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Virginia and Truckee Railroad Right-of-Way

Virginia and Truckee Railroad Right-of-Way

Virginia and Truckee Railroad Right-of-Way Overview

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad was built between 1868 and 1872 to connect the mining and milling communities of the Comstock to the Central Pacific Railroad that ran through Reno.

Chinese laborers graded this section during the summer of 1871.

The first through train traversed the route in 1872

Category

  • Chinese
  • Person
  • Railroad

Marker Type

Stone marker

Nevada Historical Marker Number

Virginia and Truckee Railroad Right-of-Way is Nevada Historical Marker #248.

Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.

County

Washoe County, Nevada

GPS Coordinates

39.516839 -119.806989

Nevada Historical Marker Transcription

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad was built between 1868 and 1872 to connect the mining and milling communities of the Comstock to the Central Pacific Railroad that ran through Reno.

The line first connected Virginia City to Carson City in 1869, but work to run the railroad north moved quickly. Soon after Chinese laborers graded this section during the summer of 1871, track gangs commenced laying rail south, reaching Steamboat Springs by late October.  Nine months later, Superintendent Henry M. Yerington drove the last spike a mile west of Carson City on August 24, 1872, connecting Virginia City with Reno by rail.  Although regularly scheduled passenger service didn’t begin until October 1, the first through train traversed the 52 mile route on September 1, 1872 – the last passed by here on May 31, 1950.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO. 248

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

CITY OF RENO

References Used

Virginia and Truckee Railroad Right-of-Way