In October, 19 members of the Sierra Nevada Section of the Mercedes®-Benz Club of America trekked to Carson City to take a vintage round-trip train ride to Virginia City, hosted by Sue and Marc Dodson. The day started with a drive from Mercedes-Benz of Reno as a group to Carson City, where everyone boarded the train at Eastgate Depot. Club members on the train ride rediscovered Nevada’s rich history in mining and mills as they meandered through tunnels, canyons, and mining towns aboard a restored 1914 Pullman coach led by a 1914 Baldwin Mikado 2-8-2 steam locomotive.
The train ride was very relaxing, and was fully narrated with historical facts and anecdotes from the knowledgeable V&T staff. After departing from the Eastgate Depot in Carson City, the locomotive meandered along the 12 track to Virginia City. Once the group was able to depart, they enjoyed a fun 3-1/2-hour stopover in the historic town. Guests explored the many shops, saloons, and restaurants along the 19th-century town’s boardwalk.
Some of the route highlights included a fully narrated train tour, a pass through two historic train tunnels, wildlife and mustang sightings, historic mining town ruins, Gold Hill cemetery, Combination Mine, and the 120’-deep Overman Pit. Riding the V&T Railway is one of the most fascinating activities in Northern Nevada, and the group had a wonderful time immersing itself in the rich history of the V&T Railway and the surrounding area.
The 1914 Pullman-built coaches were originally used on the Delaware and Lackawanna Western Railroad until the 1970s and 1980s. Tom Gray purchased them from the Kettle Moraine Railway outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Each car holds 72 passengers and has clerestory windows, open vestibules, and Hale and Kilborn wicker walkover seats. They originally came equipped with steam heat and a drop hopper, and have been refurbished to add flush toilets and other improvements. The Pullman coaches owned by the V&T are also known as Boonton coaches, having run on the Boonton line in New Jersey.
The next Sierra Nevada Section of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America event is the Annual Christmas Party on December 14 at The Club at ArrowCreek. To RSVP, contact Marcus Dodson at [email protected] or (775) 997-9901.
If you’re interested in hosting a drive or event, please reach out to Gail Wells at [email protected] or (307) 763-1701 for help and to reserve your date. Stay up to date on future club events by searching for @SierraNevadaMBCA on Facebook.
