Virginia and Truckee Railroad -- July 7, 2022

Gold Hill Daily News, 17-July-1872

The Virginia and Truckee connected Carson City and Virginia City in Nevada. At the time of this 1872 advertisement, the line from Carson City to Reno was still being built. Passengers for Reno connected with stage coaches to Reno at Steamboat Springs.

Train Station #41 -- December 9, 2011

The Southern Pacific's former Wabuska depot now sits on the grounds of the Nevada State Railroad Museum (http://nsrm-friends.org/) in Carson City.  It serves as ticket office and waiting room for the steam train and motor car rides around the grounds. Here is the platform with Tucson, Cornelia and Gila Bend motor car 401. I took the photo during our visit in July.

Door #14 -- September 21, 2011

A beautifully crafted door on Virginia and Truckee caboose/coach 4, which was built in 1873 by Kimball in San Francisco.  I took thephoto during our July visit to the Nevada State Railroad Museum (http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/nevada-state-railroad-museum-july-30.html).

Train Station #38 -- September 12, 2011

The current Carson City terminal of the Virginia and Truckee Railway is Eastgate Station. Eventually they hope to extend the line into the canyon of the Carson River. Porta potties are hiding behind the false front in the background. The end of the line waiting for the train is just visible.

I took the photo during our visit in July.

Nevada State Railroad Museum -- July 30, 2011

The day after we rode the Virginia and Truckee Railway (http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/virginia-and-truckee-july-29-2011.html), we returned to Carson City. We had breakfast at Heidi's Family Restaurant (excellent French Toast), went to mass at Saint Theresa of Avila, then went to the Nevada State Railroad Museum, which we had not visited since the late 1990s.

The main building of the museum had been rearranged to offer more interpretation of railroad history than railroad equipment. I think there were two locomotives, a box car, a coach and a combination car. I think they did a better job of explaining what happened to the Central Pacific than did the California State Railroad Museum.

The other building had more equipment, some unrestored, including the Inyo and the recently restored McKeen motor car seen above. It was an impressive sight. We talked to a volunteer about the impression it must have made on people who saw it roaring down the line towards Minden.

We rode the Edwards motor car around the line. It is no longer painted as the Washoe Zephyr.

Virginia and Truckee -- July 29, 2011

We drove from Reno (http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/reno-july-28-2011.html) down to the western edge of Carson City, near the garbage dump and Mound House to take a ride on the Virginia and Truckee Railway, which last year began running from Carson City to Virginia City, mostly along the historic right-of-way. The three coach train was full and the weather was hot. McCloud River #18 had to work hard on the way up to Virginia City. There was a long stop for oiling and inspection at Scales. Here 18 rests at Virginia City. The short-distance train to Gold Hill left just as we pulled in.

We had from about 11:30 to 2pm in Virginia City. It seemed a bit long. We saw the beautiful restoration work done in Saint Mary's in the Mountains, and the museum downstairs.

On the trip down, we saw wild horses.

Read more about it in September in my Park Trains and Tourist Trains page:

http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/