By 1920 , the railroad was having significant financial difficulties , but local businessman and politician James Halley II helped the railroad continue operations . By 1940 , it had evolved solely into a tourist attraction , offering ride tours for as much as $ 2.70 per person . The Crouch Line was the longest-lasting of its kind in the Black Hills , operating until 1946 . Most of the railroad has been taken up or destroyed , especially after the 1972 Black Hills flood . The portion of the route that ran from Pactola to Mystic has been converted into a hiking trail , which starts at Silver City
1972 Black Hills flood
1972 Black Hills flood
Rapid City, Black Hills and Western Railroad