Dardanelle & Russellville #8. Standing guard by the entrance to the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City is a locomotive that I've seen a number of times, but never had the opportunity to photograph. This is the former Dardanelle & Russellville #8, a 4-4-0 American Standard, built by the Cooke Locomotive & Machine Co. in 1888 for the Denver, Texas & Fort Worth Railroad as their #9. After quickly changing hands a couple of times, she was sold to Arkansas' Dardanelle and Russellville Railroad in 1906, where she operated until 1940. Once retired, the locomotive was sold to 20th Century Fox for movie work. Later, she became property of Short Line Enterprises, where she ran excursions on the Sierra Railway and spent time in the famous Jamestown Roundhouse. In 1975, she even spent a season on the revived V&T Railroad, receiving the unofficial #28. Eventually, she came into possession of the Nevada State Railroad Museum, where she was used as the regular duty engine during steam weekends. In recent years, boiler issues sidelined her, and since she has no significant history in Nevada, there are currently no plans to restore her. Hopefully, someone will find a use for this engine and some "horse trading" will get her someplace where she can perhaps run again. The 4-4-0 American Standard may have built America, but there are not many of them left.
