The Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum (NSRM)
provides resources and services for the Museum, including fund raising, advocacy, and volunteer work ranging from visitor service to restoration and operation of the equipment in its collection.
Friends Invited To 2010 NMA Conference
The 2010 Nevada Museum Association (NMA) conference will be held in Carson City, September 8-10 at the Nevada State Museum. The agenda will include activities at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.
The theme for the conference is Minting Your Museum's Future which is particularly appropriate in these uncertain times. Participation is open to members of the Nevada museums' support organizations. More information may be found in the conference announcement. Full registration materials are posted on the Association's website, www.nevadamuseums.org.
Wabuska Depot History
Want to know more about Wabuska, NV from where our depot was originally built? Rich Moreno,the former publisher of Nevada Magazine explains the origins of the town of Wabuska in his Backyard Traveler blog.
Be a Partner in History
Support the museum
Buy a
commemorative brick & honor a loved one.
Bricks purchased from April to October 2009 are now in the commemorative pathway in front of the Interpretive Center.
2010 Steam Train & Motor Car Timetable Is Available
The 2010 Steam Train and Motor Car operating schedule is approved. Mark your calendars to ride with us on weekends during the season that starts May 1 with the first Motor Car ride and ends December 12 with the Santa Train.
View and download the full schedule here.
The Friends at work
Just what do the Friends do? Just about everything from being the steam train crew to giving tours, from selling tickets to working at the Museum store. See more photos of the Friends atthe volunteers at work page.
Photo above of Russ Tanner as conductor on the McKeen Motor Car courtesy of Keith Hall.
What's Happening at the Museum
Labor Day Weekend Steam Up
Celebrate the labor of our ancestors who ran the Virginia & Truckee
Railroad. Ride in actual Virginia & Truckee equipment. The Nevada State Railroad Museum and steam crew invite you and your family to ride
the historic train pulled by Virginia & Truckee Engine #25. That's right, No. 25 will be
pulling the train on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, September 4-6, in celebration of Labor Day Weekend.
Come ride the train
Departures will be typically every 40 minutes from 10am to 4pm. Buy your tickets and board train at the Wabuska Depot at the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Tickets may be purchased using cash or check only. No credit cards accepted, just like in 1904.
Steam train ride ticket prices are:
| Adults | $5.00 |
| Children (4 to 11) | $3.00 |
| Children (under 4) | Free |
| Cab rides* | $25.00 |
* Must be over 6 years old to ride in cab. Maximum 2 passengers per train ride.
Riders with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs, are welcome to ride in the train cars.
In addition, antique fire equipment from the Warren Engine Company No.1 fire museum at Fire Station 1 will be on display in front of the Depot. This includes the 1927 Seagrave Fire Engine pictured here. The Engine Company members will be grilling up hamburgers and hotdogs fresh off the grill for you to purchase. Save room for their special -- a hamburger or hot dog with a choice of chips and a soft drink. They will be cooking from 10am to 3pm all three days.
Register for the 2010 Symposium Now
Don't be left at the station. The 39th Annual Nevada Railroad History Symposium will be held October 8-9, 2010 in Carson City, NV.
The topic for this year's symposium is Engineering Landmarks on Nevada's Railroads. Symposium sessions will be held on Friday only in Room 1214 of the Nevada Legislative Building. On Saturday, participants will tour the Museum shops and then take a trip on the rebuilt Virginia & Truckee line with Project Engineer Ken Dorr. Seating is limited on Saturday so register today. For more information and the registration materials, please go to the Museum's official symposium information at the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs museum site.
Want To Be the Engineer of a Historic Steam Engine?
For the second year, the Museum is offering the Your Hand Is On the Throttle" program to aspiring engineers. On most weekend days that steam engine is scheduled for rides, one person has the opportunity to learn how run a steam engine.
This isn't just any steam locomotive, this is a 1905 Baldwin Steam Locomotive known as the second No. 25 on the Virginia and Truckee railroad. This is the historic engine that pulled the last scheduled passenger train to Virginia City in May, 1938.
The course involves approximately one hour of classroom instruction in which you'll receive an operations manual and a railroad rule book. You'll be provided gloves and a hat to use as you operate the locomotive around the NSRM railway. At the end of your shift, if you haven't derailed the train, you will be presented with an "Honorary NSRM Engineer" certificate as well as being able to keep your hat and gloves.
This opportunity is limited. Make your reservation soon. To see the schedule of available times and dates, click here.
Remember Friends members get a 10% discount. If you aren't a Friend, you might want to become one before you sign up!
Monday Evening Program
The monthly Monday Evening Programs resume in September. On September 13, John Guild will be presenting Railroad Sign Language 101.
