Headquartered at Carson City, a massive complex of railroad shops were erected under the direction of Abraham Curry in 1870. The shops were proclaimed by the Central Pacific to be equal to or better than their great locomotive and car building facilities at Sacramento. From these shops poured nearly every conceivable type of essential machinery for communities throughout Nevada, Eastern California, and even Mexico. For decades the Virginia & Truckee was hailed as the wealthiest short line railroad in the world!

The name “Virginia & Truckee” is recognized the world over: V&T locomotives and cars have appeared in scores of feature-length motion pictures and the historic equipment is preserved and exhibited in museums in Nevada, California, and as far away as Strasburg, Penn. The V&T enjoys an international constituency.

Today visitors to Virginia City can enjoy the "short line" Historic Route (approx. 35 minutes round-trip) of the original track, or opt for the longer 16-mile Sisters in History route (approx. 90 minutes each way). Tickets for the longer route can be purchased as one-way or round-trip. The Historic Route is great for families visiting Virginia City and requires no reservations. It runs seven times a day May through October and uses either steam or diesel engines.

The Sisters in History route also runs May through October with a diesel engine on Fridays and steam engine on weekends. Round-trip rides depart from Carson City, and one-way trips are from Virginia City in the morning and Carson City in the afternoon. Check the website for specific times. The longer route cuts through rugged terrain where wild horses often roam. Keep your eyes open and cameras ready for wildlife!

Time Period Represented: 1870-1950

Hours Open: Varies

Visitor Fees: Historic Route: $9-$10 for adults, $5 for children 5-12 years old, free for children under 5. Sisters in History route: $12-$48 depending on age, type of engine and roundtrip or one-way

Seasons Open: Late May through October