Rapid City Pierre & Eastern: Black Hills Sub Railfanning June 2-4, 2025

After having dinner in Rapid City on June 2, we drove over to the yard in Rapid City to see if there was a LRCDJ that happened to be staged south of the yard. As a matter of fact, it was departing the yard when we saw it. We were able to see this fairly rare train run at a couple of spots south of Rapid City just before sunset.

RCPE LRCDJ (Rapid City, SD-Dakota Jct, NE/NNW):
RCPE 3445 SD40-2 (ex NS 3424, ex CR 6520)
RCPE 3456 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6419, exx ICE, nee UP 3841, nee MKT 634)

On June 3, we chased the six days/week LBFRC from Belle Fourche down to Rapid City with 27 cars in tow. Knowing there was action going on the PRC Sub and the northbound train back to Belle Fourche was only 8 cars, we did not follow them north back to Belle Fourche and decided to pursue the PRC Sub instead. We did see them leaving Rapid City before making our way towards Wall.

RCPE LBFRC (Belle Fourche, SD-Rapid City, SD turn):
RCPE 3427 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6458, exx ICE, exxx UP 3945, nee MP 6045)
RCPE 3999 SD40-2 (ex AZRC, exx RCPE 6434, exxx ICE, nee UP 3675)
RCPE 3452 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6449, exx ICE, exxx UP 9935, exxxx UP 3924, nee MP 6024)

We did, however chase the LBFRC northbound on June 4 and this train was much bigger than the day before (39 cars vs. 8), in part due to there being a westbound that arrived at Rapid City for the first time in almost four days, the night before.