Virginia and Truckee Railroad -- Steam's Back Part 5

[pwalpar]

Nice presentation

[virginiatruckee]

Sorry I haven't posted new videos for awhile. I've been busy and RR video has been waaayyy on the backburner. If some troll posts nasty comments I apologize if I don't delete them quickly.

Jim

[09jrasner703]

I've been riding that steamer since I was 18 months old and it's great to see her back on the line!

[Engineer5344]

i agree, the grays should be entitled to the last bit of track into carson city.

[pieman97405]

The Grays should be the ones running it, they own the real V&T, not the Sierra, they should stay on there own tracks!

[virginiatruckee]

Amen, ditto, etc!

[pieman97405]

Well the project is running out of money, so the Grays might get it. Even though it's not the best way for them to get it, I hope they do.

[SierraRailway]

I believe the Sierra RR has other matters to attend to. I don't think they're really operating the line. Indeed the Grays should be running THEIR line. The Sierra Railroad has no extra money for something like this anyway. Where ever did you get the idea that the Sierra was running the line?

[pieman97405]

Long time back on the V&T yahoo group is where I read that.

[michaelmohrmann]

Parts 1 through 5 were absolutely wonderful, thanks for posting them.

[railroadfan]

A very nice series, Jim -- thanks for posting. Glad to see someone is keeping the spirit of the ol' V&T alive on Youtube. I have always wanted to get out there and visit this operation, hopefully sometime in the near future.

Quick question, why are the trains being backed down to Gold Hill? Didn't they used to run the locomotive in reverse, then run-around to the other side for the return trip?

[virginiatruckee]

Thanks for the kinds words. Re: your question, I don't know why they made the change, except to save time on a tight schedule with several trains a day.

IHMO, pulling the train is never a good idea with steam. They should always be pushing the cars so that the passengers don't get covered with smoke and spa-like steam through tunnel 4. With the arrival of closed cars this will be less of a problem.

[pieman97405]

I have posted this before, but I would love to go across the V&T when it is finished on an old style pump car... but who wouldn't?

[virginiatruckee]

I assume you mean a hand-car when you say pump-style car? That would be cool, also, seeing a speeder car group run on the V&T would be fun.

[CoastStarlight11]

Very hard core!

[pieman97405]

Well, the 1251 is suposed to become a 2-6-0 at some point and have her number changed to thirty... but that is a long way off.

[Inuyasha4lif]

Nice to see ol 29 back in action,But this makes me wounder why dint he use tyhe other two Steam Locomotives he got,and He really even hasent even worke don them or used them,

[virginiatruckee]

Well, the #8 up there is not the Gray's locomotive, it's a very long story but it's owned by John Tyson's Feather Rail group (not the FRRS from Portola.)

Which other locomotive do you mean, the 1251 out back is VERY far away from ever running again.

Jim

[Inuyasha4lif]

Oh maby thats was the old rusted locmotive i saw ther oh wish it did run,All Steamers even ones wich are beyond restoration i wish one day would be steamed up

[pieman97405]

Well, I think if the state of Nevada buys out the Grays equipment, the #29 will stay on as a steam up locomotive. The rest of the rolling stock however (minus the other two locomotives) will most likely be sold off to private partys, but only time will tell.

[virginiatruckee]

I agree that the Grays current passenger cars won't fly on the new railroad. However the Grays also have the "plush pink" parlor car, currently parked in front of their depot. Also as we speak Tom Gray is in Wisconsin picking up two new passenger cars with heat and bathrooms. They will be called the 'Virginia City' and the 'Gold Hill.' They should be trucked up the hill in about a week or so, I really hope to get video of this!

[Miserlou57]

Jim,

Thanks for the great video! These have been the best source of news regarding the resurrection of #29 and of the progress of the reconstruction. While the Gray's operations won't be part of the final incarnation, exactly how is the state going to consentually acquire the land from them? Do you have any idea what is to become of the Gray's equipment?

[virginiatruckee]

Good questions, my understanding is that the state right now is doing an appraisal of the Grays property. I doubt the state will offer the Grays what it's worth. Consider that the state spent many millions on the tunnel in American Flat, the Gray's railroad comes with a tunnel, but the total price offer to the Grays is rumored to be less than 2 million.

Can anyone say eminent domain? That will go over REAL WELL here in Nevada