V@T RAILROAD PROGRESS

[LUCKYDOGJIM]

HOWDY THERE FRIENDS! A LITTLE NEWS ON THE V@T IS IN ORDER. THEY ARE NOW ON THE LAST PHASE OF LAYING TRACK. THE TRACKS NOW CROSS U.S. HWY 50 VIA AN OLD BRIDGE THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE RESTORATION TEAM. THE TRACK CURRENTLY STOPS ABOUT A THIRD OF A MILE SOUTH OF 50. HERE THERE IS A TEMPORARY SIDING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN RIDE FROM VIRGINIA CITY TO THIS SPOT AND RETURN. THE NEXT PHASE HAS THE TRACKS LAID ALONG THE CARSON RIVER RIGHT OF WAY THEY USED TO USE TO BRING ORE DOWN TO THE MILLS ALONG THE RIVER. THE FINAL PHASE WILL BE BUILDING A DEPOT AND PARKING LOT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CARSON CITY. THE PHOTOS SHOW THE TRACKS AT 50 AND SOUTH. THIS BONANZA RAILROAD WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SHORT LINES EVER BUILT WITH BILLIONS YES WITH A B FOR BAMA CARRIED OVER ITS TRACKS.. ONE OF THE FEW RAILROADS THAT EXIST TODAY FROM AMERICAS WILD WILD WEST.

[Wolfgang]

Looking good . . . I'll get over there one of these days . . . . :)

[LUCKYDOGJIM]

HEY WOLFGANG. FINALLY GOT THE CABOOSE FINISHED. WHEN AROUND RENO LET US KNOW AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY FOR YOU TOSTAY THERE AND CHECK OUT THE LOCAL GOLDMINING AND CORNISH HISTORY IN NEVADA COUNTY CA. THE EIGHT SQ MILES AROUND GRASS VALLEY CA PRODUCED HALF OF ALL THE GOLD PRODUCED IN CALIF TO DATE.

[LUCKYDOGJIM]

THE QUEEN OF THE COMSTOCK RAN IRON AND SMOKE.....BUILT TO KEEP THE MINE OWNERS FROM GOING BROKE........SHE WAS ELEGANT AND USEFULL IN THOSE OLD DAYS.......RAN MANY A CORKSCREW IN TURNS AND WAYS....RAN FROM OLD CARSON CITY TO THE SHADOW OF THE COMSTOCK LODE........WISH I WAS ALIVE BACK THEN TO ......SAY SHE WAS ONE RAILROAD I RODE........ BILLIONS IN GOLD AND SILVER SHE CARRIED.........DOWN FROM MT DAVIDSON SHE WOULD OFTEN TARRY........THROUGH TUNNELS AND WASHOUTS AND SNOW DRIFTS SHE WENT.........STRUGGLING FOR YEARS WITH ENGINES WELL SPENT......FINAL TREK TO OL VIRGINIA WAS IN 1938.........THE END OF THE V@T WAS PAINFULLY NEAR.........BAD MANAGEMENT IN THE 1950S MADE THE END REAL CLEAR........NEVER A WHISPER OF SMOKE WOULD THE CANYONS APPEAR............UNTIL SOME FOLKS WITH A VISION COULD COME STEER......THE EFFORTS TO REBUILD HER ONCE AGAIN BECAME NEAR ....IN THE HEARTS OF SO MANY HELD SO DEAR............AGAIN THE V@T RIDES ITS RAILS IN TIME......GO TO NEVADA AND RELIVE ITS PAST........THE TRAIN ROARS UP THE MOUNTAIN ..........ITS SHADOWS DOES CAST....THE SMOKE FROM ITS SMOKE STACK WE SEE WITH AGHAST.............THANKS TO JOHN TYSON AND MR GRAY FOR THEIR LOVE........OF THE VIRGINIA AND TRUCKEE RAILROAD.......ONCE AGAIN HER WHISTLE WILL BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...............WRITTEN BY LUCKYDOGJIM IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO MADE THE V@T A DREAM COME TRUE..........WEST I MEAN................

[LUCKYDOGJIM]

V@T RAILROAD PROGRESS............THE TRACKS SOUTH OF HWY 50 HAVE BEEN EXTENDED DOWN THE CARSON RIVER TO THE EUREKA MILL SITE. THAT LEAVES APPROX 4.5 MILES TO GO TO EXIT THE RIVER CANYON. THIS IS PHASE 3 AND THE LAST OF THE TRACK LAYING FOR THE RESTORATION PROJECT. HOPE THEY FINISH THE PROJECT THOUGH THE HARDEST PART OF THE PROJECT IS FINISHED. CARSON CITY IS SQUAWKING ABOUT THEIR SHARE OF THE PROJECT . LUCKYDOGJIM