Nevada State Railroad Museum

Nevada State Railroad Museum
The entrance to the main building
Overview
HeadquartersCarson City, Nevada
Reporting markNSRM
LocaleCarson City, Nevada
Dates of operation1980 (1980)–present
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length4.8 mi (7.7 km)

The Nevada State Railroad Museum, located in Carson City, Nevada, preserves the railroad heritage of Nevada, including locomotives and cars of the famous Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Much of the museum equipment was obtained from various Hollywood studios, where they were used in movies and television. The museum is operated by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. Opened in 1980, it was originally named the Virginia & Truckee Railroad Museum, often shortened to V&T Railroad Museum, but was renamed the Nevada State Railroad Museum in 1985.[1]

Virginia & Truckee RR 18, the "Dayton," in its 20th-century configuration (e.g., straight stack, round headlight, etc.), before restoration.
Virginia & Truckee 18, the "Dayton," (which was built in 1873) after its restoration, which incorporated many of its 1800s design features.
The museum collection includes a variety of local historic passenger and freight equipment
A tourist train operating at the museum

Museum activities consist of operation of historic 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge and 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad equipment, including train rides, handcar rides, lectures, an annual railroad history symposium, changing exhibits, and a variety of special events. The Museum also has an ongoing research and restoration program. The museum's current exhibit commemorates the 150th anniversary of the completion of the First transcontinental railroad, featuring V&T Coach No. 17, which was originally built for the Central Pacific Railroad and had carried Leland Stanford to the Golden spike ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah. The Wabuska Depot, a historic station from Wabuska, Nevada was relocated to the museum grounds. The building is still used as a working railroad station where tickets for the museum train rides are purchased.

  1. ^ "Preservation [regular news column]: Name Change for V&T Museum". Pacific RailNews. October 1985. p. 31. ISSN 8750-8486.