The Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company has offered steam tourist train rides since 1976. Based in Virginia City, the railroad offers three scenic railway routes through Nevada’s gold country: the Virginia City-Gold Hill Route, the Carson City-Virginia City Route, and the Carson Canyon Route. Each of these spectacular tours provides not only a glimpse into the Silver State’s storied gold rush history but is also chock-full of panoramic views as train tracks wind through the picturesque landscape. Take a look at these amazing scenic railway routes.
The V&T Railway offers three scenic railroad tours through Nevada’s historic gold country. Covering Virginia City to Gold Hill to Carson City to Carson Canyon, riders will enjoy the breathtaking beauty of northern Nevada while being immersed in Nevada’s colorful mining history.
V&T Railway
First, the Virginia City-Gold Hill historic route is a fully-narrated four-mile scenic trek that leaves from the original V&T 1870 Depot en route to Gold Hill.
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company/Facebook
Passengers will pass by several Comstock mines and mills including the Hale & Norcross, Savage, Potosi, Chollar, Julia, Yellow Jacket, Crown Point, Ward Bullion, and Virginia City’s combination shaft (pictured.)
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company/Facebook
This train passes through the historic 566-foot long Tunnel #2 (also known as the Yellow Jacket Tunnel, so named for a nearby mine.) This tunnel is the last before Virginia City.
May A./Yelp
The tour ends in Gold Hill where the Comstock gold rush began. This town is steeped in mining history and is the home of the haunted Gold Hill Hotel and Saloon.
Kelly O./Yelp
Next, the Carson City-Virginia City “Sisters in History” Route is a fully narrated, scenic 24-mile round-trip tour through the Virginia Range.
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company/Facebook
The tour begins in historic Carson City as the train departs for the scenic trip to equally historic Virginia City.
Virginia & Truckee Railway Company/Facebook
Wild mustang sightings are quite common along this route.
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company/Facebook
This particular route passes by American Flat. The once bustling mining town and sprawling cyanide mill is now Nevada’s abandoned yet singular canvas for graffiti.
Jillian Northrup/Flickr
The train passes through Gold Hill en route to Virginia City. Here, the Gold Hill Cemetery.
Nick Ares/Flickr
The track chugs by the scales and water stop where over 260,000 tons of ore were weighed, by the 120-foot deep Overman Open Mining Pit, and through Tunnel #4 into Virginia City.
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company/Facebook
The final 45-minute tour leaves Carson City and winds through the Carson Canyon.
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company/Facebook
This ride offers spectacularly scenic views of the Carson Canyon and Carson River.
Reno Tahoe Territory/Flickr
These scenic railway routes should be atop any history buff’s bucket list. Additionally, the V&T Railway offers specialty train rides like the Christmas-themed Polar Express, the Toast of the Canyon Wine Tasting Train, and the highly entertaining Dinner and Melodrama Train. For more information on any of V&T’s scenic railway routes or specialty rides, please call (775) 847-0380.
V&T Railway
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company/Facebook
May A./Yelp
Kelly O./Yelp
Virginia & Truckee Railway Company/Facebook
Jillian Northrup/Flickr
Nick Ares/Flickr
Reno Tahoe Territory/Flickr
Have you taken any of these amazing and historic scenic railway routes through Nevada’s gold country? Please share your thoughts and experiences below.
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