Welcome to the railroad commissary online railroad book catalog. The new railroad finally connected the nations east coast with southern west virginia, via the towns of white sulphur springs, hinton, charleston and the newly created city of huntingtonnamed in honor of the railroads president. At its peak, 40 trains a day were operated, including a lightning express with connections to san. One must see virginia city to even remotely understand it. History virginia city, nevada historic comstock mining. Are nuts about trains, have a love for history, like to be working on a fun project outdoors, want live steam maintenance or operating experience, havewant machine shop, welding, or foundry experience. At its peak, virginia city was a thriving, vibrant metropolis of 25,000 residents. Railroad history in the united states is nearly as old as the country itself, dating back to the mid1820s. A history of the virginia and truckee railroad ted wurm, harre w.
The lines eastern terminus was at hanover junction presentday doswell, about twenty miles north of richmond, where it joined the richmond. The virginia general assembly chartered the louisa railroad, the predecessor of the virginia central railroad, in 1836. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in virginia city, nevada on tripadvisor. It was built in 1868 to serve virginia city, the site of the richest silver strikes in history. The authors trace the rise of virginia city and the comstock lode. Dont forget to bookmark this page so you can return easily and often. But like other mining boom towns, virginia city would eventually begin to decline, beginning in 1877.
In 1866, virginia city became the first town in montana to get a telegraph. The 15 best things to do in virginia city 2020 with. The railroad commissary bookshelf we specialize in outofprint and hardtofind used rr books. Here the latest of derek hayess historical atlases delves into the history of the. Map of the proposed line of rail road connection between tide water virginia and the ohio river at guyandotte, parkersburg and wheeling scale ca. History virginia city, nevada historic comstock mining town. The plan was to build the railway between virginia city and the carson river near present day. It was incorporated on march 5, 1868 by the bank crowd to serve. He draws on interviews with former employees and oldtimers to convey the rich 80year history of the line and its rebirth beginning in 1976. With 45 years invested in research, author stephen e. The virginia and truckee railroad is a privately owned historical heritage railroad, headquartered in virginia city, nevada.
The 15 best things to do in virginia city 2020 with photos. During the war, the virginia central was a key element in virginia s vast rail network, the most extensive in the south. A railroad was deemed necessary because of the high cost of freighting goods by wagon into and out of virginia city, and the need to carry ore to the mills along. A number of newspapers were published out of virginia city over the years, and several schools were established. By the beginning of the 20th century, kankakee, a town that formed because of the railroad, was a thriving industrial city, as well as a railroad center served by five major railroad lines. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Known for, railroad history and documenting cafe society. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. Lucius morris beebe december 9, 1902 february 4, 1966 was an american author.
On april 15, 1907, william nelson page became the first president of the new virginian railway. Halesowen chronicle newspaper harlow star newspaper kidderminster chronicle newspaper mk news newspaper books by language additional collections featured movies all video latest this just in prelinger archives democracy now. If you are interested in this subject three books on the topic are a must, all written by john h. The cal poly swanton pacific historical railroad society is dedicated to those who. The comstock lode discovery and subsequent growth of virginia city is unequaled in the history of the american west. After beebe and clegg purchased the virginia city, they had it refurbished and. Established in 2009, the virginia and truckee railroad historical society is dedicated to the promotion of research and presentation of the history of the virginia and truckee railroad, 1869 1905, the virginia and truckee railway 19051950, and the affiliates, the connecting rail lines and the comstock area in general, as well as aiding in the preservation of artifacts of this period. As he notes, the story of americas first passenger cars built from. In 1847, the state of virginia took a 60% interest in the capital stock of the company, which it. The virginia city depicted on bonanza was located at rko forty acres in hollywood. Lc railroad maps, 81 description derived from published bibliography. From carson city the last 15mile extension south to minden was constructed during 19051906 to tap the fertile agricultural. The mines needed timbers and props, the new city of virginia needed lumber for construction.
Train information and history virginia city, montana. In the past few years, local writers have produced arcadia books on reno, lake tahoe, carson city, virginia city, truckee and other locations for its images of america series. Penned by local experts, each images of america book weaves the history of a community in stories and rare photos, from its beginnings to today. Tunstall, a lawyer in chatham, virginia, who was also a member of the virginia general assembly. Today, the virginia city shortline is a great opportunity to enjoy the scenery and learn about the surrounding area. Virginia city is near the site of the fictitious ponderosa ranch on the western television drama bonanza. The line remained largely in confederate hands throughout the war and was essential to the rapid movement of troops and supplies, especially between richmond and the shenandoah valley. Nevada \ lake tahoe narrow gauge railroad lake tahoe narrow gauge railroad. A railroad was deemed necessary because of the high cost of freighting goods by wagon into and out of virginia city, and the need to carry ore to the mills. From the time it was first established through its decline, virginia city suffered five widespread fires, the worst of which was dubbed the great fire of 1875, which burned nearly 75% of the town and caused some 12 million dollars in damages. The b street house inn, originally built in 1875, underwent an awardwinning restoration in 2007 and is now a threebedroom guest inn. As such, the shows characters made visits to the town regularly. Virginia central railroad during the civil war, the. With two train attractions and a plethora of history told in our museums, its a must stop for trainlovers.
History of virginia city and nevada city virginia city and nevada city lie along alder gulch, the site of the richest placer gold strike in the rocky mountains with an estimated total value of 100 million dollars throughout the 18th and 19th century. Americas long romance with the train has been the subject of many books, but none has used contemporary maps to comprehensively illustrate the story. White, jr the american railroad passenger car parts i and ii and the american railroad freight car. It contains original scholarship and fresh interpretations that set the standard in railway research. The line, which included 21 miles from carson city to virginia city opened january 1870. The fourth ward school museum brings comstock history to life in interactive displays, and a restored 1876 classroom. Today visitors to virginia city enjoy a ride over nearly three miles of the. Since most readers are probably unfamiliar with the history of roads in virginia, it was thought proper to devote the first section of that work to a sketch of the development of road transportation here up to the coming of the period of intense railroad development in the nineteenth century.
It was incorporated on march 5, 1868 by the bank crowd to serve the mines of the comstock. Virginia city bed and breakfasts provide an elegant and rich experience in lodging. Map of west virginia showing relief by hachures, drainage, cities and towns, and the railroad network with emphasis on the main line. As we know, this great nation would not have grown and prospered as it did without the railroads, which brought together the young country and allowed for unprecedented prosperity. History beginnings 184761 the new richmond and danville railroad was championed by whitmell p. Thousands of people, twain included, journeyed to virginia city to make their fortune in the mines or simply to mine the miners. The history and stories of virginia city are as unique, rich and colorful as the streets and buildings themselves. Its a living, breathing example of americas fortitude and desire to achieve. In 1847, the state of virginia took a 60% interest in the capital stock of the company, which it would hold until 1871. Virginia city is home to many charming and informative museums. In 1868, virginia city had some 1,200 buildings it has 237 major structures today.
These books were used by surveyors to either show land and existing structures or show proposed structures. All books set in virginia city on the global book map. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. A story of virginia city and comstock times lucius. Virginia city and the comstock lode legends of america. It is further complicated by the lack of historical documents available. The virginia and truckee railroad is one of the most famous short lines in american history. The virginian railway company was formed in virginia on march 8, 1907 to combine the deepwater railway in west virginia and the tidewater railway in virginia into a single interstate railroad, only a few months after victoria was incorporated.
Richmond, fredericksburg and potomac railroad wikipedia. Front cover for the book railroad schemes by cecelia holland. It was the locale of the 1940 film virginia city, set during the civil war, and starring errol flynn. Step right on to main street at any point in history, and be immersed in the wonder and unique flavor of life in your town, or any town in america. The richmond, fredericksburg, and potomac railroad reporting mark rfp was a railroad connecting richmond, virginia, to washington, d. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. The virginia central railroad during the civil war. Virginia city retains an authentic historic character with board sidewalks, and numerous restored buildings dating to the 1860s and 1870s. With headquarters at carson city, vicepresident henry m. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, virginia.
Arcadia publishing local and regional history books. The virginia city shortline railroad was built by charlie bovey in 1964 to connect virginia city, montana to nevada city a mile and a half away. Draft 20 virginia statewide rail plan once europeans colonized virginia, the transportation network developed as a farmtomarket system, expanding beyond the trails initially created by native americans. Virginia city sprang up after the discovery of the comstock lode of silver ore in 1859.
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