The V&T Leaves Virginia City. When the last passenger train from the legendary Virginia & Truckee Railway pulled out of Virginia City back in 1938, almost no one, including noted railroad author, Lucius Beebe, thought it would ever return. Almost no one that is, except Bob Gray. He was there that day, and the events clearly made an impression. Twenty seven years later he was back, surveying property titles and looking to purchase some of the old right of way. Within 10 years, he was putting the track back and purchasing motive power and rolling stock. By the mid-1970s, he had opened a tourist railroad on a short stretch of track from Virginia City to Gold Hill. This operation ran for 15 years before civic leaders got the idea that rebuilding the line all the way back to Carson City might be really good for tourism in the region. It took years of work to convince the right people and get appropriate legislation passed, but in the last several years, the State of Nevada has done just that. Today, the tracks run all the way from Virginia City to Mound House, a few miles northeast of the State Capitol....and construction continues. From Friday through Monday, folks can now ride the train from Mound House to Virginia City, and after a layover of several hours, return from whence they came. The train has become very popular, and the entire 3-car consist usually sells out in advance. Pictured here is a sunrise deadhead operation, heading out of Virginia City toward Mound House to pick up a capacity crowd. The power today is the former McCloud River Railroad's Mikado #18. Owned by the new V&T Railroad Commission, she is the largest of the line's two steam engines and has only recently begun running on the line. As you can see, she still carries the MCR livery. As of the date of this photo, it is still undecided when or if she'll be renumbered for the V&T.
