Railroad Museum gets steamed up

Railroad enthusiast Mark Dwyer of Reno sees this area's history, mountains and railroads as a "golden triangle."

"It's three things I love," said the Nevada State Railroad Museum volunteer Sunday.

Dwyer was the brakeman on the Tucson, Cornelia & Gila Bend Motor Car as it made laps around the museum grounds.

"(The car) never did make it to Tucson," said volunteer Jim Hall of Smith Valley. "That was a dream they had that never happened."

There are other "steam ups" and events planned throughout the summer.

On May 17, the museum will celebrate Armed Forces Day.

"We traditionally try to get military equipment here -- of course, this year it's kind of sparse because everybody's off fighting a war," said John Frink, program coordinator for the museum.

On that day, all veterans and active-duty troops may ride for free. They will also get free rides on Memorial Day weekend May 24, 25 and 26, Frink said.

Because May, 18 is also International Museum Day 2003, folks will get free admission to the museum.

It has an exhibit opening this month called "A Snapshot of V&T Locomotives by Mike Collins." The grand opening is May 24. There will also be free museum entry on that day.

On Saturday and Sunday of the weekends of Mother's Day and Father's Day, parents will get free rides.

Also on the weekend of Father's Day, June 14 and 15, the Nevada State Railroad Museum will run a steam train with a locomotive built by Cook Locomotive Co. in 1882. Two of the cars were built in the 1870s, and the caboose was built in 1903.

On the Fourth of July, July 5 and 6, the museum will fire up the boilers on the Inyo locomotive that Frink calls the oldest operating steam locomotive in the country. Built in 1875 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, the Inyo has polished brass fixtures and a perfectly.

Frink hopes to line up vintage car clubs to show their old Fords and Hudsons for the weekend.

The museum will show free movies after dark in Ted "Slim" Gibson Park on the museum grounds on the second Wednesdays in July and August. Personnel wlll use a video projector to show films right on the back of the building, and folks are welcome to bring lawn chairs and a picnic.

"We haven't determined what the movies are going to be yet though," said Frink.

Information

For details, call the Nevada State Railroad Museum at 687-6953.

Museum motor car rides are $1 for adults, 50 cents for ages 6-11 and free for under 5.

Steam train rides are $2.50 for adults, $1 for ages 6-11 and free for under 5.