Hunting for the historic V&T Railroad in Washoe Valley

Richard Moreno
Backyard Travel
November 27, 2005, 4:01 AM

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It's hard to get away from the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. The daily newspapers are filled with stories about the progress of efforts to rebuild the historic rail line, which operated in northwestern Nevada from 1869 to 1950.

Of course, the best place to see authentic Virginia & Truckee railroad equipment is at the State Railroad Museum in Carson City. It is, however, also possible to find other remnants of the historic rail line, which once stretched between Reno and Virginia City.

For instance, at the north end of Washoe Valley you can uncover the remains of two train trestles, about 12 miles north of Carson City via Highway 395.

Unlike present-day Highway 395, which passes over a hill at the north end of Washoe Valley, the Virginia & Truckee route traveled through a narrow canyon that bridged Washoe Valley and Pleasant Valley, the next valley to the north.

The mouth of the canyon is near the original site of the community of Washoe City, of which not much remains.

About a quarter mile from Highway 395, you'll enter into the canyon and find the first trestle. The thick vertical wooden beams still span a small seasonal creek and rest upon a sandstone and slate foundation. No rails or ties remain on the trestle, but you can see that the railroad bed continues north into the canyon.

The canyon itself is intriguing. The walls are pocked and rough, like bad facial skin. Walking through the narrow passage, the only sound is the wind, which at times seems to mimic a train whistle.

Another 500 yards or so is a second trestle. This bridge is more complete than the other, boasting a handful of vertical beams and horizontal ties. Along the banks of the creek that snake down the middle of the canyon you can still make out the intricate stonework of the foundations. The bed continues through the canyon, but quickly becomes impassable. From here, however, you can discern the remnants of several other bridges located deeper into the canyon.

Scattered about the canyon are a handful of loose rail ties. After the railroad ceased operating, most of the rails were removed and sold.

In many places, the rail bed is difficult to follow because of the thick growth of sagebrush, weeds and grass.

The original V&T began carrying freight, gold and silver ore and passengers in 1869. The railroad was built to service the fabulously rich Comstock mines, taking ore to distant refineries and mills.

The V&T's route eventually stretched from Virginia City, through the winding Carson River corridor, to Carson City and north to Reno. Later, a spur line was added to Minden and Gardnerville.

By the 1870s and 1880s, the V&T became informally known as the richest railroad in the world because of the enormous mineral wealth it carried out of Virginia City.

It was also informally known as the "crookedest" railroad in the world, not because its owners were corrupt, but because of all the twists and turns it took in traveling down the hill from Virginia City, through the Carson River corridor.

By 1938, Virginia City had long ceased to produce a sufficient quantity or quality of ore and the V&T line was discontinued from Virginia City to Carson City. The tracks were removed the following year.

In 1950, the V&T made a last run from Carson City to Reno and the remaining tracks were removed.

Still, despite the neglect and ravages of time, there is something special about seeing the trestles and reliving - if only in your mind - the glory days of the railroad that was once the richest in the world.



n Richard Moreno is the author of "Backyard Travels in Northern Nevada" and "The Roadside History of Nevada," which are available at local bookstores.