# All Aboard! V&T Railroad to Virginia City, Nevada *By James Hills — Updated February 2025* Allllllll aboard! It's time to take a journey into the past and explore a time when the west was barely settled and riches were sitting just below the surface of the earth simply waiting for someone to uncover them. During this time, one of the greatest mining booms in the United States happened in Virginia City, site of the 1859 Comstock Lode. That discovery instantly turned men into millionaires and the city exploded from just a handful of miners to 25,000 residents. With that explosive growth and the city's remote location at 6,200 feet elevation on the side of a mountain, a railway was needed. While the V&T railway isn't the exact same as what once serviced the city, it is a great way for guests to reach Virginia City from Carson City today and it provides a better perspective on Virginia City's history than simply driving up the twisty turny roads. By 1863 (only 4 years after the Comstock Lode was discovered), [Virginia City](https://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/) included gas and sewer lines, a one hundred room International Hotel with an elevator, three theatres, the Maguire Opera House, four churches, and three daily newspapers. At it's peak, the city had a population of more than 25,000 residents and was one of the richest cities in America - a partner to San Francisco, which had boomed due to the riches flowing out of the California gold fields 10 years earlier. ### Top Hotels For Bachelor Parties in Las Vegas - Updated For 2026 These are our picks for the top Las Vegas Bachelor Party Hotels. 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Despite this high volume of traffic, the V & T Railway became known as the "Very Crooked and Terribly Rough" Railroad due to the twisted and winding route up the mountain. While I have to imagine that our experience was probably more smooth than that over a hundred years ago I can certainly identify with that sentiment. ## Man Gear Pick of the Month September's Pick Amazon (affiliate) ### Kenyon City Grill Portable Stainless Steel Electric Grill Why we picked it: a grill you can actually carry to the campsite, the tailgate or the cabin without borrowing a truck. Stainless, no propane tank to wrestle, and hot enough to cook for four guys rather than reheat for one. 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Luckily this was not the end of the story for the [V&T railway](https://vtrailway.com/). In 1972, Robert Gray acquired part of the right of way and began reconstructing the historic route. By 1979 trains had started rolling again and now operates between the Carson City Depot "Eastgate" and Virginia City. While the heyday is long over, [Virginia City](https://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/) is still an active mining area and takes you back in time like almost nothing else can. Along the route we say a herd of wild mustangs, passed through hand-dug tunnels that were so narrow that you could nearly touch the walls from the train, and past both historic remains of mines and ones that are still operating today.  Steam trains run between May and October. However, there are various tickets and routes available throughout the year, including the Polar Express leading up to Christmas and Dinner Trains and Wine Tasting Trains. The two main routes are Carson City-Virginia City, a 24-mile round trip that makes a great way to visit Virginia City, and the 4-mile road trip between Virginia City - Gold Hill. Tickets can be purchased on their website. Whether you are visiting with a bunch of guys to relive the days of the wild west on your mancation adventure or doing a romantic weekend with your wife to go shopping in Virginia City, a ride on the historic V&T Railway is more than worth both the time and money. There aren't that many authentic experiences like this that are left for us these days and so when you get one it's hard to pass up! Top Picks Flow Voyages ### Book your next cruise with Heather at Flow Voyages Flow Voyages is a travel advisor specializing in cruises and resorts. [Contact Flow Voyages](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/0edFAJHPrSNOVcEsJYqGLg.617) Promoted by FlowAds Details Written by: James Hills Last Updated: 27 February 2025 ### 🚢Ready To Book A Vacation? 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V&T Railroad to Virginia City, Nevada](https://www.mantripping.com/travel/all-aboard-v-t-railroad-to-virginia-city-nevada.html)* **Tags:** Nevada Guys Trip Ideas, Travel Ideas