Карсон и Колорадо: История узкоколейной железной дороги

Defunct railroad in the western US

The Carson and Colorado Railway was a U. S. 3 feet narrow gauge railroad that ran from Mound House, Nevada, to Keeler, California, below the Cerro Gordo Mines. It was incorporated on May 10, 1880, as the Carson and Colorado Railroad, and construction on the railroad began on May 31, 1880. The narrow gauge track was chosen to reduce cost. Much of the route now parallels U. S. Route 95 Alternate, U. S. Route 95, Nevada State Route 360, U. S. Route 6, and U. S. Route 395. The Carson and Colorado began operations with a single Baldwin , the Candelaria. The first train arrived at Keeler on August 1, 1883. The 300 mile (483 km) route reached an altitude of 7100 feet (2164 m) in Montgomery Pass. The railroad served an arid area heavily dependent on mineral resources for economic activity. The line was reorganized as the Carson and Colorado Railway in 1892 to reduce accumulated debt.

From its inception, the Carson and Colorado was a hindrance to the Virginia and Truckee Railroad (V&T), the parent company of the C&C, who sold the line to the Southern Pacific Company in 1900. Darius Ogden Mills (part owner) was once quoted saying "Either we built the line 300 miles too long, or 300 years too early!" Silver and gold discoveries at Tonopah, Nevada and Goldfield, Nevada provided a major boost of revenues shortly after the Southern Pacific purchase. The Nevada and California Railroad was reorganized into the Central Pacific Railroad in 1912. The rails were removed in January, 1961. The former parent company, Virginia and Truckee Railroad, has been reconstructed from Virginia City to a station near Mound House. Passenger (tourist) service has been restored along much of the original V&T right of way, with investigations into returning service to Carson City again in the future.

Number Builder Type Date Works number Notes 1st #1 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1880 5285 sold to Eureka and Palisade Railroad 1907 2nd #1 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1914 41300 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #14 acquired 1928 sold to Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad #9 1933 3rd #1 General Electric 50 Tonner 1954 32226 sold 1961 2 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1881 5428 scrapped 1907 1st #3 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1881 5430 scrapped 1908 2nd #3 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1887 8791 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #3 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 1st #4 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1881 55782 sold to Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad #7 1929 2nd #4 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1899 17124 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #4 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 1st #5 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1882 6089 scrapped 1932 2nd #5 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1899 17123 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #5 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 1st #6 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1882 6090 scrapped 1907 2nd #6 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1877 4223 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #6 merged 1905 scrapped 1926 3rd #6 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1903 22020 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #6 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 1st #7 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1883 6687 scrapped 1932 2nd #7 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1903 22012 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #7 acquired 1928 scrapped 1935 1st #8 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1883 6689 scrapped 1932 2nd #8 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1907 31445 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #8 acquired 1928 donated to Sparks, Nevada 1955 1st #9 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1885 7604 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #16 merged 1905 scrapped 1911 2nd #9 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1909 34035 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #9 acquired 1928 donated to Laws, California 1960 10 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1885 7605 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #17 merged 1905 scrapped 1933 11 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1881 5649 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #11 merged 1905 rebuilt to 4 6 0 1924 scrapped 1934 12 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1881 5650 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #12 merged 1905 rebuilt to 4 6 0 1924 scrapped 1934 13 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1882 6157 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #13 merged 1905 scrapped 1927 14 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1886 7939 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #18 merged 1905 retired 1945 15 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1889 9929 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #22 merged 1905 scrapped 1935 16 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1886 7941 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #19 merged 1905 scrapped 1935 17 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1887 8487 ex South Pacific Coast Railroad #21 merged 1905 retired 1945, then used to provide steam for the SP engine terminal at Salem, Oregon until scrapped 1952. 18 Baldwin Locomotive Works 1911 37395 ex Nevada California Oregon Railway #12 acquired 1928 donated to Independence, California 1955 22 Schenectady Locomotive Works 1899 5399 ex Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad then Nevada California Oregon Railway #22 acquired 1929 scrapped 1949

In Independence, California, a non profit group re incorporated the Carson and Colorado Railway. They have restored locomotive #18, which was left in Independence in excellent condition by the Southern Pacific in 1955. The locomotive moved under its own power for the first time in 62 years on Saturday October 15, 2016. The locomotive is currently housed in a two stall engine house at the Eastern California Museum in Independence, CA. There is close to 1000 feet of track for it to operate on. Former SP boxcars #1C and #15 are on rail with engine #18 as part of the exhibit.