V&T Railroad progress  09-01-08

This is a view of the V&T Railroad from Mound House.  Train is actually running on the newly laid rail for first time.  
Locomotives can now travel a route from Virginia City, past Gold Hill and continue the downward grade into Mound House.
Plans are to have the V&T operate from Virginia City to Carson City by 2010.  


    First inaugural steam run of approx. 14 miles with the new V & T line.  Locomotive is traveling southbound (backwards) across the new
Hwy 50 bridge crossing.  Photo taken 8-12-09  at approx. 8:45 PM.   Sorry about the photo quality, just not much daylight left for a cheap digital camera.

    Only a few people knew about this surprise run from Virginia City down to East Gate.   At East Gate switching yard, Locomotive fills up with water, then changes to a forward position pulling the V&T coaches.   The locomotive is #29  2-8-0 wheel arrangement.

    The official Grand opening for the V&T is planned for Aug. 14th.  

Just some fun railroad  information to share with you.

More photos of various spots along the V&T Railroad.  

       
                                                V&T railroad grade climb after crossing Hwy 50 bridge.   Distant backdrop are the Sierra mountains (Lake Tahoe). 

       
Climbing the grade out of Mound house just above the Race track.                                     Very long distance view of first tunnel after looping around the Mound house grade.

       
Close up of tunnel same one that was in the long shot view.  Marker #15                                          Inside shot of the V&T tunnel construction.

   
View of standing at tunnel looking across valley.  Barely see the grade cuts for track.     View from tunnel showing the mining operations in valley.  Some are still in use.  
             
                                                                              
                                         These three photos are showing the grade climb around the back side of the mining operations heading towards Gold hill.

     
     One of the sidings is located about a 2 miles after the #15 marker.                           After the siding, the track continues just along the backside of the mining operations.

 
#18 V&T on its return trip heading to Virginia City from Carson City.  


Large photo of the #18 V&T just after leaving the bride across Hwy 50 and starting the grade into Mound House.


Engineer saw me with the camera, let off the throttle and slowed down for the photo.   (notice that there is no smoke from stack)


The locomotive is climbing a steep grade heading to Gold Hill Station.  


When the loco rounds the bend, it is then starting across the Oberlin Mining Pit.


The #18 was the same locomotive used in the 1973 Movie 'Emperor of the North' with actors Lee Marvin and Earnest Borgnine.
This locomotive has a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement.  You may build this Steam locomotive in 1 1/2" scale using the Railroad Warehouse 90 Ton Mikado kit.


Gold Hill Station is next visit and the beginning Virginia City is at the top of hill in background


For safety reasons, two speeder cars are chasers that follow the loco.  They might be for firewatch and assist in derailments.


Along the V&T route you may see Wild Horses.


When exploring the V&T mining district, always be carefull of abandoned Mine shafts or Mine shaft air vents.


This is a revised survey map of the V&T railroad  from 1916 and dates back to 1865.   Shows some mining claims, track routes, railroad yard, whistle markers and the structures in Mound House, Lyon County, Nevada.   Neat little map of history.
If you would like the full size 5 ft long copy, I sell them for $25.00 each + shipping.   Just email or call to place order (775) 246 4185.  



This is a survey map of the V&T railroad route.  Scale is 1" = 1 Mile.  Shows track routes, wagon routes, lakes, streams, and names of important loctations.   Neat little map of history.
If you would like the full size 33" L x 21" W copy, I sell them for $25.00 each + shipping.  The full size map has more detail than the compressed image on website.  Just email or call to place order (775) 246 4185.  



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