The V&T Railroad opens for business Saturday with a round-trip ride from Carson City's Eastgate siding at the Lyon County line to Virginia City and back.
The Carson City station at Eastgate Siding is on Flint Drive off U.S. Highway 50 East.
Candy Duncan, director of the Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau, said there are only 22 tickets left out of 144 on the Saturday train and 53 left for Sunday's train ride. But if the rides sell out, train operator Tom Gray could add a third car, bringing capacity to 210.
The trains ran for the first time last August, with every seat sold out, Duncan said. This year, things have been a bit slower.
"Once school is out, I think that's going to pick up," she said.
The ride takes about 90 minutes each way to make the roughly 16-mile trip. Throughout summer, the V&T will offer one way and round-trip steam trains and diesel trains.
By August, she said, they are hoping the ride will extend past Eastgate siding into the Carson Canyon, which is expected to be the most scenic part of the ride. Work is continuing to extend the tracks so that, eventually, they run all the way from Virginia City to Carson City.
Ticket information
Tickets for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad are available online offering round-trip and one-way rides between Carson City and Virginia City, Friday through Sunday, through October 31.
The ride includes scenic vistas of the Carson River, carrying passengers through two tunnels, by abandoned mine shafts, old cemeteries and offers occasional sightings of wild mustangs.
A variety of ticket options and packages with lodging and dining also are available for riders:
• Round-trip steam trains operate every Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $48 for adults, $40 for seniors 65, and $36 for children 12 and younger.
• One-way steam train rides on Saturdays and Sundays cost $29 for adults, $25 for seniors, $20 for children.
• Round-trip tickets on V&T diesel trains operating Fridays cost $29 for adults, $25 seniors and $20 for children.
• One-way diesel trains running Fridays cost $17, $15 seniors and $12 for children.
For tickets, go to visit carsoncity.com or call 800-NEVADA-1.
Historic route
In addition to the V&T's Carson City to Virginia City 16-mile excursion, known as the "Sisters in History" route, the V&T also offers its four-mile, 35-minute loop through Virginia City and Gold Hill, or the "Historic Route."
Here the V&T has run since 1972 under the ownership of the Gray family. For "Historic Route" schedule and ticket prices visit
virginiatruckee.com or call 775-847-0380.
Private charters
The weekend trains feature a 1916 Baldwin consolidation 2-8-0 steam engine pulling two 1914 Pullman cars displaying the distinctive yellow and green of the V&T. Private group discounted charters for 20 or more passengers also are available to organizations or businesses. E-mail cccvb
@visitcarsoncity.com or call 1-800-NEVADA-1 for more information.