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

All outdoor activities are subject to Mother Nature's approval

September 14: Dispatch Day. Gate open, 900am, first train out at 930, last train 230pm. Come for an hour or all day. Freight, passenger, Mail and Express trains will be operating with steam and diesel. Two person train crews on all trains. Anyone interested in being Yardmaster?

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 in October and November will be mostly focused on track construction of the Eastern Subdivision, We will work on it until the first hard freeze. This is a great way to hone your track building skills, get a good workout, and enjoy Mother Nature's autumn splendor.

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. Pop up dispatch days on Sundays if several people are interested.

We have always appreciated the assistance that Bob Drenth provided over 30 years of railroad design, construction, and operation.

Eastern Subdivision has about 300 feet of final grade completed. Trestle was completed in June. Grading for an additional 400 feet is done. Ballasting and track is the next project in Oct/Nov 2025.

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.

CGW Day on Sept. 1 was a success with all four CGW locomotives and several CGW freight cars in operation

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.

The Barbies continue to be our primary customer base. Several more have arrived and will be using the NYC passenger service.

Bob finished EJ&E 525. It is a Titan Trains kit with several 3D printed enhancements.

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.

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