The History of the V&T Railway
150 Years of Adventure & Innovation
Forged in the heat of Nevada’s silver boom, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad Co. began operations in 1869 as the link between the Comstock Lode mines and the outside world. Known as the “Queen of the Short Lines,” these trains carried ore, freight, and passengers — everything a growing frontier town needed.
When the last original train rolled in 1950, these rails could have fallen silent forever. But they didn’t. Thanks to decades of tireless work by train enthusiasts, state agencies, historians, and community members, V&T Railway was brought back to life piece by piece. Locomotives were restored, track was rebuilt, and history was preserved in the hopes coming generations would continue to create stories that stood the test of time.
Our Current Fleet
Experience the charm of 19th-century rail travel. Each locomotive and car in service today has been painstakingly preserved or restored, many with the help of passionate volunteers and rail preservation groups. Here are some in our fleet:
- 1914 Mikado 2-8-2 steam locomotive
- 1916 Baldwin 2-8-0 steam locomotive
- An ex-US Army GE 80-ton diesel engine
- 1914 Pullman coach
- 1904 Bangor and Aroostook wooden-sided private car, the Ardelle Mae
More Beyond the Tracks
Just minutes from V&T Railway’s depot in Carson City, the Nevada State Railroad Museum is where the golden age of rail lives on. Its halls are filled with locomotives and cars that have been lovingly preserved, vintage rolling stock, and fascinating artifacts. This treasure trove celebrates the railroads that shaped the West.
It’s as much a destination for the rail enthusiast as it is a memory-maker for the whole family.
Ride the Legendary Rails
From vintage locomotives to sweeping Nevada vistas, experience history in motion. Step aboard and write your own chapter on the legendary V&T Railway.
