Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City
Railroad museum in Nevada, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City is a railroad museum in Boulder City, Nevada which is an agency of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The railway is located on the Boulder City Branch Line, the historic railroad route installed to support construction activities at the Hoover Dam.[1] The state obtained the tracks and right of way from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1985.
Union Pacific EMD GP30 No. 844: The primary road power of the heritage railroad | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Boulder City, Nevada |
| Locale | Boulder City, Nevada |
| Dates of operation | 2002–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 7 mi (11 km) |
| Other | |
| Website | www |
Heritage railroad
The museum operates a heritage railroad which offers passenger excursion trains using historic railroad equipment on a 7-mile, 45 minute round trip. Operations began in 2002, and the museum also offers the opportunity for passengers to ride in the locomotive cab, the caboose and to operate trains (subject to reservations and availability).[2]
This ride is usually powered by Union Pacific EMD GP30, No 844, which became famous for necessitating the renumbering of steam locomotive 844 to 8444 from 1962 to 1989.[3] It weighs approximately 125 tons and has a turbocharged V16 engine that develops 2250 hp.[4] It was donated to the museum and refurbished in Union Pacific colors.
As part of the Interstate 11 project NDOT has replaced the bridge over US Route 93 that was taken out of service in 1998 during the widening of Highway 93 into Interstate 515. In April 2018, a grade separation was put in place at the former grade crossing near Railroad Pass Casino, re-linking Boulder City and Henderson together.[5]
7½ inch miniature railway
The museum hosts a 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge railroad. The miniatures are 1/8th full size and accommodate children and adults easily.
Equipment
| Name | Class | Locomotive Type | Images | Manufacturer | Year built | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka 12 | Steam |  |
Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1896 | Awaiting restoration | Narrow gauge (3 ft) | |
| Union Pacific 264 | UP C2 | Steam |  |
Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1903 | On display | |
| Pacific Lumber 35 | Steam |  |
Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1923 | On display | Was also used on the Heber Valley Railroad | |
| 30-tonner | Diesel |  |
Davenport | 1936 | On display | Used for the construction of the Hoover Dam | |
| Union Pacific 1000 | NW2 | Diesel |  |
EMD | 1939 | Operational | Painted in the Nevada Southern Railway livery |
| Jackass & Western L-3 | 25 tonner | Diesel |  |
GE | 1943 | On display | Also operated on the Nevada Test Site |
| US Army Transportation Corps 1855 | H-12-44 | Diesel |  |
Fairbanks-Morse | 1953 | Operational | |
| Jackass & Western L-2 | 80 tonner | Diesel |  |
GE | 1953 or 1964 | On display | Also operated on the Nevada Test Site |
| Union Pacific 844
(Not to be confused with Union Pacific 844) |
GP30 | Diesel |  |
EMD | 1963 | Operational | This locomotive was the reason why Union Pacific 844 was renumbered to 8444 |
| Amtrak 315 | F40PHR | Diesel |  |
EMD | 1979 | Off property | To be moved from Spokane, Washington. This locomotive will stay inoperable as it lacks a prime mover |
See also
- Nevada State Railroad Museum – A railroad museum located in Carson City, Nevada