The Great Western Steam Up in Carson City July 1-4
Carson City – June 29, 2022 – All Onboard! Looking for a little festival history to fill your Fourth of July weekend. bring the kids and family to Carson city to experience the magic of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the completion of Nevada’s famous Virginia & Truckee Railroad with an exciting pageant of steam locomotion, train rides, food, live entertainment, “lost art” demonstrations and more!
RIDE BEHIND VISITING NARROW- AND STANDARD GAUGE STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, WATCH THE DAILY PAGEANT OF STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, VIEW HISTORICAL VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT DISPLAYS, ENJOY LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS, LISTEN TO LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, INTERACT WITH HANDCRAFT VENDORS, AND MORE!
Visit the Nevada State Railroad Museum July 1-4 for the Great Western Steam Up as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad! The event will include the largest gathering of Virginia & Truckee steam locomotives in over 75 years, including the Reno and the Genoa. There will be various visiting operating steam locomotives from around the West, including Nevada County Narrow Gauge No. 5, The Brass Betsy, The Chiggen, the Slim Princess, and more. In addition there will be opportunities to ride trains, visit with various exhibitors and artisans, nosh at delicious food trucks, sip on libations under the beer tent, enjoy live entertainment, and other surprises. Tickets are only $29. Visit the Great Western Steam Up website for more details.
With over 10 Steam Locomotives, view the largest reunion of existing Virginia & Truckee locomotives assembled in over 75 years, including he famous Reno, No. 11. Reno was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1872. Reno was the railroad’s top passenger locomotive and was assigned to pull its best trains, including the local segment of the “Lightning Express” that ran between the San Francisco Bay Area and Virginia City.
Also see the:
- Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge No. 18, the “Slim Princess”
- Eureka & Palisade No. 4, Eureka
- Santa Cruz Portland Cement No 2, the Chiggen
- Bluestone Mining & Smelting Heisler No. 1
- Nevada County Narrow Gauge No. 5 (formerly Tahoe)Carson & Tahoe
- Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Co., Glenbrook
- Virginia & Truckee No. 22, Inyo
- Virginia & Truckee No. 25
- Antelope & Western No. 1
ED DICKENS TO APPEAR AT THE GREAT WESTERN STEAM UP
The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City is excited to announce that Ed Dickens, Senior Manager of Heritage Operations for Union Pacific Railroad, will be appearing at the Great Western Steam Up. On Saturday, July 2nd, Mr. Dickens will speak at 3 p.m. and give an update on the Union Pacific Steam Program, including the upcoming plans for Big Boy 4014. On Sunday, July 3rd, Mr. Dickens will participate in an interactive chat and be available to answer audience questions. Both days his appearance will be in the main tent located adjacent to the turntable. For tickets visit the Great Western Steam Up website.
The event will be held at the Nevada State Railroad Museum located at 2180 South Carson Street in Carson City. Free Parking located to the north off of South Stewart Street. Enter the parking lots at Wright Way and Little Lane. The lots are within easy walking distance of the museum, but a shuttle bus will be available to take visitors to and from the event. Limited street parking is also available. Please do not park in the business or shopping center parking lots near the museum.
Full Weekend Schedule.
Friday, July 1, 2022 – Opening Day
7:45 a.m.
Parking lot opens.
8:00 a.m.
Early VIP entry begins. Mobility shuttle begins. Onsite ticket sales open.
10:00a – 4:00p
Gates open to regular ticket holders.
Train rides begin at Wabuska Depot. Trains operating throughout the day in approximately 20 min rotation.
10:00a – 4:00p
Demonstration: Evyn Games, Blacksmith
Demonstration: Metal Working
Demonstration: Nevada Gunfighters
10:00a – 1:30p
Santa Cruz Portland Cement No. 2 pulls standard gauge train.*
10:00 a.m.
Entertainment: Jeff Wayne Watkins
10:15a -12:15p
Southern Pacific No. 18 pulls narrow gauge train.*
11:00 a.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
Noon
Entertainment: Mr. Johnson
12:45 p.m.
Entertainment: Jeff Wayne Watkins
1:00p -2:00p
Locomotive pageant at NSRM Turntable.
1:30p – 4:15p
Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming “Glenbrook” pulls narrow gauge train.*
1:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
1:45 p – 5:00p
Blue Stone Mining & Smelting No. 1 pulls standard gauge train.*
2:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Mr. Johnson
3:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
4:o0 p.m.
Special Train Departure. (Wabuska Depot featuring V&T “Inyo” w/ Coach 4. Separate ticket required.)*
4:00 p.m.
Gates close to new entries.
5:00 p.m.
Event closes. Last mobility shuttle departure from NSRM.
Saturday, July 2, 2022 – V&T 150th Celebration Day
7:45 a.m.
Parking lot opens.
8:00 a.m.
Early VIP entry begins. Mobility shuttle begins. Onsite ticket sales open.
9:30 a.m.
Entertainment: Jeff Wayne Watkins
10:00a – 4:00p
Gates open to regular ticket holders. Train rides begin at Wabuska Depot. Trains operating throughout the day in approximately 20 min rotation.
10:00a – 4:00p
Demonstration: Metal Working
Demonstration: Nevada Gunfighters
Demonstration: Evyn Games, Blacksmith
10:00a – 1:30p
Virginia & Truckee No. 25 pulls standard gauge train.*
10:15a – 12:15p
Eureka & Palisade No. 4 “Eureka” pulls narrow gauge train.*
10:15 a.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
11:00 a.m.
Entertainment: Gold Rush Gals
11:45 a.m.
Entertainment: Mr. Johnson
12:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Jeff Wayne Watkins
1:00p – 2:00p
Locomotive pageant at NSRM Turntable.
1:30p – 4:15p
Southern Pacific No. 18 pulls narrow gauge train.*
1:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
1:45p – 5:00p
Blue Stone Mining & Smelting No. 1 pulls standard gauge train.*
2:45 p.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
3:00p – 3:30p
Ed Dickens, Jr. – Senior Manager of Heritage Operations, Union Pacific
3:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Mr. Johnson
4:00 p.m.
Special Train Departure. (Wabuska Depot featuring V&T Inyo w/ Coach 4. Separate ticket required.)*
4:00 p.m.
Entertainment: Gold Rush Gals
4:00 p.m.
Gates close to new entries.
5:00 p.m.
Event closes. Last mobility shuttle departure from NSRM.
6:00 p.m.
Gates open to V&T 150 dinner guests. No host bar opens. (Invitation Only. Separate ticket required.)
7:00 p.m.
V&T 150 dinner served. (Invitation Only.)
10:00 p.m.
V&T 150 dinner concludes. (Invitation Only.)
Sunday, July 3, 2022 – Nevada’s Mining Heritage Day
7:45 a.m.
Parking lot opens.
8:00 a.m.
Early VIP entry begins. Mobility shuttle begins. Onsite ticket sales open.
10:00a – 4:00p
Gates open to regular ticket holders. Train rides begin at Wabuska Depot. Trains operating throughout the day in approximately 20 min rotation.
10:00a – 4:00p
Demonstration: Evyn Games, Blacksmith
Demonstration: Metal Working
Demonstration: Nevada Gunfighters
10:00a – 1:30p
Blue Stone Mining & Smelting No. 1 pulls standard gauge train.*
10:00 a.m.
Entertainment: Jeff Wayne Watkins
10:15a – 12:15p
Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming “Glenbrook” pulls narrow gauge train.*
11:00 a.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
Noon
Entertainment: Mr. Johnson
12:45 p.m.
Entertainment: Jeff Wayne Watkins
1:00p – 2:00p
Locomotive pageant at NSRM Turntable.
1:30p – 4:15p
Eureka & Palisade No. 4 “Eureka” pulls narrow gauge train.*
1:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
1:45p – 5:00p
Santa Cruz Portland Cement No. 2 pulls standard gauge train.*
2:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Mr. Johnson
3:00 – 3:30p
Ed Dickens, Jr. – Senior Manager of Heritage Operations, Union Pacific
3:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
4:00 p.m.
Special Train Departure. (Wabuska Depot featuring V&T “Inyo w/ Coach 4. Separate ticket required.)
4:00 p.m.
Gates close to new entries.
5:00 p.m.
Event closes. Last mobility shuttle departure from NSRM.
Monday, July 4, 2022 – Independence Day
7:45 a.m.
Parking lot opens.
8:00 a.m.
Early VIP entry begins. Mobility shuttle begins. Onsite ticket sales open.
10:00a – 4:00p
Gates open to regular ticket holders. Train rides begin at Wabuska Depot. Trains operating throughout the day in approximately 20 min rotation.
10:00a – 4:00p
Demonstration: Evyn Games, Blacksmith
Demonstration: Metal Working
Demonstration: Nevada Gunfighters
10:00a – 1:30p
Santa Cruz Portland Cement No. 2 pulls standard gauge train.*
10:00 a.m.
Entertainment: Jeff Wayne Watkins
10:15a – 12:15p
Eureka & Palisade No. 4 “Eureka” pulls narrow gauge train.*
11:00 a.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
Noon
Entertainment: Mr. Johnson
12:45p
Entertainment: Jeff Wayne Watkins
1:00p – 2:00p
Locomotive pageant at NSRM Turntable.
1:30p – 4:15p
Southern Pacific No. 18 pulls narrow gauge train.*
1:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
1:45p – 5:00p
Virginia & Truckee No. 25 pulls standard gauge train.*
2:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Mr. Johnson
3:30 p.m.
Entertainment: Black Irish Band
4:00 p.m.
Special Train Departure. (Wabuska Depot featuring V&T “Inyo” w/ Coach 4. Separate ticket required.)*
4:00 p.m.
Gates close to new entries.
5:00 p.m.
Event closes. Last mobility shuttle departure from NSRM.
