Virginia and Truckee Railroad

From TrainSpottingWorld, for Rail fans everywhere
Virginia and Truckee Railroad
logo
Reporting marks VT
Locale Nevada
Dates of operation 1870 – present
Track gauge ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters Virginia City, Nevada

The Virginia and Truckee Railroad (AAR reporting marks VT) was built to serve the silver mining communities of Nevada. At its height, the railroad's route ran from Reno south to Carson City, Nevada. In Carson City, the mainline split into two branches. One branch continued south to Minden, while the other branch traveled east to Virginia City. The first section constructed from Virginia City to Carson City was constructed commencing in 1869 to haul ore, lumber and supplies for the Comstock Lode

Today, the V&T operates as a heritage railway, headquartered in Virginia City. The Northern Nevada Railway Foundation hopes to rebuild the mainline to Carson City by 2010. The railroad uses the nickname "Queen of the Short Lines." The first piece of equipment acquired was a 1914 2-8-2 steam locomotive. The train from Virginia City runs full time from Memorial Day until the end of October

Cars and locomotives from the original railroad are also on display at the separate Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.

Historic equipment

The Virginia and Truckee's locomotives and other equipment appeared in numerous Westerns over the years since the railroad operated otherwise obsolete equipment well into the "cinema age." Many of these pieces have been restored, and are currently on display at museums throughout the country.

No. Name Type Builder C/N Built Remarks
11
Reno
4-4-0
Baldwin
2816
1872
On display at Old Tucson Studios.
12
Genoa
4-4-0
Baldwin
3090
1873
On display at the California State Railroad Museum
13
Empire
2-6-0
Baldwin
3091
1873
On display at the California State Railroad Museum
18
Dayton
4-4-0
CP's Sacramento shops
Sac 6
1873
On display at the visitor's center at Virginia City, Nevada.
20
Tahoe
2-6-0
Baldwin
3687
1875
On display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
21
J.W.Bowker
2-4-0
Baldwin
3689
1875
On display at the California State Railroad Museum.
22
Inyo
4-4-0
Baldwin
3693
1875
Operational, on display at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.
25 (2nd)
Unnamed
4-6-0
Baldwin
25016
1905
Operational, on display at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.
27
Unnamed
4-6-0
Baldwin
39453
1913
On display at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.
Ex-Virginia and Truckee Railroad No. 18, a type 4-4-0 steam locomotive decorated to resemble historic Union Pacific No. 119, rides atop a Union Pacific Railroad flatcar as it stops in Ogden, Utah on May 9, 1969 just prior to the centennial anniversary of the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

  Source: "V & T Locomotive Roster" of the Nevada State Railroad Museum.[1]

See also: The Studio Trains — Virginia & Truckee in Films

Historic designations

  • National Register of Historic Places #NPS–04001198Virginia and Truckee Railroad No. 27 (also known as Baldwin Locomotive Works #39435)
  • National Register of Historic Places #NPS–73002245 — Virginia and Truckee Railroad No. 18, the Dayton, and No. 22, the Inyo
  • National Register of Historic Places #NPS–77001508 — Virginia and Truckee Railroad Shops
  • National Register of Historic Places #NPS–98001208 — Virginia and Truckee Railroad Depot, Carson City

Restoring the line

Officials with the V&T held a "silver spike" ceremony January 3 2006, in Carson City to commemorate the completion of two miles of track near Gold Hill. The construction, completed in September 2005, is part of an effort to restore the V&T's mainline from Virginia City to Carson City for operations. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev), who was instrumental in securing $10 million in federal funding for the project, and Nevada Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt, who secured an additional $1 million in state funding for the project, both spoke at the ceremony.

It is estimated that completion of the line from Gold Hill to Carson City will cost nearly $40 million, and it is hoped that the line, which was originally abandoned in 1938, will be completed and operational once again by December 2009.[2]

See also

Notes

  1.   "V & T Locomotive Roster."
  2.   Anderson, "V&T Railroad project marks milestone."

References

External links