Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City

Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City

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.boulderrailroadmuseum.org

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.

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]

7½ inch miniature railway

7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) 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.

Exhibits

Locomotive details ^[6]

Number	Description	Built	Image	Original operator	Gauge	Status
#264	Baldwin-built Harriman Standard Consolidation	1907		UPRR	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Display
#35	Baldwin Mikado	1923		PALCO, HVRX	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Display
	Davenport 30-ton	1936		United States Bureau of Reclamation	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Display
#1855	Fairbanks-Morse Model H-12-44	1953		U.S. Army Transportation Corps	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Operational
L-2	General Electric 25-ton switcher			Jackass & Western, Nevada Test Site	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Display
L-3	General Electric 80-ton switcher	1953		Jackass & Western, Nevada Test Site	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Operational
#844	GP30	1963		UPRR	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Operational
#1000	NW2	1939		UPRR	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Operational
#2314	Baggage and postal car	1911		Oregon Short Line (OSL)	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Display
#3505	Pre-Harriman Non-Common Standard Class caboose	1882		Oregon Washington Railroad & Navigation Company (OWR&N)	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Display
#12 (second)	Baldwin narrow gauge steam locomotive	1896		Eureka & Palisade Railroad	3 ft (914 mm)	Stored, awaiting restoration
	Fairmont Railway Motors Company Speeder	mid-1950s		Jackass & Western, Nevada Test Site	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Operational
Ellsmere	Private business car	1899		Wagner Palace Car Company	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Display, awaiting restoration
WP 449	Steel body caboose			Union Pacific (Ex-Western Pacific)	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)	Under restoration

See also

• Nevada State Railroad Museum – A railroad museum located in Carson City, Nevada

References

1. Bartlett Pesek, Margo. "Trip Of The Week: Railroad structures interesting remnants of Nevada's past". Review Journal. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
2. "Nevada State Railroad Museum and the operation of the Nevada Southern Railway". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
3. "Steam Locomotive No. 844". Archived from the original on January 20, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
4. "Locomotive 844, Type GP-30". Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
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.
6. "Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved December 3, 2025.

External links

• Nevada State Railroad Museum website, Boulder City
• Friends of the Nevada Southern Railway
• www.rgusrail.com

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