Overview
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad, known as the "Queen of the Short Lines", first rolled in 1870. Its legendary engines and engineers opened the silver hills of Nevada's Comstock Lode through some of the steepest and curviest rail lines in America.
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad is now a tourism line, steaming passengers from Virginia City to Gold Hill. Under the care of the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway, (NCRVTR) the V&T will once again roll all the way to Carson City by 2012.
This site is here to illustrate and support the restoration of a beautiful railway that redefined the economy of the American West.
The Reconstruction of the V&T Railway from Gold Hill to Carson City will create a world class tourist destination. It is estimated that 885 jobs and $40.9 million in economic value will be generated during the several years it will take to rebuild the V&T. Thereafter, an equivalent of 432 jobs and $16.5 million annually will be created by the railroad. Note, these estimates include jobs and dollars driven through the local, regional and state economy, not just those directly associated with the project.
The V&T Railway Reconstruction Project will extend the V&T Railway an additional 17+ miles from its current terminus in Gold Hill to the east side of Carson City, Nevada. In addition to the added railroad track, refurbished steam engines, refurbished passenger cars, new/updated stations and other support services are needed.
The current V&T operation is privately owned and the short run between Virginia City and Gold Hill and back offers a fun steam train experience to thousands of riders each year. And while this operation provides a great economic benefit to the local Virginia City tourism market; the new V&T will help sustain the Northern Nevada tourism market from Reno and Carson City to Lake Tahoe and beyond.
Updating the V&T Railway into a world class attraction will draw more visitors to the region, lengthen the average duration of stay, and enhance the overall experience while visiting. Virginia City is an important tourist destination drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
In February 2001, the Legislature reconstituted the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway to oversee the project (formerly the Tri-County Railway Commission) to expand the reach beyond the Virginia City/Carson City corridor to include the major tourist markets of Reno/Sparks and Lake Tahoe.
The equipment will be upgraded to emulate the authentic 1800 steam train experience with durable, reliable steam engines and cars. The current short run between Virginia City and Gold Hill will continue: it is important to build on the current success instead of dismantling and rebuilding from scratch. A short run to and from Carson City will be added. A complete day trip originating and returning to Carson City will offer a long layover in Virginia City and other stops along the way. And finally, a special event/dinner train will be added to provide a venue for fine dining and platform to hold special events.
