate. Additional steam locomotives will also operate.
August 2: Shell Rock Short Line Day. Celebration of Life for Bob Drenth. All steam locomotives will operate.
September 14: Dispatch Day
September 28: 200th Anniversary of Stockton and Darlington, first steam passenger railroad. All available steam locomotives will be operating.
October 12: Laps Day. How many laps can we make in one day?
Sundays: On most Sundays from June 1 to September 14, NYC 5343 and one or two CGW steam locomotives will operate, subject to engineer availability. Diesels also available to anyone who wants to operate freight or Mail/Express trains.
Steam Days are subject to the approval of Mother Nature. Normal start time is about 1000am
Dispatch Days require several diesel operating crews and a dispatcher and yardmaster. If you are not familiar with the railroad, this is a good time to learn about classic 1950s railroading. Entry level brakeman positions available working with an experienced engineer. Contact Bob via email: bob@bournetransit.com or call 515-231-1370. Additional dispatch days may be added depending on how many people want to try it.
Track projects this year include tie replacement from MP 0.2 to 1.0 and 27.0 to 30.0. Rail will be replaced from MP 17.5 to 18.0. New track construction on the Eastern Sub will also be scheduled from MPE 0.3 to MPE 3.0. Most of the track work will be done in May before Mother Nature throws too much heat at us.
Bob Drenth Celebration of Life will be August 2.
Eastern Subdivision has about 300 feet of final grade completed. Trestle will be completed and track installed in May, 2025. Grading for an additional 400 feet will be completed in late summer.
FDDMS 724 was built from several photos from the B&SV museum archives
EJ&E 724 was a billet car operated only within US Steel Gary Works. No FRA requirements and no identification other than the number.
New industries are being established at the Ames Yard.
Artificial Intelligence Recycling Center is open. Ames Particle Co. will be on-line in late summer.
Three dimensional experiences are required at all industrial locations.
We completed 22 years of continuous steam on March 2, 2025. We have operated steam at least once a month for 22 years. Mother Nature always gives us at least one nice day in December, January, and February every year and we use it for steam.
Builder's Photo: Bob built the car and Bob painted it.
This is the water car to give NYC 5343 additional water tank capacity.
Brian and John have been busy rebuilding the NYC 5343 tender. Steve has been rebuilding the injector lines. Berne has installed snifter/oil ports.
The Geeps were out late at night on May 5 with a full moon
We try to model realistic derailments as well as realistic operations
Frequent log trains all year. After taking down many invasive Siberian elms and creating a savannah, we have a lot of freight to move. If you want some good firewood come out and take it away.
Air hose project took 23 years and 15 minutes to complete
I was talking to Garrison Keillor and he mentioned that his father was an RPO mail clerk on the Great Northern working out of Minneapolis.