As many steam enthusiasts know, the new V&T has been operating between Virginia City and Gold Hill, NV, on rebuilt track for just over 30 years. During that time, the primary power on those trips has been 2-8-0 Consolidation #29. The railroad from Virginia City to Gold Hill, and Locomotive #29 are owned by the Gray Family. About 12 years ago, a State Commission built additional track from Gold Hill all the way to Moundhouse, re-creating much of the remainder of the old Virginia City line. The state also purchased the former McCloud River Railway #18 for hauling trips between Virginia City and Moundhouse. Although the track from Gold Hill to Moundhouse is owned by the state, all trains are operated by the Gray Family.

The passing, in late 2021, of a gentleman by the name of Fred Kepner, left a large collection of unrestored steam locomotives in the hands of his estate, which is now working to find new homes for them. Several tourist railroads have expressed interested in various engines from Mr. Kepner's collection and the V&T was one of the first to actually pull the trigger on a deal. The engine you see here is a 2-8-2 Mikado type, built by Baldwin in 1926, which served a couple of lumber companies before ending up at the Santa Maria Valley Railroad on the central coast of California in 1942. There, it appears to have worked for about 20 years, before being sold to a couple of early steam tourist lines, beginning in the 1960s. In 1999, it was acquired by Mr. Kepner, who stored it in the desert-like environment of Merrill, OR until his recent death. Now in the hands of the V&T, the locomotive was recently transported by truck to Moundhouse, where it was placed on the rails and hauled by a diesel locomotive to its current resting place. A Vanderbilt-style tender was also included in the deal, and that tender was transported directly to the V&T shops in Virginia City.