V & T

As a result of COVID-19, the V&T Railway Commission has announced that fan favorite, Polar Express, has been canceled for the 2020 season. In its place, the railway will host Santa’s Drive-Thru Village, a socially distanced holiday event, December 11 through 13 and December 18 through 24.

CARSON CITY — V&T Railway will bring its event-filled 2019 season to a close this weekend with a final 150th Anniversary train on Friday, Oct. 11, vintage steam trains on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 and a Toast of the Canyon spirits train on Saturday, Oct. 12 following the steam train.

Nevada's celebration of statehood provides for a bevy of activities that showcase the Silver State's best. From contests to exhibits, food and beverages of all kinds, Native dancing, hot air balloons, concerts, a carnival celebration at Mills Park and the famed Nevada Day parade, there is something for everyone throughout the long weekend.

Here's a schedule of events:

Ongoing

68th ANNUAL NEVADA DAY ART EXHIBIT AT NAA’S BAC GALLERY

One thing was evident as the special Polar Express Train departed the depot, you don't have to have kids with you to enjoy the annual holiday favorite on the historic V & T Railroad.

For eight years V & T has held the Polar Express during the Christmas season. Tickets normally disappear as quickly as they're posted for sale, but this year organizers are trying something new to give more people a chance to enjoy the experience.

mel·o·dra·ma
ˈmeləˌdrämə/
noun
1. a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.

It's not every day where one in the Lake Tahoe/Northern Nevada region can see a melodrama, the primary form of theatre during the 19th century. They hit their height of popularity in 1840, but are still with us today.

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad will once again offer special train rides over the Mother's Day weekend, May 13-14, that will take moms and families from Carson City to Virginia City aboard a historic train.

All mothers will be honored with a long-stem rose as they board the 1953 ALCO (American Locomotive Company) heritage diesel locomotive for the 16 mile trip to the Comstock-era town of Virginia City.

Catch the annual holiday treat, a ride aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ from Carson City to "the North Pole."

Even though all VIP tickets are sold out, there are a few regularly priced coach tickets available for the magical train ride that runs through December 23. There is even a special 25 percent off day on Sunday, November 27.

The train ride has completely sold out for five consecutive years.

Use the promo code “FLASH” for rides Nov. 27. With this special promotion coach tickets are $34.50 for adults and $27 for children.

The 2007 Douglas County Transportation Plan did not address any needs in the lake portion of the county, and the newly completed 2016 plan doesn't as well though it discusses a potential gondola from the base of Kingsbury Grade to Heavenly Mountain Resort.

The results of 2016's Douglas County Transportation Master Plan update will be presented during a public meeting on October 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the C.V.I.C. Hall.
Parsons Corporation, the organization which prepared the update, will give the presentation.

A Dayton, Nevada man driving the wrong way on a stretch of Highway 50 near the V & T train track overpass in Carson City caused a major injury accident on Saturday night just before midnight.

Steven Stults, 52, was in his Mazda pick-up, traveling west in the eastbound lanes of the highway when he struck a Saturn driven by Victoria Dwyer, 25, also of Dayton. In the backseat of Dwyer's car were her two small children.

Mom, long stemmed roses and the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. The annual Mother’s Day weekend rides on the V&T Railroad are set for Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8. The first excursion of the season is also one of the most popular as families spend the day together celebrating mom.

This special edition diesel train ride from Carson City to the 1860s boom-era mining town of Virginia City provides mom with a long stem rose, quality time with family, animated Old West history storytelling, and shopping and dining to go along with the spectacular scenery.

The Carson Valley Pops Orchestra presents an exclusive opportunity to ride the historic Virginia & Truckee Railway to experience live music and dining at the iconic Piper’s Opera House on April 30.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is inviting the public to comment on planned transportation projects and improvements that include bicycle and pedestrian paths, buses systems, sidewalks and the V & T railroad.

In the Carson City area alone there are over $9 million in proposed projects.

The Douglas County Economic Vitality team is working on Countywide Connectivity project and will present its work and vision at the February 5, 2015 Board of Commissioners meeting in Minden. This information will also be shared at the February 19, 2015 board meeting in Stateline.

Hijinks on the Comstock with a twist comes to Carson City this summer with "Where is the Gold?" a Wild West melodrama and murder mystery dinner set aboard a vintage Virginia and Truckee Railroad steam engine train, July 18 and August 15.

"Where is the Gold?" produced by the Brewery Arts Center will entertain with plenty of Comstock legend and lore intertwined with spellbinding whodunit mystery. The audience will be invited to help the cast of characters solve the mystery of who stole the gold, and who is responsible for the death of Mr. Big.

To commemorate National Train Day on May 10, the Nevada State Railroad Museum will operate and offer rides aboard Virginia & Truckee Railway's McKeen motor car No. 22. The car entered service for the V&T on May 9, 1910, and was retired in 1945. No. 22 is the only restored and operable McKeen motor car in the world.

In 2012, the Secretary of the Interior granted the No. 22 National Historic Landmark status, which recognizes the McKeen motor car's significance to United States history. The McKeen motor car will operate only three days in 2014 so mark this date on your calendar!

With the holiday season just weeks away, THE POLAR EXPRESS train is cannonballing down the fast track, with nearly all tickets aboard the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad sold out.

The white walls on the second floor, outside the banquet rooms of the Carson Nugget, are in the process of being transformed. Right now they contain the mural paintings of Kit Carson, V&T Railroad, Dat So La Lee, the Carson Mint, Carson Nugget, Roosevelt’s Speech Capital Building, Carson Brewery and Capital Building; but soon those walls could contain so much more.

“The hope is to show Carson City’s uniqueness as well as the love and pride we have for our home and community,” said Gardnerville artist Beverly Caputo.

This Mother’s Day, take mom on an historical train excursion via the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Sunday, May 13.
This special edition train ride from Carson City to Virginia City will provide mom with a long stem rose, Wild West history, storytelling, shopping and dining in Virginia City to go along with the spectacular scenery. The train features a 1953 ALCO heritage diesel locomotive leading 100 year-old Pullman coaches displaying the distinctive yellow and green of the V&T.