Railroad history roars to life in Boulder City

Part of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, the museum preserves a few miles of the branch line that the Union Pacific built in 1931 to serve the Boulder Dam Project during the construction of Hoover Dam. Weekend excursion trains roll along 7 miles of original track during round-trips that last about 35 minutes.

The Southern Nevada Railway excursion offers an introduction to an era that has nearly disappeared. For many visitors, this train ride may be their first such adventure. Railroads used to connect nearly all towns in America. Today, fewer rail lines operate and far fewer Americans ever board a train.

Dozens of railroads once served Nevada mines and communities. Today, only two major railroads still cross through Nevada. Only three short lines — the V&T from Virginia City to Carson City, the Nevada Northern in Ely and Boulder City’s Nevada Southern — remain from yesteryear.

From its main line through Las Vegas, the Union Pacific branch carried most of the materials needed during the construction of the dam. Boulder City arose from the desert at the same time, created to provide housing and facilities for many of the people working on the dam. Visit the museum in the historic Boulder City Hotel and the Clark County Museum in Henderson to learn more about the dam-building era and the importance of railroads in Southern Nevada.

The Nevada Southern’s tracks parallel U.S. Highway 93 from Railroad Pass into Boulder City. To reach the railroad museum, turn left on Yucca Street. The museum’s parking lot, pavilion, gift shop and train platform are located at 601 Yucca St., and the facility’s huge maintenance building and offices are on the opposite side of the street at 600 Yucca St.

Although the branch line through Henderson still carries occasional trains, the rest of the line through Boulder City and down toward the dam fell into disuse after the installation of the last huge generator in the hydroelectric power plant. Concerns grew among history buffs and railroad lovers that the historic line might disappear. But in 1985 the Union Pacific donated the Boulder City section to the state of Nevada for a railroad museum. Years of planning led to the opening of the maintenance barn and offices in 1996, followed by track rehabilitation in 1997. The station platform and other structures opened in 2000. The first public excursion ran in December 2002.

Trains roll year-round four times a day on Saturdays and Sundays: at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 2:30 p.m. Special events include the daytime Santa Trains and evening Pajama Express trains in December. Call the museum at 702-486-5933 or visit www.nevadasouthern.com online for details and ticket discounts. Fares are affordable at $10 for ages 12 and older, $5 for ages 3 to 11 and free for children younger than 3.

The locomotives and rolling stock acquired by the museum generally require months of painstaking restoration and rehabilitation. Railroad enthusiasts continue to donate their time and labor to this task. Costumed volunteers man the excursion trains, providing expert commentary during the tours. Most are members of the Friends of the Nevada Southern Railway. Proceeds from the gift shop’s railroad-themed toys, books, clothing and keepsakes help fund museum projects and programs.

The railway has four handsome diesel locomotives in service. Rolling stock includes a generator car for train electrical systems, air-conditioned Pullman cars (including one modified for wheelchairs), an open-air car with bench seating, a dining car suitable for events such as weddings and meetings, and a caboose. Three vintage steam locomotives and several refurbished train cars are on display. Scale replicas of old engines steam up on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.

Margo Bartlett Pesek’s column appears on Sundays.