Virginia and Truckee Railroad steams full speed ahead into summer season
The Virginia & Truckee Railroad begins its ninth season as a major visitor attraction and local’s favorite Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-28, with round trip steam trains plying the 16-mile route between Carson City and Virginia City.
Authentic steam engines over 100 years-old hauling restored Pullman passenger cars will chug, rumble, rock and roll along the original Comstock Lode ribbon of rails made famous from the storied silver boomtown days of the 1850s and '60s.
Opening weekend celebrations begin early with live music, mimosas and free face painting before 10 a.m. departures on Saturday and Sunday from the Carson City Eastgate Depot. The V&T appeals to all ages and interests as an enjoyable family outing and an authentic reflection of the rough and tumble wild west history of the area.
Passengers can take in the beauty of the Carson River and Sierra Nevada, through high desert terrain and two tunnels, past deserted mines and regular glimpses of roaming mustangs, all before disembarking to the streets and wooden sidewalks of Virginia City. Beware of gun slingers, a local miner tugging a stubborn mule through the streets, and a blend of antique shops, bars and restaurants that highlight a town full of residents and characters who embrace their western heritage.
Sights include Historic Piper’s Opera House where Lilly Langtry and John Philip Souza performed, the old Silver Terrace and Gold Hill cemeteries with headstone inscriptions like, “I told you I was sick,” and the Fourth Ward Estate School, where wealthy silver barons and the upper crust brought in leading educators to instruct their children. The Territorial Enterprise still stands, albeit not quite plumb, an ironic reflection of its reputation – its dusty shelves of newspapers honoring a young journalist named Samuel Clemens who plied the streets and backrooms before being run out of town telling tall tales along his metamorphic journey to becoming Mark Twain.
Visitors have approximately four hours to sample the iconic, history-drenched stop before the return trip to Carson City at 3 p.m. The cadence of steam building in the boiler of the powerful engine – a 1916 Baldwin Consolidation 2-8-0 (wheel configuration), the air-piercing cut of the whistle, the rising smoke from the stack and rush of emitting steam from the slide valves surrounding the engine signal riders of the imminent return.
From Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 15 the V&T will ply the tracks into history, discovery and pleasure. Trains depart Carson City to Virginia City on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. Tickets are $52 per adult, $48 for veterans and seniors 65-plus, $32 for children ages 3 to 16 and toddlers and infants are free.
The Memorial Day weekend introduces a season of diverse themed train rides: the Wild West Wine Run, June 10; Dinner & Melodrama, July 15 and Aug. 12; the Dinner & Murder Mystery, Sept. 9 and Oct. 7; Toast of the Canyon, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26, Sept. 23 and Oct. 14.
With the new season are new opportunities for tickets savings aboard the V&T Railroad. Designed for the young and the young-at-heart, the 2-2 Family Pack includes two children’s tickets and any combination of adult or senior/veteran passes. Passengers save up to 20 percent when purchasing a V&T Family Pack. (http://bit.ly/VT17Family)
The V&T has also expanded its group and special events offerings for weddings, fundraisers, corporate events and reunions. Groups of 10-20 passengers who ride the steam engine train on Friday through Sunday receive 10 percent off, and 25 percent off for groups of 20 passengers or more. A historic Victorian parlor car hosting up to 30 guests is available for larger events, while the entire train is accessible for large events. Group discounts are available through a reservations agent. (http://bit.ly/VT17Groups)
The Carson City passenger station is at Eastgate Siding on Flint Drive off U.S. Highway 50 East, four miles east of downtown and has a gift shop with various V&T souvenirs to keep the memories rolling.
For the latest train updates or to purchase tickets visit www.vtrailway.com or call (877) 724-5007.
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