V & T Railroad offers a murder mystery tour

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad will be steaming through summer with additional theme trains: “Run to the Roundhouse Nellie” murder mystery and barbecue and Toast of the Canyon.

How about a barbecue to go with high stakes Wild West melodrama? There’s three chances to ride “Run to the Roundhouse Nellie” Saturday murder mystery trains — Aug 1, 22, and Sept. 12. Hearty western barbecue chicken and tri-tip dinner with side dishes, drinks and dessert at the depot.

Then climb aboard the V&T for nonstop theater melodrama featuring a good-hearted rancher, a damsel in distress, and a villainous swindler with an epic conclusion that ends where else ... on the railroad tracks, of course.

Nellie is a good hand with a locomotive but not much at catching the eye of her true love, rancher Sterling Worth. But Sterling is having his problems because villainous Hugo Swindle has discovered oil on the ranch and is attempting to take over the property. Nellie learns of the truth, but Hugo will stop at nothing to achieve his evil goal! He pursues Nellie, who tries to escape (to the roundhouse, of course), but Hugo captures her, and she is tied to the railroad tracks. Just as a train comes thundering down on helpless Nell, Sterling appears, defeats the villain and saves the day!

The Toast of the Canyon tours, a date night with a backdrop of Northern Nevada scenery, runs the last Saturday of each month. Passengers travel 45-minutes south of the Carson City Depot into the Carson River Canyon. The Saturday afternoon train continues south of the Carson City Depot into a quiet area that features spectacular high desert scenery paired with appetizers and a glass of wine.

Regularly scheduled trains depart Carson City for Virginia City Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. Friday steam trains run through Aug. 28, departing Carson City at 10 a.m.

Round trip steam train tickets are $52 for adults, $32 for children ages 3 to 16 (toddlers and infants are free) and $48 for seniors 65 and older. Tickets are available online at www.vtrailway.com or 877-724-5007.