The V&T Steam Line-Up. During our 2020 Lerro Productions Charter on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, we were fortunate to be able to get a quick look at both of the line's steam engines together, during a lunch break. On the left, V&T #29, a 1916 Baldwin 2-8-0, poses with the photo freight that we used during our charter. On the right, we were lucky to get a brief appearance of the former McCloud River Railroad #18, a 1914 Baldwin 2-8-2, which is just in the process of emerging from a 1,472-day boiler inspection. The crew was testing it on short runs between the yard and the depot and agreed to pose it with the 29 for this portrait. Clearly, the bigger of the two engines is the 18, with 35,700 lbs of tractive effort (vs. 29,455 lbs. for the 29). Expect to see the 18 back in full operation for the tourist season in 2020, hauling the heavy tourist trains from Eastgate in Moundhouse, to Virginia City. The 29 will handle the short, Gold Hill Trains. During key holiday periods, visitors to the V&T may occasionally see both side-by-side, as depicted here.
The operation of today's reconstructed Virginia & Truckee Railroad is just a bit complicated. The line from the Virginia City F-Street Depot down to Gold Hill is owned and operated by the Gray Family. They Gray's also own virtually all of the rolling stock, all of the diesel locomotives and Steam Locomotive #29. The Nevada State Commission for the reconstruction of the V&T owns the trackage all the way from Gold Hill down to the Eastgate Station in Moundhouse, which is the southern terminus of the line. The commission also owns the former McCloud River Railroad #18, seen here on the right. The operator for the entire railroad and all equipment is the Gray family.
