A Carson City Classic: Historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad Tickets Now On Sale
Submitted by editor on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 4:11pm
The 2010 season for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad is rolling down the tracks toward its May 27 opening, with online tickets available now at www.VisitCarsonCity.com.
Round trip and one-way rides between Carson City and Virginia City will run every Thursday – Sunday through October 31. With last summer’s inaugural season a complete sell-out, getting “all aboard” now preserves a window to Old West history.
The V&T Railroad’s newly restored 16 miles of track re-opened last August after 70 years. The 75-minute rides include scenic vistas of the Carson River and majestic Sierra Nevada, and passes through two tunnels and by abandoned mine shafts, old cemeteries, and offers occasional sightings of wild mustangs. The V&T travels the same silver path paved by the excesses of the Virginia City mines of the infamous 1860s Comstock silver boom.
For tickets, click over to www.VisitCarsonCity.com or call 800-NEVADA-1. A variety of ticket options and packages with lodging and dining are also available for riders:
— Round-trip steam trains operate every Saturday and Sunday with tickets $48 per adult, $40 for seniors 65 and better, $36 for children 12 and under.
— One-way steam train rides on Saturdays and Sundays are $29 per adult, $25 for senior, $20 for children.
— Round-trip tickets on V&T diesel trains operating Thursdays and Fridays are $29 for adults, $25 seniors and $20 for children.
— One-way diesel trains running Thursdays and Fridays are $17, $15 seniors and $12 for children.
The rumble of wheels – the melodic tempo of a train rolling down the track, the steam whistle cutting through the air – all signal the past highballing into the present for a project 17 years in the making.
In addition to the V&T’s Carson City-Virginia City 16-mile excursion, known as the “Sisters in History” route, the V&T also offers its popular 4-mile, 35-minute loop through Virginia City and Gold Hill, or the “Historic Route.” Here the V&T has run since 1972 under the ownership of the Gray family who have preserved the railway’s heritage. Only with their help has the reconstruction project between Virginia City and Carson City become a reality for future generations. For “Historic Route” schedule and ticket prices: www.VirginiaTruckee.com.
The weekend trains feature a 1916 Baldwin consolidation 2-8-0 steam engine pulling two 1914 Pullman cars displaying the distinctive yellow and green of the V&T. Private group discounted charters for 20 or more passengers are also available to organizations or businesses. Email cccvb@visitcarsoncity.com or call 1-800-NEVADA-1 for details.
“A ride on the V&T Railroad offers a glimpse step back in time to experience the area’s heritage,” said Candace Duncan, executive director at the Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s a great value for an all-day activity, with plenty of dining, shopping, lodging and other attractions to explore nearby.”
The Carson City station at Eastgate Siding on Flint Drive off U.S. Highway 50 East, also has a gift shop operated by the V&T Steam Train Foundation with various V&T souvenirs to keep the memories rolling.
For more information on the “Sisters in History” route between Carson City and Virginia City, click over to www.VisitCarsonCity.com and for details on the historic route between Virginia City and Gold Hill, visit www.VirginiaTruckee.com (775) 847-0380.
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