V&T Reborn

1960s

Nevada State Heritage, a division of the state parks department operate Saddle Tank Locomotive 040 and Tunnel Car No. 3 at the Carson City Airport.

A few other small groups also tried to restore the V&T. State started getting pieces of equipment from movies in late 1960s.

May 1974

Sacramento businessman Bob Gray lays the first rails at Virginia City, bringing back to life the Virginia & Truckee Railroad on May 4.

1976

V&T Railroad sells its first tickets, July 2

Train runs to the northern portal of Tunnel No. 4.

1987

Tunnel No. 4 opened by Gray's crews, on July 10

Later, Gray's crew builds a bypass track around collapsed Tunnel No. 3, using 40,000 yards of fill and a 19-degree curve, which provides service into Gold Hill.

1991

Demolition of old V&T engine house at Stewart and Washington streets in Carson City.

1993

Legislature forms Tri-County Railway Commission to restore V&T route.

1994

Completion of the final report for the feasibility and economic impact of the expanded V&T.

2001

Legislature forms the Northern Nevada Commission for Reconstruction of the V&T Railway.

2003

V&T obtains four miles of track from Reno trench project.

April 2004

Railroad bridge from Las Vegas arrives, now in storage on private property until it can be used to span Highway 50 East.

April 2005

Groundbreaking of phase one, from the Gold Hill depot to American Flat. A $5 million Nevada Department of Transportation project - $3 million funded by federal money - the rest funded by the V&T commission and private donations. Granite Construction awarded the bid.

August

A portion of Overman Pit near the Gold Hill depot is filled with 310,000 cubic feet of dirt, laid 140 feet deep, over a 1,000-foot-wide area in preparation for the new rail.

September

Railroad subcontractor RailWorks Track Systems completes phase one, laying 1.4 miles of track.

To be completed in late 2006

Rail from American Flat to Highway 50 at the Carson City and Lyon county lines, 9.3 miles for $10.7 million.

To be completed by 2009

Rail along the Carson River loop, 3.7 miles for $3.5 million; and the Carson River extension, which extends the line into Carson City, 2.6 miles for $4.6 million plus a $5.4 million depot.

Sources: Virginia & Truckee Railroad

feasibility report