Day Trip to Carson City: Nevada State Railroad Museum

The Nevada State Railroad Museum is a well-known attraction in Carson City. Visitors can explore locomotives, rail cars, and other historic railroad equipment from the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. On select weekends, a steam train or powered rail car runs on a short loop track around the museum, offering a unique experience for visitors.

The Carson City railroad museum features Nevada’s railroad heritage. It offers visitors unique hands-on experiences, from the operation of historic railroad equipment to train rides aboard historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad equipment and fascinating visual exhibits.

Exhibits

The museum has three beautiful narrow gauge restored steam engines. Carson & Tahoe Lumber Company used Glenbrook. Joe. Douglass dates back to the 1860s. And No. 8 Baldwin Locomotive saw use on the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway.

McKeen Motor Car

Another fascinating exhibit is the McKeen Motor Car. A self-propelled gasoline-powered passenger car ran between Carson City and Minden, Nevada, in the early 1900s. The McKeen Motor Car and a 1926 Edwards Motor Car are used on weekends for train rides.

Rolling Stock

Nevada State Railroad Museum Carson City has a decent collection of passenger cars, baggage cars, flatcars, boxcars, and cabooses. Some are restored to new conditions. Others are awaiting restoration.

Other exhibits include railroad equipment, historical photographs, and railroad artifacts from the Virginia & Truckee Railway. There is a toy train and a gift shop for kids to play with. The museum is on the small side, so we recommend visiting when train rides are offered on the weekend.

Carson City Railroad Museum Train Rides

The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City offers steam train or motor car rides every weekend from May through September. Most weekends, the rail car will be running.

On select weekends (usually holiday weekends), one or more steam engines operate, hauling passengers on a short section of track in front of the museum. Check the museum’s operating schedule to see what’s running.

Also, at the Museum

When steam engines operate, a reconstruction of an early railroad water tower is used. An original Southern Pacific Railroad Depot is the ticket booth for train rides. And the Nelson House. A 1920s railroad station master’s home that is not open to the public but makes an excellent place for a photo.

The museum’s Southern Pacific Standard “A” Frame Gallows Turntable is used to turn locomotives and cars, plus provides easy access to the workshop and storage buildings.

Ride the Virginia & Truckee Railroad

Travel by train from Carson City to Virginia City along the original route of the Virginia & Truckee Railway. Trains depart from the Eastgate Depot about five miles east.

Getting to Carson City Railroad Museum

Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City is open Thursday through Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is only a few dollars, and children under 17 get in for free.

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