Just in case ya didn't already know...

The Virginia and Truckee Railroad of Virginia City (private co) is under contract to the Carson City Convention and Visitor's Bureau to run steam specials from far-far-East Carson City to Virginia City and back. The first public runs are Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 2009.

Adult tickets are (gasp) $48 round trip, kids $36 and seniors $40. These first two runs are probably sold out by the time you are reading this. This does not include the Carson River Canyon, which is not yet built. There's a map of reconstruction at http://tr.im/u8KI

Tickets are available at visitcarsoncity.com. To get to the station, take Hwy 50 East out of Carson, just before the hill up to Mound House take a right on Flint Drive, then go left on Eastgate Siding Road and you will reach the "temporary" station at Eastgate Siding (formerly known as dump road, for the locals).

Then, every Saturday through Nevada Day (end of October) there will be a Saturday run. On some runs it's possible to buy a ticket on the deadhead runs from VC to CC in the morning and from CC to VC at the end of the day.

Just a couple numbers, the CCCVB is spending about $75K to sponsor these runs, including $25,000 for a VIP party for politicians on Friday August 14, which includes a round trip. So if you are a VIP, be sure to get in on the brass band and free booze!

Since the max revenue per train is less than the cost per run, they will not be making a profit.

See you there.