Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad in Virginia City and Nevada City, Montana
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesRuns daily May 23 to September 7, 2026
Charlie Bovey laid the Alder Gulch Short Line across old gold dredge tailings in 1964, and today this 30-inch narrow gauge railroad, owned by the State of Montana, still carries summer visitors the mile and a half between Virginia City and Nevada City.
- 30-inch narrow gauge
- Built in 1964 by Charlie Bovey
- 1.5-mile mainline
- 15-minute narrated ride
- Owned by the State of Montana
- Kids 3 and under ride free
Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad at a glance
- Hours
- Daily May 23 to September 7, 2026; first trip 10:30 am from Nevada City, last 6 pm from Virginia City
- Admission
- Adults $10 round trip, $8 one way; youth 4 to 11 and seniors $8 round trip, $6 one way; 3 and under free
- Train rides
- Narrated 15-minute narrow gauge ride every half hour in season; groups of 6 or more $8 each round trip
- Plan for
- About 1 to 2 hours with a stop in the other town
- Best for
- Young train fans and families touring Virginia City
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 10
- Parking
- Visitor lots in Virginia City and Nevada City
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address413 West Wallace Street, Virginia City, MT 59755(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(406) 843-5247
- Websitevirginiacitymt.com/Experience-The-Old-West/Train-Rides-and-Schedule(opens in a new tab)
Follow Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad
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Taking the kids to Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Virginia City and Nevada City.
Rally Takes the Train
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Narrow gauge track laid on gold dredge tailings
Local entrepreneur Charlie Bovey built the Alder Gulch Short Line in 1964, laying 30-inch narrow gauge track on the dredge tailings left along Alder Gulch by gold mining. His mainline ran a mile and a half between Virginia City and Nevada City, and he hoped one day to push it on to the town of Alder, further west down the gulch, where the real railroad had stopped.
The first locomotives were a pair of coal-fired Davenport Dinky engines that came from the Anaconda Company's smelter in Great Falls. They pulled visitors through the summers of the 1960s, until worn-out ties made steam unsafe. A small gasoline Work Train took over in 1972. In 1991 an engine house fire in Nevada City destroyed both Dinkys along with the Work Train and a large store of railroad artifacts.
Help came from Michigan. John Larkin of the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad rebuilt the Work Train and cars for the line, and on July 31, 1999 he and his crew delivered Engine No. 12, a steam locomotive they had spent more than two years restoring to museum quality. No. 12 is one of four 30-inch gauge outside-frame 2-8-0 Consolidations that Baldwin built in 1910 for the Ferrocarril Mexicano's Zacatlan Branch.
The line has had lean years. Funding problems kept No. 12 off the rails in 2010, and in 2011 the Montana Heritage Commission said neither the steam nor the gasoline train would run for the foreseeable future. Supporters kept the cause alive, and today the railroad, now owned by the State of Montana and run by the commission, is back to carrying passengers every summer.
Fifteen minutes between two gold rush towns
The ride is a narrated tour of about 15 minutes each way, rolling past the scenery of Alder Gulch while a guide explains the area's history. You can board at either end. In Virginia City, the train leaves from the depot and visitor center at 413 West Wallace Street on the west edge of town. In Nevada City, it leaves from the Bovey Visitor Center, with tickets sold across the highway at the Nevada City Museum and Music Hall.
Most riders go one way, spend time exploring the other town, and ride back at the return time they picked when they bought tickets. Travel listings describe the current train as the No. 8 Bovey Train, an electric engine set, and say the smaller No. 8 handles weekday runs. Ask at the depot which equipment is running the day you visit.
Don’t miss
- Engine No. 12A 1910 Baldwin 2-8-0 built for a Mexican narrow gauge branch line and restored to museum quality in Michigan before arriving in 1999. Ask whether it is on display or running during your visit.
- The No. 8 Bovey TrainThe train named for the line's founder handles the shuttle between the towns in current seasons.
- The dredge tailingsLook out the window at the rock piles along the gulch: the railroad is built right on top of what gold dredges left behind.
- Virginia City DepotThe depot is the line's Virginia City station and visitor center, with exhibits, a gift store and the ticket window.
A ride sized for small travelers
At about 15 minutes, the ride is short enough for toddlers and long enough to feel like a real trip. Children 3 and under ride free, youth fares cover ages 4 to 11, and picking a one-way ticket lets you walk around Nevada City or Virginia City before riding back.
Public restrooms are at the Virginia City Depot and the Bovey Visitor Center. The train does not run in bad weather, so have a backup plan on stormy summer afternoons.
Plan your visit: tips for Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad
- Buy tickets in person the day you ride; they cannot be reserved or bought by phone.
- Choose your return time when you buy so your seat back is guaranteed.
- Trains leave Virginia City on the hour and Nevada City on the half hour.
- Capacity is limited, so arrive earlier on busy summer weekends.
The state, the commission and the supporters
The State of Montana owns the railroad and the Montana Heritage Commission runs it, putting ticket revenue back into preserving Virginia City and Nevada City. A Facebook group of Alder Gulch Short Line supporters formed during the years the trains sat idle. Riding the train is the most direct way to help it keep running.
Pair the train with nearby rail history
The Montana Heritage Commission railroad exhibits in the same two towns tell the line's full story, including the 1991 roundhouse fire. The Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway is about 57 miles away and the Livingston Depot Center about 72 miles. For a wider plan, see every Montana train museum on our list.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A narrated ride means someone on board is telling the story as you go, and I think kids remember that voice as much as the scenery. In our book it's Mr. Conductor, in his blue uniform, holding out a hand to help Rally on. My mom always said the kind people on a trip are the best part. Our train books for toddlers list has more stories like that.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
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- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Montana
- Halloween train rides in Montana
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad official website(opens in a new tab)
- Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Alder Gulch Shortline: 20 rider questions
What is the Alder Gulch Shortline Railroad?
The Alder Gulch Shortline is a 30-inch narrow gauge tourist railroad owned by the State of Montana. It runs a mile and a half between Virginia City and Nevada City on track built over gold dredge tailings, giving riders a narrated 15-minute tour of the gulch. Charlie Bovey built it in 1964.
Is the Alder Gulch Shortline running in 2026?
Yes. As of October 2026, the Montana Heritage Commission lists the Alder Gulch Shortline running every day from May 23 to September 7, 2026, with limited capacity. The train does not run in bad weather. Call 406-843-5247 before the season to confirm dates.
What is the Alder Gulch Shortline schedule?
For the 2026 season, the first trip leaves Nevada City at 10:30 am and the last trip leaves Virginia City at 6 pm. Trains leave Virginia City at the top of each hour and Nevada City at the half hour, so you are never waiting long for the next departure.
How much does the Alder Gulch Shortline cost?
As of October 2026, adult fares are $10 round trip or $8 one way. Youth ages 4 to 11 and seniors 65 and up pay $8 round trip or $6 one way. Groups of six or more pay $8 each for a round trip, and children 3 and under ride free.
Where do you buy Alder Gulch Shortline tickets?
Tickets are sold in person only, first come, first served, at the Virginia City Depot at 413 West Wallace Street or the Nevada City Museum and Music Hall at 1578 Highway 287. They cannot be reserved or bought by phone, and you can only buy them on the day you ride.
Where does the Alder Gulch train leave from?
In Virginia City the train leaves from the depot and visitor center on West Wallace Street, on the west edge of town along Highway 287. In Nevada City it departs from the Charles A. and Sue Ford Bovey Visitor Center, across the highway from the Nevada City Museum, where tickets are sold.
How long is the Alder Gulch Shortline ride?
The ride is a narrated tour of about 15 minutes each way along the mile and a half mainline. Because you pick a return time when you buy tickets, many families ride one way, spend an hour or so exploring the other town, then catch their reserved train back.
Do I have to choose a return time on the Alder Gulch train?
Yes. When you buy a round trip ticket, you pick both your departure and return times. This guarantees a seat for you and your group on the trip back. Staff at the Virginia City Depot and the Nevada City Museum will help you judge how much time you need in the other town.
Is the Alder Gulch Shortline good for toddlers?
Yes. The 15-minute ride is a good length for little ones, children 3 and under ride free, and you can split the trip with a stop in the other town. Public restrooms are at the Virginia City Depot and near the Bovey Visitor Center. Bring layers, since the train does not run in bad weather.
Who built the Alder Gulch Shortline?
Charlie Bovey, a local entrepreneur, built the railroad in 1964 to carry visitors between Virginia City and Nevada City. He dreamed of extending it to the town of Alder, further down the gulch. His first engines were two coal-fired Davenport Dinky locomotives from the Anaconda Company smelter in Great Falls.
What is Alder Gulch Shortline Engine No. 12?
Engine No. 12 is a 30-inch gauge outside-frame 2-8-0 Consolidation, one of four that Baldwin built in 1910 for the Ferrocarril Mexicano's Zacatlan Branch. John Larkin of the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad and his crew spent over two years restoring it, then delivered it to Alder Gulch on July 31, 1999.
Is the Alder Gulch Shortline a steam train?
The line has run both steam and other power over the years. Current travel listings describe an electric engine train and the No. 8 Bovey Train on the route. The steam locomotive No. 12 did not run in 2010 because of funding problems. Ask at the depot whether any steam runs are planned during your visit.
What happened to the original Alder Gulch steam engines?
The two original Davenport Dinky locomotives burned in an engine house fire in Nevada City in 1991. The same fire destroyed the gasoline Work Train that had carried passengers since 1972 and a large store of railroad artifacts. John Larkin later rebuilt the Work Train and cars for the line.
Why did the Alder Gulch train stop running?
In February 2010 it was announced that Engine No. 12 would not run that summer because of funding problems, and on April 18, 2011 the Montana Heritage Commission said neither the steam nor the gasoline train would operate for the foreseeable future. The railroad has since returned, with a 2026 summer season.
What gauge is the Alder Gulch Shortline?
The Alder Gulch Shortline is 30-inch narrow gauge, much narrower than standard railroad track. Engine No. 12 was built for the same 30-inch gauge in Mexico in 1910, which is part of why it suited the line. The small scale makes the cars feel close to the ground and easy for kids to watch.
Does the Alder Gulch Shortline run in bad weather?
No. The train does not run in bad weather, which in a Montana summer can mean afternoon thunderstorms. If the sky looks threatening, check at the Virginia City Depot before you buy tickets, and plan indoor stops such as the Nevada City Museum as a backup.
Are there group rates on the Alder Gulch Shortline?
Yes. As of October 2026, groups of six or more pay $8 each for a round trip. For larger tour groups or school field trips, call the Montana Heritage Commission at 406-843-5247 on a weekday between 8 am and 5 pm to plan ahead, since tickets are otherwise sold first come, first served.
Who owns the Alder Gulch Shortline today?
The State of Montana owns the railroad, and the Montana Heritage Commission operates it along with the historic sites in Virginia City and Nevada City. Revenue from train tickets and other attractions goes toward preserving and operating the two towns.
Is there a gift shop at the Alder Gulch Shortline?
Yes. The Virginia City Depot has a gift store with books and Alder Gulch souvenirs, and it is also where you buy train tickets on the Virginia City end. The depot doubles as a visitor information center with displays and videos about the town's history.
What other train sites are near the Alder Gulch Shortline?
The Montana Heritage Commission's railroad exhibits are in the same towns. The Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway historic district is about 57 miles away, the Livingston Depot Center about 72 miles, and the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula about 147 miles.
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