During the next decade, the railroad project made slow progress as the commission acquired right-of-way easements and financial commitments. Starting in 2005, the project—pun intended—picked up steam. The Nevada Department of Transportation awarded a $3.8 million contract to extend the railroad south from Gold Hill. The contract included filling in a huge open pit mine called the Overman Pit, which had blocked previous efforts to lengthen the railroad (the pit had been dug after the railroad was abandoned). Funding for this was provided by a 2% increase in room tax by the CCCVB. Additionally, the commission purchased a 1914 Baldwin steam locomotive from a defunct Northern California tourist railroad for $420,000.
The Nevada Legislature provided $500,000 in additional funds to help keep the project going while the Department of Transportation donated a railroad bridge formerly used in Southern Nevada for a crossing over U.S. 50.
The Legislature also granted Carson City permission to raise its sales tax by one-eighth of a cent to fund a big portion of the remaining expenses. The CCCVB and Storey County have also pledged additional funds annually. The reconstructed railroad closely follows the original railroad right-of-way between Virginia City and Carson City. The ride incorporates the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Company’s 2.5 miles of existing track from Virginia City to the Gold Hill Depot. From there, crosses the filled-in Overman Pit and continue through American Flat, a former mining mill district, before reaching U.S. 50 near Mound House. The route crosses the highway and enters the Carson River Canyon area, where it winds along the banks of the river.
Eastgate Depot
4650 Eastgate Siding Road
Carson City, Nevada 89701
PO Box 1711
Carson City, Nevada 89702
V&T Railway Commissioners FY 2025
Chairman
David Peterson
Carson City Culture & Tourism Authority
Vice-Chairman
Clay Mitchell
Storey County
Treasurer
Leah Kruse
Virginia City Tourism Commission
Secretary
Stephanie Hicks
City of Carson City
Michelle Schmitter
Governor’s Appointee
Contracted Services
Executive Assistant
Cherrie Bailey
admin@vtrailway.com
775-303-2656
Track Services/Train Operations
Thomas Gray, Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company
thgvc@sbcglobal.net
775-847-0380
Legal Counsel
Carson City District Attorney’s Office
775-887-2072
Engineering On-Call Services
Vacant
Track Maintenance
Chris Fretter dba Battle Born Rail
Cfretter19@gmail.com
775-224-9914
To receive monthly meeting agendas of the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway call 775-686-9037.
Commission Meetings
The V&T Railway Commission typically meets the fourth Wednesday of each month, meetings are open to the public. The meetings are held at 9:00 a.m. at the Carson City Community Center in the Robert “Bob” Crowell Board Room, 851 E. William St., Carson City, NV 89701.
Unless otherwise noted, the upcoming 2024 meetings will be held on the following dates:
- January 22,2025