The Long Way
Storey County
A yellow and green locomotive train sits on tracks behind a field of pumpkins.
Plate I. Train and pumpkin patch, Virginia & Truckee Railroad. From virginiatruckee.com
A couple rides a rail bike on railroad tracks overlooking a mountain canyon.
Plate II. Railbike riding, Virginia & Truckee Railroad. From virginiatruckee.com
A small train travels along tracks passing through a canyon where horses are grazing.
Plate III. Train and wild horses, Virginia & Truckee Railroad. From virginiatruckee.com
Santa Claus walks down the aisle of a festively decorated train car filled with passengers.
Plate IV. Santa inside train car, Virginia & Truckee Railroad. From virginiatruckee.com
A decorated holiday train passes by a lit-up building at night.
Plate V. Decorated train at Virginia & Truckee Railroad. From virginiatruckee.com
A brightly lit train decorated with lights and a jack-o'-lantern on the front travels at night.
Plate VI. Decorated train, Virginia & Truckee Railroad. From virginiatruckee.com

Virginia & Truckee Railroad

Virginia City, Storey County, Nevada. Heritage railroad.

Details

Map. Virginia City, Storey County, Nevada. Larger map
Where
166 F Street, Virginia City, NV 89440. Directions
When
Trains depart 10:30 am, 11:20 am, 12:30 pm, 1:20 pm, 2:10 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm.
Season
Candy Cane Express November 29 – December 20.
Getting there
The original 1870 V&T R.R. Virginia City Depot is located at 165 F Street, just below Main Street at F Street and Washington Street. Just a few steps South of St. Mary’s in the Mountains Catholic Church.
Fees
Diesel Adult $18.00; Children Age 5–12 $9.00; Children 4 and under Free; All-day Pass $50.00.
Hours
Rides 7 times a day, 7 days a week.
Access
Except for the last train of the day at 4pm, passengers can disembark in Gold Hill and visit the Gold Hill Hotel. Steam or diesel equipment will vary based on availability.
Phone
(775) 847-0380
Website
virginiatruckee.com
Managed by
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company, Inc.
Established
July 2, 1976.

Take a narrated 35-minute scenic ride from Virginia City to Gold Hill and back aboard the legendary Virginia & Truckee Railroad. Travel historic rails once used to carry passengers, dignitaries, and millions of dollars in Comstock gold and silver ore.

Notable Events

  1. 1868The Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company was organized in Nevada. virginiatruckee.com
  2. 1869Service to Gold Hill began, and to Virginia City in 1870. hmdb.org
  3. 1870The 21-mile standard gauge line, surveyed by Isaac E. James, was completed between Carson and Virginia City. virginiatruckee.com
  4. 1872A 31-mile extension north from Carson City connected the Comstock with transcontinental rail service at Reno. virginiatruckee.com
  5. 1905A new Virginia & Truckee Railway Company was incorporated to purchase the predecessor company and build a 15-mile branch from Carson City to Minden. virginiatruckee.com
  6. 1938The disappearance of Comstock traffic and the caving of several wood-lined tunnels ushered in the closing of the Carson-Virginia City line. virginiatruckee.com
  7. 1938The line was forced to enter voluntary Federal receivership after years of operating deficits. virginiatruckee.com
  8. 1939Once handling 30 to 45 trains a day, the line closed down. hmdb.org
  9. 1941The rails of the Carson-Virginia City line were removed and sold. virginiatruckee.com
  10. 1950The Bonanza short line's last official revenue train operated between Reno, Carson City, and Minden. virginiatruckee.com
  11. 1976Robert C. Gray ran his first train on the rebuilt Comstock line in 1976. 2news.com

People

  • Robert C. Gray, helped rebuild the Virginia & Truckee railway.
  • Thomas Gray, owner of Virginia & Truckee Railroad.
  • Abraham Curry, directed the erection of the railroad shops at Carson City.
  • Darius O. Mills, controlled the railroad on behalf of the Union Mill & Mining Company and the Bank of California.
  • Gordon A. Sampson, former V&T Auditor who directed the railway's finances.
  • Henry M. Yerington, General Superintendent.
  • Isaac E. James, local surveyor who surveyed the line.
  • Ogden L. Mills, major stockholder who loaned the railway nearly $95,000 (1932-1937).
  • William Ralston, controlled the railroad on behalf of the Union Mill & Mining Company and the Bank of California.
  • William Sharon, controlled the railroad on behalf of the Union Mill & Mining Company and the Bank of California.
  • Robert "Bob" C. Gray, acquired property from the former V&T rail line from Gold Hill to Virginia City and ran the first trains in 1976 (1960s; 1976).
  • Tom Gray, President of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company, Inc.

Sources

  1. virginiatruckee.com
  2. virginiatruckee.com/schedule-fares
  3. virginiatruckee.com/about-us
  4. virginiatruckee.com/maps-directions
  5. virginiatruckee.com/contact-us
  6. virginiatruckee.com/maps-directions/comstock-train-route-round-trip-to-gold-hill
  7. facebook.com/VirginiaTruckeeRailroad
  8. instagram.com/vtrailroad
  9. virginiatruckee.com/vt-history-by-stephen-drew
  10. virginiatruckee.com/vt-vp-tom-gray-narrates-steam-built-short-video
  11. hmdb.org/m.asp?m=45645
  12. 2news.com/someone-2-know-thomas-gray-of-the-virginia-truckee-railroad/article_e2064573-9263-5e4d-9855-f93f7289ea95.html