More than 150 dignitaries and folks who have worked nearly two decades to bring back the Virginia & Truckee Railroad enjoyed a leisurely 90 minute ride from Virginia City to Carson City Friday night - the inaugural run of the historic railroad in its new incarnation as a tourist train.
Former Carson Mayor Marv Teixeira hailed it as the biggest boon to western Nevada tourism ever and "just the taste of what comes down the road in the future."
He said there is huge demand for the train that should draw tourists from around the world.
For others, the train brought back memories. U.S. Rep. Dean Heller said his mother told him stories about the original V&T.
"When Mom was in elementary school in Carson City, she knew when the whistle blew, she had to be sitting in her desk or she was late."
Wayne Capurro said his grandfather, Harry Callahan, would catch the train from a siding at the family's ranch between Reno and Carson City.
"He'd hold his hand out and the train would stop," he said.
And Chris Chrystal, public information officer for the Tourism Commission, said she made a surprising discovery when she first saw the passenger cars the Gray family purchased for the train. She told Bob Gray the wicker seats in the cars looked just like those on the Erie/Lackawanna train in New Jersey where she grew up. Gray informed her that's exactly where the cars originated and that she probably rode on them as a child.
Bob Hadfield, who chaired the V&T Railroad Commission when contracts to lay the track from Gold Hill to the Carson City line at Highway 50 were let, said the event is "wonderful for the people of Virginia City and Carson City."
Ron Allen, who has been involved in the project 17 years, said the VIP run's guests also included Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki; Sen. Bill Raggio; Gov. Jim Gibbons; numerous county, tourism and railroad commissioners; area convention and visitors bureau staff as well as others who have been involved over the years.
There were a few bugs along the way. The train was an hour and a half late leaving Virginia City. The toilet in one of the passenger cars stopped functioning halfway through the trip, and the electric lighting quit before the train entered the first of two tunnels.
"We knew something had to happen," said Allen.
The biggest bug, however, was that the newly delivered steam locomotive that will be the mainstay of the V&T in the future couldn't be used Friday.
Allen said Sierra Railroad, which has had the locomotive on loan for several years, "didn't maintain it to the proper standards." Instead, the locomotive that has hauled passengers for the Grays between Virginia City and Gold Hill pulled the inaugural train.
The crowd celebrated throughout the 10 mph ride down the newly laid track with wine pouring freely. The train passed historic mining mills and processing plants. Riders watched as a herd of wild horses crossed in front of the train and a mule deer eyed the hissing locomotive suspiciously as it passed by.
There were spectators taking pictures all along the route and drivers on Highway 50 stopped, honking as the train crossed above them at the end of its 17 mile journey.
For Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau director Candy Duncan it was a double celebration: Friday was her birthday, prompting a rousing if somewhat ragged song to celebrate from her fellow passengers.
Passengers cheered as the train crossed the bridge over Highway 50 with one yelling, "History!"
Then, as engineer Jerry Hoover put on some power and the train chugged up the final small hill at Eastgate Siding, one passenger chanted, "I think I can, I think I can."
