Steam-up thrills youngsters

Virginia & Truckee engine No. 25 pulled into the old Wabuska station Saturday afternoon with a loud blast on the whistle and much clanging of the brass bell.

The steps on a bright red Nevada Copper Belt caboose were lowered and Chile Bartells, a 3-year-old Minden lad, clambered down, partly under his own power and partly while dangling from great-grandmother Lorene Downey's hand.

"I liked the whistle," Chile said, while 6-year-old sister Wednesday said the best part was getting to choose to ride in the red caboose.

Chile wanted to take the huge black steam engine home, but great-grandfather Bill Downey figured the youngsters would be satisfied with the toy pufferbelly they picked up in the Nevada State Railroad Museum gift shop.

The Labor Day Steam-Up continues today and tomorrow at the museum, at Carson Street and Fairview Drive, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Volunteers will man the ticket window inside the relocated small-town Nevada station, with rides $2.50 for adults and teens, 50 cents for children 6-11 and free for passengers under age 6.

Also free is the chance to take a self-powered excursion aboard a railroad hand car.

Saturday, two families from Hollister, Calif., were among those making that short trip. Jared Penzo, 4, and Jacob Penzo, 3, joined Dane Miller, 4, and Kara Miller, 3, at the handles of the vintage contraption. Museum volunteer Tom miller suggested that a little more oomph would be needed for the trip, so dads Shawn Penzo and Bob Miller put their shoulders to the task. Letty Ponzo got it all down on film.

Kathy Miller said the families had come to Lake Tahoe for the holiday weekend and made the trip into the valley because they knew about the steam-up.

As part of the steam-up, the Marine Corps League will man the vending tents, selling cold drinks and freshly grilled sausage sandwiches from Carson City's own The Sausage Factory.

The museum's Interpretive Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The admission charge is $2 and children under the age of 18 get in free. There is no charge for entrance to the museum grounds.

Other steam-ups scheduled for the year will take place on Oct. 21, 22 and 28 and Dec. 9-10.

The Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum present a free educational program the second Wednesday of each month. The next talk is Steam Train Rides in the Four Corners States on Sept. 13.

For information about museum activities, call John Frink at 687-6953.