A couple of years ago, the wife and I rode the reincarnated V&T from the East Gate station outside of Carson City, Nevada on up to Virginia City. Terrific ride. I just recently read that the V&T now also runs one hour Carson River Canyon trips departing East Gate station in the other direction. This apparently is on the old V&T right of way that heads back toward its original depot in Carson City itself. Somehow I missed the fact that this track had been put down and was now in operation. A couple of questions:

1. When was the operation started over this Canyon line?

2. Does this line use the old V&T r-o-w 100% of the way?

3. Does the V&T intend to build still further on this track toward Carson City itself?

I looked for an announcement here on RyPN about this new operation but couldn't find anything. My apologies if this has previously been mentioned.

Thanks.


Les

1. When was the operation started over this Canyon line?

Technically, this is "Phase 3A" of the V&T rebuild project. The trackage extends 1.1 miles from the Eastgate terminal down to Eureka siding. Building phase 3A was one of the "shovel-ready" projects financed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and it got kicked around in a lot of conservative circles as an example of the alleged wasteful spending contained in the stimulus program. Construction on this line wrapped up in November 2009, and the railroad started running trains down over it the following year. To date the only trains I know of that have operated over this trackage are called the "Toast of the Canyon" trains, and they feature wine tasting and other light refreshment.

2. Does this line use the old V&T r-o-w 100% of the way?

Not quite. Commercial development has obliterated the original V&T grade through Mound House, and the rebuilt V&T operates on a bypass built around the west side of the town. A little less than a half mile of the first part of Phase 3A is on the new grade. The rest is on the original V&T right-of-way.

3. Does the V&T intend to build still further on this track toward Carson City itself?

Yes. As currently planned, Phases 3B and 3C of the project will carry the line down through the canyon to the very eastern edge of Carson City. All but the last parts of these phases will be on the original V&T grade. The rebuild will leave the grade near the bottom of the canyon, where it will climb out of the canyon. Phase 4 is adjacent to Drako Way, where the V&T will build its permanent terminal facilities, replacing the interim facilities at Eastgate. The problem, a common one, is money- last I checked, the public commission behind the rebuilt project needs something like $30 million dollars to complete phases 3B, 3C, and 4. They don't have that, and in all reality aren't likely to get it in the near future, meaning that the V&T rebuild probably won't expand much beyond what it now is for a while.

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

Jeff -

Thanks for the terrific explanation.


Les

I recall reading an excellent explanation of all the expansion and right of way issues etc. There were some great maps too, and good photos.

I think it may have been in the NRHS Bulletin a year or so ago, can anyone confirm that?

Bob-

Matter of fact, you're thinking of an article Joel Jensen and I put together that did indeed appear in the Fall 2012 issue of the NRHS Bulletin. (Despite being the Fall 2012 issue, they ran into a lot of production and scheduling problems that caused the issue to actually be published around April or May of this year). I wrote the text and did the base map, and the photography work was all Joel's.

Thanks for the compliment...

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV