The Platte Line was the starting point for the Daktoa Southern. It was here at Napa in 1985 that DSRC 512, the line's first locomotive, was sandblasted and painted. The operation lasted until 1989, when all equipment moved north to the Chamberlain-based operation. The line lay dormant until 2001, when Leon Steege leased the first 10 miles and founded the Dakota Short Line. It was thought that the elevator in Tabor, under common ownership with an elevator on the nearby BNSF line, might load grain in Tabor rather than make expensive track improvements required to get BNSF service on the mainline. Leon successfully ran his engine to Tabor as a demonstration, but never operated a revenue train. He ultimately took his engine to Aberdeen and spread ballast under state contract on the Britton line rehab.
The following photos show the condition of the line in 2004, between Napa, Tabor, and almost to Wagner.