Courtesy of Charles Lynch Collection/Carson City Historical Society Locomotive number 80 sits in the Virginia City depot in the early 1900s. The locomotive is the same one the Nevada Railroad Museum has on display in the new Virginia City facility.
The beginning of the railroad in Carson City was the time that everyone had waited for. It meant freedom to travel within the state, and across the United States. Our community was excited and businesses could work quickly in transporting needed goods, hauling ore, wood and supplies for the Comstock.
The V&T right-of-way had been graded by February of 1869 and so by Sept. 28, 1869, it was ready for the rail. On Sept. 28, 1869, the Carson Daily Appeal reported on the laying of the first rail:
This morning at 7 o'clock, the first rail of the Virginia and Carson Railway will be laid. This commencement of the actual construction of the iron road will take place on that part of the grade, near the Mint, where the company's first locomotive is standing. We suggested to Superintendent Yerington that 7 o'clock was a pretty early hour for this important ceremony, but he seems to think that business comes before pleasure and that it won't pay to keep the rail layers idle to suit the convenience of a later rising public. So be on hand early, all ye who want to see this part of the performance.
To those in the once quiet Carson City, it must have been a strange sight, but nonetheless, very exciting. On Sept. 30, 1869, the Appeal reported with pride that it seemed the locomotive had always belonged here:
The Steam Horse goes snorting over the track, up and down, past the Mint and out toward the sagebrush, just as naturally as if he were here when the Washoes first camped in this valley. It looks a good deal like earnest to see the locomotive puffing along through the town. Must be now that the kingdom's coming.
Once the V&T was started, there was continuous progress with Superintendent Yerington in charge. On Oct. 24, 1869, the progress of the track was noted:
The progress of our railroad - There have been twelve miles of track laid on the V. & T. R.R., including the two miles from Carson Street up to the end of the tie and wood sluice. This is about half the length of the entire road. Superintendent Yerington expects to lay, tomorrow, the mile and a half of track. This will take the work some distance beyond the Mound House. He also expects to reach the mouth of the big tunnel by the 1st of November. All the iron for the main road is already there so that there is no probability of the completion of the track being delayed beyond the middle of next month. The iron for the tracks is on the way - from England - we believe.
Perhaps as if to celebrate the birthday of Nevada on Oct. 31, 1869, the announcement was made that, "The V. & T. R. R. Co.'s new locomotive 'Ormsby' has arrived here and will be set up and put in running order very soon."
On Nov. 12, 1869, Alf Doten's diary reflected the celebration in Virginia City as completion of the rail continued there:
"... at 1 p.m. the track layers finished the railroad to Crown Point Ravine, & at 5 p.m. in presence of big crowd the two construction trains passed over the big trestle bridge - Brass band playing on first locomotive -- flags flying everywhere -- big gun of Fort Homestead firing, whistles all blowing, people, cheering, and hell of a noise generally - After both trains passed over, speeches were made by J.P. Jones, Wm. Sharon and lot of cheers were given for RR ...
The people in Carson were celebrating the advent of the V&T, as reported on Nov. 23, 1869:
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad is a fixed fact. Personal-Mr. P. B. Campbell, master machinist and chief engineer of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad was presented on Sunday evening with a massive gold watch and an engineer's torch by his friends. The presentation took place at J. M. Daniels saloon, in Virginia City, and was a very happy affair.
Excursion party: This city was visited yesterday by a party of gentlemen consisting of D.O. Mills, of California, Messrs. Sharon, Tritle, Gillig, Requa, and others who came from Virginia City over the railroad which now connects the said city with our own town. The train, which brought these gentlemen was, in fact, the first passenger train which has passed over the road. So the completion of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad is a fixed fact.
Not everyone was happy with the trains, especially those running the stage. On Dec. 8, 1869, this becomes apparent as fares are reduced: "Billy Wilson has no notion of being 'telescoped' by the V.&T.R.R. locomotive - and he has put down his stage fare, as will be seen by looking at our advertising columns, to three dollars.
The Virginia & Truckee ran in Carson City from September 1869 and ended service May, 1950. Many of the locomotives were sold to the Hollywood studios for western movies.
• Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote the Past Pages column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006. She is president of the Carson City Historical Society.