Virginia City Engine Terminal

1870-1873	1874-1875	1876-1878

Historical Perspective
Text: Tom Smith

In planning the construction of the V & T it was determined rather early that some of the most difficult work would be in the area of Virginia City. Besides the huge trestle it would take to cross the Crown Point Ravine, there were four tunnels to be holed through: one at American Flat, two at Gold Hill and one below the Divide.

The plan called for two locomotives to be hauled up the Geiger grade to assist in construction at the Virginia City end, while 3 other engines would handle the somewhat easier grade from Carson on up.

Prior to the arrival of its first locomotive into Virginia City, the V & T built a large building there to be used as a work shop.

Ten days later ...
The month of November, 1869 must have been a whirlwind of accomplishment as track laying, neared completion. On the 14th the TE stated the locomotives Virginia and Carson were running order and operation on a short section of track at the workshop. Only three days later they reported that track work on its way to Virginia City had reached the Ward Tunnel the evening before and was expected to reach the workshop that afternoon. And, by the 20th the GHDN was able to proclaim "the RR is finished and the cars running through to the workshop..."

Eight days later they reported
... the first passenger car of the V & T RR is completed and stands outside the workshop ready for use...

The V & T apparently wasted no time resting on its laurels because the following day, November 29, 1869, the same newspaper reports
...quite a large space graded off near the workshop... for a turntable, engine house, new work shop, foundry, etc...

In January, 1870 the first official passenger train passed the recently completed Virginia City Roundhouse on its way from Carson to the new depot on 'E' Street just south of St. Mary's.

Fourteen month later William Sharon announced plans to extend the V & T from Carson to Reno and in July, 1871 ground was broken for that purpose. A month later Locomotive Storey was dismantled at the Virginia City Car Shops to be sent to Reno for service as a Construction Engine.

For the next two years the Virginia City Engine Terminal was a hub of activity while the V & T continued to grow in activity and in size. During these early years Virginia City was home to the V & T's general business office and major car and engine repair facilities. Carson contained only a small 3 stall engine house at the west end of town with facilities to handle only minor repairs.

However with the August, 1872 completion of the Reno Division, Carson City became the midpoint on the line and with its level, open space, became the desirable location to develop a more expanded V & T shop facility. We must keep in mind the rapid growth experienced by the V & T in these beginning years. In 1872 they had 11 locomotives of which 4 were stabled at Virginia, 3 at Carson and the remaining 4 at Steamboat Springs.

So, while tracks were being laid through a new tunnel under St. Mary's to Mill Street ground was being broken for a shop facility in Carson that would prove to be a rival to the Central Pacific's Sacramento Shop.

The big Bonanza of February, 1873 would continue to provide the Virginia City Roundhouse with a high level of activity for the next several years. But when the Carson City Engine House and Shop were completed and Master Mechanic John William Bowker and his crew left Virginia City in the fall of 1873 they took with them the status of major engine and car repair facilities of the V & T RR.

In 1874 the V & T appears to have embarked on a rebuilding program for its Virginia City Roundhouse and Yards. In January they laid all new rail in the yards and during spring or summer, removed the small cluster of buildings at the read of the car shops and build a new and larger Blacksmith Shop.

In September, they replaced the turntable and build a new and substantial machine shop the following month.

In the early part of 1875 the V & T developed plans to enlarge the old 4 stall Roundhouse to 8 stalls. But 1875 was a tumultuous year in V & T history. January broght a stock market crash and major snow storms and slides. In February they started work on the 1,940 foot combination spur and obtained bids on putting the C & C spur which later would become known as the Virginia City low line. The Chollar switch and side track were put in during the spring and in August the Bank of California closed its door and Ralston committed suicide. In October, Virginia City would fall victim to what would forever more be known as the "Great Fire".

If all that went before it didn't serve to alter the V & T's plans for rebuilding its Virginia City Terminal then the fire certanly did. All effort was directed on rebuilding the Passenger and Freight Depots lost in the blaze. Business boomed as the needs fore more and more supplies grew. Freight piled up at the Old Depot and Gold Hill as well. Most of it was outdoors and subject to the elements.

By the time attention was again directed to the Engine Yards, things were not the same on the Comstock. The earlier 1875 plans called for 4 stall addition on the west side of and adjoining the original Roundhouse. This is believed to be the first phase of an eight stall replacement for the original Roundhouse whereby they would tear down the old building and replace it with a twin of the new Roundhouse. This 1875 plan was only partially realized with the completion of that first 4 stall addition in the fall of 1876. But by then the tide had turned on the Comstock and further expansion was no longer necessary.

Photos courtesy of the Special Collections Department, University of Nevada, Reno

Chronology

 Trackage History

V. &T. R. R. Employees

As listed in the 1873 - 1874 V&T Railroad Directory specifically identified with Roundhouse.

Source of information: Tom Smith.