Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City

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Union Pacific EMD GP30 No. 844: The primary road power of the heritage railroad 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 41.jpg
Union Pacific EMD GP30 No. 844: The primary road power of the heritage railroad

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.

Contents

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 features a preserved former 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]

Exhibits

NumberDescriptionBuild DatePhotoOriginal OperatorGaugeNotes
#264 Baldwin-built Harriman Standard Consolidation 1907 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 13.jpg

'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 22.jpg
UPRR 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)

On static display.

#35 Baldwin Mikado 1923 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 19.jpg

'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 11.jpg
PALCO, HVRX 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)On static display.
Davenport 30-ton1936 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 38.jpg United States Bureau of Reclamation 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)On static display.
#1855 Fairbanks-Morse Model H12-441953 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 07.jpg U.S. Army Transportation Corps 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)Operational.
L-2 GE 25-ton 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 12.jpg

'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 15.jpg
Jackass & Western

Nevada Test Site

4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)On static display.
L-3 GE 80-ton1953 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 35.jpg

'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 37.jpg

'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 36.jpg
Jackass & Western

Nevada Test Site

4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)

On Static display.

#1000Type NW-21939 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 26.jpg

'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 29.jpg
UPRR 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)Operates on special occasions.
#2314Baggage and postal car1911 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 32.jpg

'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 31.jpg
Oregon Short Line (OSL)4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)

On static display.

#3505Pre-Harriman Non-Common Standard Class caboose1882 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 28.jpg Oregon Washington Railroad & Navigation Company (OWR&N)4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)On static display.
#12 (second) Baldwin narrow gauge steam locomotive1896 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 75.jpg Eureka & Palisade Railroad 3 ft (914 mm)In storage awaiting restoration.
6976EMD SDP40F1974Amtrak, Santa Fe, BNSF4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)Operational; owned by Dynamic Rail Preservation
231EMD F40PH1977Amtrak4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)Operational; owned by Dynamic Rail Preservation
Fairmont Railway Motors CompanySpeedermid-1950s 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 40.jpg Jackass & Western

Nevada Test Site

4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)Operational
EllsmerePrivate Business Car1899 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 21.jpg Wagner Palace Car Company 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)On static display awaiting restoration.
WP 449Steel body caboose 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 54.jpg Union Pacific (Ex-Western Pacific)4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)Undergoing restoration.

7½ inch miniature railway

7+1/2 in (190.5 mm) miniature railway 'Nevada Southern Railroad Museum' 04.jpg
7+12 in (190.5 mm) miniature railway

The museum hosts a 7+12 in (190.5 mm) gauge railroad. The miniatures are 1/8th full size and accommodate children and adults easily..

See also

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References

  1. Bartlett Pesek, Margo. "TRIP OF THE WEEK: Railroad structures interesting remnants of Nevada's past". Review Journal. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  2. "Nevada State Railroad Museum and the operation of the Nevada Southern Railway". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  3. "Steam Locomotive No. 844". Archived from the original on 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  4. "Locomotive 844, Type GP-30". Archived from the original on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  5. "CEREMONY FRIDAY TO MARK RECONNECTION OF HISTORIC RAIL LINE BETWEEN HENDERSON, BOULDER CITY". Nevada Division of Museums and History. April 10, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.

35°58′13″N114°51′24″W / 35.97028°N 114.85667°W / 35.97028; -114.85667