Today, Monday, July 4 is the final day for steam train enthusiasts and families to see and experience several historic “iron horse” locomotives together in one place at the Great Western Steam Up at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.
The four-day event began Friday with plenty of enthusiasm that carried into the weekend. For the final day, participants can ride behind visiting narrow and standard gauge steam locomotives, watch the daily pageant of steam locomotives, view historical vehicle and equipment displays, enjoy local food trucks and children’s activities, listen to live entertainment, interact with handcraft vendors, and more.
The event celebrates the 150th anniversary of the completion of the rail line that connected Virginia City and San Francisco for passenger service via the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. It includes an unprecedented “reunion” of V&T locomotives from the heyday of the railroad, nicknamed the Queen of the Short Lines.
View the largest reunion of existing Virginia & Truckee locomotives assembled in over 75 years, including the famous Reno, No. 11.
Operating steam locomotives representing six historic Nevada railroads, including:
— Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge No. 18, the “Slim Princess”
— Eureka & Palisade No. 4, Eureka
— Santa Cruz Portland Cement No 2, the Chiggen
— Bluestone Mining & Smelting Heisler No. 1
— Nevada County Narrow Gauge No. 5 (formerly Tahoe)Carson & Tahoe
— Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Co., Glenbrook
— Virginia & Truckee No. 22, Inyo
— Virginia & Truckee No. 25
— Cortez Mining Co. Anne Marie
Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. For tickets visit: https://greatwesternsteamup.com. The railroad museum is located at 2180 S Carson St, Carson City.
