November 13, 2006
TRAINS MAGAZINE
Carson City museum wins award
The Nevada State Railroad Museum’s car restoration project wins Trains magazine’s 2006 Preservation Award and $10,000 prize.

WAUKESHA, WI — During the last 11 years, the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, together with the support of the Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum, has spent more than 18,000 hours restoring a 96-year-old car. The group hopes to return the McKeen car to its original appearance and operating configuration by 2010, the car’s centennial.

In recognition of the effort, Trains magazine selected the project as the winner of the magazine’s annual Preservation Award and $10,000 prize.

“With the assistance of the Trains Preservation Award,” said Ronald Allen, president of the Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum, “this important piece of American railroad history will return to the rails in Nevada.”

The car, Virginia & Truckee No. 22, represents changes in thinking and in technology that occurred early in the 20th century, said Peter Barton, director of the museum. The car illustrates the shift that moved railroads from steam power to internal combustion.

“During 35 years of service, the 70-foot-long red motor car operated more than 530,000 miles on the fabled 67-mile railway,” said Allen.

Among the final steps to complete the restoration are the installation of doors, lamps, windows, and other interior fixtures. Power truck assembly, air brake piping, and additional underframe work is left to do before an exterior paint job.

The $10,000 prize resulted in the contribution of an additional $5,000 from a private donor, thus bringing the project closer to completion in terms of funding requirements.

This is the eighth annual award given by Kalmbach Publishing Co. in support of railway preservation.