Steamscape: Gold Hill, Nevada. Here's a 2012 look at the historic mining town of Gold Hill, Nevada. Located barely a mile south of Virginia City, this town was a mecca of mining and mineral processing back in the late 1800s. Back in the day, the sandy hillsides seen here were literally covered with wooden buildings and other structures. When the mining business died in the early 1900s however, so did Gold Hill. Most of the historic town has long since been removed. One aspect of Gold Hill that has been restored however, is the yard and depot of the famous Virginia & Truckee Railway. The historic depot building is the red structure on the left side of the photo. In the foreground, you can see the new V&T's hourly Gold Hill Train in the yard, preparing to head back north to Virginia City, behind Locomotive #29. If you follow the tracks around the depot building, you'll see where they cross Main St. and head up the hill toward the right side of the photo. On the upper right, the bright rocky area is the remains of the V&T Tunnel #3, which is now collapsed. The current route of the new V&T bypasses this tunnel along the hillside. The grey-colored steam engine that can be seen near the depot building is Feather River Short Line #8. She's owned by the Gold Hill Historical Society, which also maintains the depot building. Although she is stored operable, she is not currently part of the new V&T operation.
