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Nevada Scenic Train Rides (2024): A Complete Guide

Last revised:  October 27, 2024

By: Adam Burns

Nevada played only a minor role in railroading although it was the location of the Central Pacific's main line, which passed through its northern periphery on its way to meet Union Pacific at Promontory Summit, Utah. 

This event marked completion of America's first Transcontinental Railroad and opened the West to greater means of economic prosperity and settlement. 

Aside from Union Pacific's Los Angeles main line, which passed through the state's southeastern corner (originally known as the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad, renamed the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad after 1916) and Western Pacific's main line that paralleled CP, Nevada enjoyed only marginal rail service. 

It is perhaps best known for several 3-foot, narrow-gauge systems which sprang up during the 1880s' mining boom.  Today, a few organizations within the Silver State keep alive its rail history, some of which even offer rides.  

The recently restored, and venerable, Virginia & Truckee Railway is the most widely revered; its history dates back to the 19th century hauling vast quantities of silver.

The V&T has only been a tourist operation since the 2000's when a section of its original right-of-way was restored between Carson City and Virginia City.

Similarly, the Nevada Northern Railway, and accompanying museum, preserves the history of a railroad once important to the Ely area.  

Please note!  The guide information here pertains only to Nevada scenic train rides related to vacation and tourism destinations.  If you are interested in intercity/long distance rail travel please visit Amtrak's website.

Virginia & Truckee 2-8-0 #29 climbs the grade near Milepost 13 outside of American Flat, Nevada on August 29, 2009. Drew Jacksich photo.

State Rail History

Nevada's rail history begins with the Transcontinental Railroad.  This project, in many ways, carried not only great hardship but was also a political firestorm, twisted with greed and selfishness. 

The Central Pacific Railroad of California (CP), born on June 28, 1861, was tasked with building the western leg after the Pacific Railroad Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on July 1, 1862. 

However, the man who originally envisioned the CP, engineer Theodore D. Judah, was ultimately pushed out of of the way by those with greater financial means; namely the "Big Four" (Charles Crocker, Collis P. Huntington, Mark Hopkins, and Leland Stanford). 

The Central Pacific held a brief groundbreaking ceremony in downtown Sacramento, California on January 8, 1863 with an initial task of bridging the American River a few miles to the west. 

On October 26, 1863 the first rails were spiked down and soon, tracks reached nearby 21st Street. 

Just a few weeks later, on November 10th, the company's first locomotive, the 46-ton, 4-4-0 Governor Stanford (an 1862 product of the Norris Locomotive Works, this machine is preserved today at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento), made its first run over this stretch, which drew great fanfare.

After considerable effort to carve a right-of-way out of the granite walls that were the Sierra-Nevada Mountains, Central Pacific reached Reno, Nevada on June 18, 1868. 

Less than a year later, the railroad held the now iconic meeting with Union Pacific at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869. 

As previously mentioned, aside from standard-gauge railroads numerous 3-footers were built to serve the state's once lucrative silver mining industry thanks to the famed Comstock Lode of 1859 (the first discovery of silver America). 

In his book, "American Narrow Gauge Railroads," Dr. George Hilton notes the following railroads were built:

• Austin City Railway


• Battle Mountain & Lewis Railway


• Bodie & Benton Railway


• Carson & Colorado


• Death Valley Railroad


• Eureka & Palisade


• Nevada-California-Oregon Railway


• Nevada Central Railway


• Nevada Short Line Railway,


• Pioche & Bullionville


• Pioche Pacific Transportation Company


• Ruby Hill Railroad


• Tonopah Railroad


• Virginia & Truckee

Overview

If you are interested in steam, you can catch restored examples at the V&T and the Nevada Northern Railway.

Finally, there is the Nevada Southern which has a nice little operation near Boulder City and very reasonably priced with special events hosted at different times of the year.  

Nevada State Railroad Museum

The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City preserves and showcases the rich history of railroading in Nevada. Established to celebrate the vital role of railroads in the state’s development, the museum features an impressive collection of historic locomotives, rolling stock, and railroad artifacts.

Highlights include the Virginia and Truckee Railroad’s iconic No. 22 "Inyo" and the unique McKeen Motor Car. Visitors can enjoy seasonal train rides, engaging exhibits, and special events.

The museum offers a comprehensive, immersive experience that educates and entertains, making it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and families alike.

Nevada Northern Railway/Nevada State Railroad Museum - Carson City

The Nevada Northern Railway looks to generally preserve the history of the state's once profitable copper industry.

The railroad has been in operation (albeit not continuously) since 1905.  Unfortunately, freight operations have not been performed since 1986 when the Kennecott Minerals Company turned over much of the property to the White Pine Historical Railroad. 

Today, the railroad is operated as part of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. They offer several different special train rides including BBQ Trains, wine trains, charters, the Chocolate Express, and holiday specials.

Also, between the Nevada Northern and the museum they have nine steam locomotives on-hand, five of which are operational (and two of those are original Nevada Northern locomotives).  

Finally, be sure to check out their many pieces of rolling stock and locomotives on display, including several steam locomotives.

Nevada Southern Railway/Nevada State Railroad Museum - Boulder City

The Nevada Southern Railway is based in Boulder City, Nevada in the southern region of the state.

It operates on trackage once owned by a railroad known by the same name, a government-sponsored operation which helped construct the Hoover Dam.

Today the railroad offers a number of special rides and events throughout the year and their coaches are fully climate controlled. 

The organization also houses a collection of rolling stock and locomotives, including three steam locomotives (all of which sit on display).  These include:

• Eureka-Nevada Railway (Eureka & Palisade) 2-8-0 #12 (a 36-inch gauge steamer built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1896)


• Union Pacific 2-8-0 #6264 (a Class C-2 "Consolidation Type" built by Baldwin in 1907)


• Pacific Lumber Company 2-8-2 #35 (built by Baldwin in 1923)

While on the grounds also be sure and visit the Nevada State Railroad Museum's even more impressive steam collection, which currently includes six examples, three of which are operational.

Virginia & Truckee Railway

The Virginia and Truckee Railway began with its 1869 chartering to provide transportation services to the Reno and Carson City areas.

While the V&T provided a means of moving vast quantities of silver ore it also offered a way to ship in lumber, men, and other materials needed to extract this product.

As mining dried up and with little other traffic available, the railroad ceased to exist by 1950.

It gained a new purpose soon after its closing as a backdrop for countless Hollywood western films, and it was then the railroad earned its popularity.

However, this too played out by the 1960s at which point most of the rails were taken up.

They began to be re-laid by the 1970s although the railroad's true rebirth began during the early 1990s when a major push was undertaken to rebuild the line as a tourist attraction.

Today, about 15 miles are operable although rebuilding of the route is not yet complete along with additional restorations of locomotives and equipment.