G.E. Nordell's Nevada & California Railroads Pages
Carson & Colorado Railway [1880-1905]
Nevada & California Railroad [1905-1912]
Southern Pacific Narrow-Gauge Railroad [1912-1960]
The 300-mile-long narrow-gauge Carson & Colorado Railway was built in 1880 from Mound House, Nevada southward and over Montgomery Pass to serve
the farms and mines of Eastern California, and ended at Keeler on the Owens Dry Lake. Parent Virginia & Truckee Railroad sold the C&C to the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1900; it was reorganized and partly standard-gauged as the Nevada & California Railroad in 1905, then in 1912 was absorbed by the Southern Pacific and operated as its Keeler Branch.
Short History of The Virginia & Truckee Railroad
The standard-gauge Virginia & Truckee Railroad was constructed from Reno to Carson City in Nevada in 1869 to haul ore and supplies for the silver mines of the 'Comstock Lode' in Virginia City, Nevada. The branch to Minden, Nevada was added in 1909. Trains from Mound House to Virginia City ceased in the 1920s; the track was torn up in 1941. The Virginia & Truckee shut down in 1950, but restoration as a heritage railroad began in 1972, with several expansions since then.
official modern V&T RR website •
V&T RR entry at Wikipedia
Short History of The Carson & Colorado Railroad [1880-1905]
The Virginia & Truckee Railroad incorporated the Carson & Colorado Railroad in May 1880 (renamed ..Railway in 1892) as a 3-foot narrow-gauge line over Montgomery Pass to serve communities and mining operations in Eastern California. The 300-mile route southward to Keeler, California was completed in August 1883. The V&T RR sold the C&C RR to the Southern Pacific Company in 1900, just months before silver and gold discoveries at Tonopah and Goldfield in Nevada. SP converted the 140 miles of track from Mound House to Mina from narrow- to standard-gauge in 1905. S.P. bought the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway (it ran northward from Reno) in 1925, converted the track to standard-gauge by 1928, and sold off the narrow-gauge equipment, much of it going to the surviving southern portion of the Carson & Colorado RR, renamed Nevada & California Railway, and later known simply as the Southern Pacific Narrow-Gauge. The standard-gauge Southern Pacific RR 'Keeler Branch' from Los Angeles was shut down in 1960.
there is no official website •
Carson & Colorado Railway entry at Wikipedia
Carson & Colorado Railroad [1880-1960] history site
Carson & Colorado history pages at Narrow Gauge on the Net
Short History of The Nevada and California Railroad [1905-1912]
The Nevada and California Railroad was basically a temporary renaming of the old Carson & Colorado; the N&C RR lasted only seven years.
Short History of The Southern Pacific RR and its Narrow-Gauge Division [1912-1960]
The Central Pacific Railroad built the western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad, from California thru Reno, Nevada to Utah and joined up with the
Union Pacific Railroad at Promontory Point on 10 May 1869. The Central Pacific was taken over by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1885 on a lease basis,
but not formally merged with the S.P. until 1959.
The Southern Pacific Railroad began as a land holding company in 1865 and by 1900 owned or operated 8,300 miles of mainline track from New Orleans to El Paso to Tucson to Los Angeles, then north to San Francisco and Sacramento, including the leased Central Pacific route from Sacramento to Utah. In 1900, The Virginia & Truckee Railroad sold its narrow-gauge Carson & Colorado Railway to Southern Pacific. In 1905, S.P. renamed the line Nevada & California Railroad and standard-gauged the track from Mina to Mound House in Nevada. The Southern Pacific standard gauge line from Mojave to Lone Pine was built between May 1908 and October 1910. In 1912, the Southern Pacific absorbed the Nevada & California. The narrow gauge line from Mina to Benton was abandoned in 1938, and from Benton to Laws in 1942. The last revenue run on the S.P. Narrow-Gauge was in 1959 and the rails were pulled up in 1960.
The Southern Pacific standard gauge line from Lone Pine southward to Searles was abandoned in 1982. The Southern Pacific parent corporation was purchased in 1988 by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad; the Southern Pacific logo and name began to disappear. When Union Pacific purchased the combined S.P./D&RGW in 1998, Union Pacific replaced the names and logos of both railroads.
Central Pacific Railroad entry at Wikipedia •
Southern Pacific Railroad entry at Wikipedia
bare Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge Railroad entry at Wikipedia
C&C - N&C - SPNG RR fansite
RB's C&C - SPNG RR fansite
Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge Historical Society [est. 1981]
excerpt from "Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge" [1982] by Mallory Hope Ferrell
Spirit of America Bookstore's American Railroads Pages
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad [est. 1970] in New Mexico & Colorado Page
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad [1870-1988] Page
Florida East Coast Railway [est. 1885] Page
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad [1876-1942] in California Page
Sierra Railway in California [est. 1897] Page
Virginia & Truckee Railroad [1869-1950, rebuilt 1972 & 2006] in Nevada Page
C&C RR / N&C RR / SPNG RR Route and Stations
 |
Selected stations or water stops of the Carson & Colorado Railroad were (moving southward): junction & interchange with the Virginia & Truckee Railroad at Mound House, Nevada; Dayton [elev. 4,396]; Fort Churchill [elev. 4,200]; Wabuska (junction with 41-mile-long Nevada Copper Belt Railway, 1909-1947); Yerington [elev. 4,295]; Rio Vista; Schurz [elev. 4,127]; Hawthorne, Nevada [elev. 4,331] (7.3-mile branch to Cottonwood, 1890-1902); Luning, Nevada [MP130, elev. 4,480]; Mina, Nevada [MP140, elev. 4,560]; Tonopah Junction, Nevada (junction with Tonopah & Goldfield RR, 1905-1947); Belleville; Filben (spur to Candelaria); Summit, Nevada; Montgomery Pass; Montgomery Tunnel (247 feet long; blocked by cave-in) [MP 461, elev. around 7,000]; Queen, Nevada [MP 466.7, elev. 6,172]; Benton, California; Hammill; Laws, California (now a museum) [elev. 4,117]; Zurich; Monola/Alvord; Aberdeen/Tibbets; Kearsarge [MP 550]; Manzanar, California; Owenyo (junction with Southern Pacific RR to Lone Pine, Ridgecrest, and Los Angeles); and ending at Keeler, California (below the Cerro Gordo Mines). |
Mound House, Nevada junction with V&TRR
Dayton, Nevada [elev. 4,396]
Fort Churchill, Nevada [elev. 4,200]
Wabuska, Nevada junction with 41-mile-long Nevada Copper Belt Railway, 1909-1947
first Wabuska station built by C&CRR in 1881; second Wabuska station built by S.P. in 1906; moved to Carson City & restored 1983
Yerington, Nevada [elev. 4,295]
Hawthorne, Nevada [elev. 4,331] 7.3-mile branch to Cottonwood, 1890-1902
Luning, Nevada [MP130, elev. 4,480]
Luning Depot still standing 
Mina, Nevada [MP140, elev. 4,560]
Tonopah Junction, Nevada junction with Tonopah & Goldfield RR, 1905-1947
Summit, Nevada
Montgomery Pass, Nevada [MP 461, elev. around 7,000]
Montgomery Tunnel 247 feet long; blocked by cave-in
Benton, California
Hammill, California
Laws, California [elev. 4,117]
Laws Railroad Museum & Historic Site [est. 1964]
original 1883 Laws Depot houses the museum
original 1883 agent's house
original 1883 A-frame 'armstrong' turntable
original 1883 water tanks
Zurich, California station for Bishop, California
Kearsarge, California 
Manzanar, California
Owenyo, California junction with Southern Pacific RR to Lone Pine, Ridgecrest, and Los Angeles
Carson & Colorado Locomotive Roster
year whyte name/number history disposition/status 1880 ng Baldwin 4-4-0 (first) #1 'Candelaria' purchased new sold to Eureka & Palisade RR in 1907; to Sumpter Valley #10 in 1912; to Oregon Lumber Company #103; scrapped at Bates, Oregon circa 1936 1914 ng Baldwin 2-8-0 (2nd) #1 ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #14; acquired in 1928 sold to Nevada County Narrow Gauge RR as #9 in 1933; used by U.S. Navy in Hawaii 1942-1945; fate unknown 1953 ng diesel B+B (3rd) #1 General Electric 'Little Giant' 
purchased 10/1953; sold in 1961; still in use in Mexico1881 ng Baldwin 4-4-0 #2 'Bodie' purchased new 
scrapped in 19071881 ng Baldwin 4-4-0 (first) #3 'Colorado' purchased new scrapped in 1908 1887 ng 4-4-0 (2nd) #3 ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #3; acquired in 1928 scrapped in 1934 1881 ng Baldwin 4-4-0 (first) #4 'Churchill' purchased new sold to Nevada County Narrow Gauge RR as #7 in 1929; retired 1934, scrapped in 1937 1899 ng 4-6-0 (2nd) #4 'Comyn' ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #4; acquired in 1928 not used; scrapped in 1934 1882 ng Baldwin 4-4-0 (first) #5 'Belleville' purchased new 
wrecked in 1923; scrapped in 19321899 ng 4-6-0 (2nd) #5 ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #5; acquired in 1928 scrapped in 1934 1882 ng Baldwin 4-4-0 (first) #6 'Hawthorne' purchased new 
scrapped in 19071877 ng 4-4-0 (2nd) #6 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #6; acquired in 1905 scrapped in 1926 1903 ng 4-6-0 (3rd) #6 ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #6; acquired in 1928 not used?; scrapped in 1934 1883 ng Baldwin 4-4-0 (first) #7 'Benton' purchased new scrapped in 1932 1903 ng 4-6-0 (2nd) #7 ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #7; acquired in 1928 not used; scrapped in 1935 1883 ng Baldwin 4-4-0 (first) #8 'Darwin' purchased new wrecked in 1923; scrapped in 1932 
1907 ng 4-6-0 (2nd) #8 ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #8; acquired in 1928 
donated to State of Nevada in 1955; moved to Sparks, Nevada; on display at city park 
1885 ng 4-4-0 (first) #9 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #16; acquired in 1905 scrapped in 1911 1909 ng 4-6-0 (2nd) #9 ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #9; acquired in 1928 donated by S.P. to Laws, California in 1960;
on outdoor display at Laws RR Museum [est. 1964]1885 ng 4-4-0 #10 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #17; acquired in 1905 scrapped in 1933 1881 ng 2-6-0 #11 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #11; acquired in 1905; rebuilt as 4-6-0 in 1924 scrapped in 1934 1881 ng 2-6-0 #12 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #12; acquired in 1905; rebuilt as 4-6-0 in 1924 scrapped in 1934 1882 ng 2-8-0 #13 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #13; acquired in 1905 scrapped in 1927 1886 ng 4-6-0 #14 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #18; acquired in 1905 boiler service in 1945, scrapped in 1951 1889 ng 4-6-0 #15 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #22; acquired in 1905 scrapped in 1935 1886 ng 4-6-0 #16 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #19; acquired in 1905 scrapped in 1935 1887 ng 4-6-0 #17 ex-South Pacific Coast RR #21; acquired in 1905 
boiler service in 1945, scrapped in 19521911 ng 4-6-0 #18 ex-Nevada California Oregon Rwy #12; acquired in 1928 donated to Independence, California in 1955;
being restored in city park 
[5/2012 video #1 2:39] • [8/2012 video #2 2:31]
1899 ng 4-6-0 'Vindicator' #22 built at Schenectady for Florence & Cripple Creek RR; then to N.C.O. Rwy #22 in 1915; acquired in 1929 scrapped in 1949
DB's Carson & Colorado restoration site
Eastern California Museum proposal info {updated 5/2014}
restoration of S.P.N.G. steam locomotive #18
locomotive restoration promos: [5/2012 video #1 2:39] •
[8/2012 video #2 2:31]
photo gallery of S.P.N.G. freight cars at S.P.N.G. Historical Society
1881 B&S-built C&C first class coach #5 was sold in 1938 to Ward Kimball for his backyard Grizzly Flats Railroad,
which was donated in 2006 to Orange Empire Railway Museum.
1882 Carter Bros. C&C second class coach #39 (body only) is at Orange Empire Railway Museum.
1896 V&T-built C&C business car #10 'Esmeralda' (body only) is at Orange Empire Railway Museum.
S.P.N.G. red wooden combine #401 is at the Laws Museum in California
photo gallery of S.P.N.G. cabeese at S.P.N.G. Historical Society
1883 V&T-built C&C yellow baggage-caboose #1 is at the Laws Museum in California
photo gallery of S.P.N.G. freight cars at S.P.N.G. Historical Society
1891 CB-built S.P.N.G. wooden box car #449 is at O.E.R.M.
1892 S.P.N.G. wooden gondola #216 is at O.E.R.M.
1912 N-C-O / S.P.N.G. wooden stock car # 156 is at O.E.R.M.
1915 S.P.-built S.P.N.G. wooden stock car #157 is at O.E.R.M.
1917 S.P.N.G. wooden gondola #223 is at O.E.R.M.
C&C red wooden box car #7 is at the Laws Museum in California
S.P.N.G. red wooden boxcar #17 is at the Laws Museum in California
S.P.N.G. red wooden box car #132 is at the Laws Museum in California
S.P.N.G. red wooden stock car #168 is at the Laws Museum in California
Reading Material
Films & TV, Other Media
 | "Narrow Gauge East of The Sierra" [2007] 31 minutes of color archival footage Sunday River Prodns color DVD [2007] for $28.95 Sunday River Prodns color DVD [undated] for $29.95 + s/h via third party vendors Sunday River Prodns color VHS [undated] for $39.99 + s/h via third party vendor |
 | "The Desert Princess: Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge" [undated]
A&R Prodns DVD [undated] for $29.95 |
Image Gallery
Railroad Links
Carson & Colorado Railway entry at Wikipedia
Central Pacific Railroad entry at Wikipedia
Southern Pacific Railroad entry at Wikipedia
bare Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge Railroad entry at Wikipedia
Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge Historical Society [est. 1981]
Carson & Colorado Railroad [1880-1960] history site
Carson & Colorado history pages at Narrow Gauge on the Net
C&C - N&C - SPNG RR fansite
RB's C&C - SPNG RR fansite
Laws Railroad Museum & Historic Site [est. 1964] near Bishop, California
C&CRR / SPNGRR history & photographs page at the Owens Valley History Site
American Railroads Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore
Railroad Film Festival Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore
'Railroads in Fiction' Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore
'Non-Fiction Books About Railroads' Pages at Spirit of America Bookstore
here on the Carson & Colorado / Nevada & California / Southern Pacific Narrow-Gauge Railroads Page
top of page • short history • route & stations • equipment rosters •
reading material • films & other media • image gallery • links
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad [est. 1970] in New Mexico & Colorado Page
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad [1870-1988] Page
Florida East Coast Railway [est. 1885]
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad [1876-1942] in California Page
Sierra Railway [est. 1897] in California Page
Virginia & Truckee Railroad [1869-1950, rebuilt 1972 & 2006] in Nevada Page
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