Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, Nevada

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Carson City, Nevada · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Railroad museumTrain ridesOpen Thursday to Monday; train rides on scheduled days

The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City collects, restores and runs the locomotives and cars that served Nevada, led by the engines of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, so visitors can hear, smell and ride the state's railroad history.

  • Opened in 1980
  • Virginia & Truckee locomotives and cars
  • Steam and motor car rides
  • Kids 17 and under free
  • Historic Wabuska depot on site
  • Working restoration shop

Nevada State Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Thursday to Monday, 9 am to 4:30 pm; closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and major holidays
Admission
$10 adults; free for ages 17 and under and members
Train rides
Steam and motor car rides on scheduled days per the museum's 2026 timetable; ride tickets are separate from admission
Seasonal events
Harvest Train, Santa Train, Motor Car Rally, Behind the Rails lectures
Plan for
About 2 hours, more with a train ride
Best for
Families with kids of any age and V&T fans
Best ages
Toddlers to teens

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Nevada State Railroad Museum? 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 Carson City.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From the V&T Railroad Museum to a statewide collection

The museum opened in Carson City in 1980 under the name Virginia & Truckee Railroad Museum, which most people shortened to the V&T Railroad Museum. That first name says a lot about where the collection began: with the locomotives and cars of the Virginia & Truckee, the railroad that tied Carson City, Virginia City and Reno together. In 1985 it took the name Nevada State Railroad Museum, reflecting a mission that now covers railroads and railroading across the whole state.

Some of the collection came home by an unusual route. Much of the equipment had been bought by Hollywood studios and used in movies and television before the museum acquired it. Today the museum is operated by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and has a sister location in Boulder City.

What makes the Carson City museum different from a static display is that it runs its trains. Select pieces of the collection are restored and operated throughout the year to show how steam and early gasoline technology worked, on both standard gauge and 3-foot narrow gauge track. A restoration supervisor and restoration specialists work in the museum's own shop, and the museum keeps an ongoing research program, lectures and an annual railroad history symposium.

None of that happens without volunteers. The museum says it depends on many talented volunteers to guide tours, staff the grounds and help run the trains, and visitor reviews often single out the volunteer guides and the gentleman in period clothing working the switch. The annex, where you can step into passenger cars, opens when enough volunteers are on hand.

Locomotives, motor cars and a depot from Wabuska

Exhibits are spread between the Jacobson Interpretive Center and the Annex. In the Interpretive Center you will find V&T No. 12, the Genoa, built by Baldwin in 1873 to pull express passenger trains, and V&T No. 21, the J.W. Bowker, bought from Baldwin in 1875 and named for the railroad's master mechanic. Both are on loan. A communication exhibit explains how trains ran by published timetables, and the Jack and Marge Gibson Collection shows 15 half-inch scale models of V&T locomotives plus motorcar No. 22.

The Annex holds working equipment: V&T No. 25, built in 1905 and the first new locomotive the V&T bought since 1876; the Glenbrook, a Baldwin built in 1875 for the Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Company; V&T McKeen Motor Car No. 22; and the Edwards Motor Car No. 401 from the Tucson, Cornelia & Gila Bend, bought in 1926. V&T No. 22, the Inyo, is off display for restoration. Train ride tickets are sold in the Wabuska station, a historic depot moved to the grounds and still used as a working station.

Don’t miss

  1. V&T Locomotive No. 25Built in 1905, it was the first new locomotive the Virginia & Truckee bought since its boom days, and the museum steams it up for train rides.
  2. The GlenbrookThis 1875 Baldwin narrow gauge engine worked for the Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Company and now pulls riders at events like the Harvest Train.
  3. V&T No. 12, the GenoaAn 1873 Baldwin that pulled express passenger trains on the V&T, displayed in the Jacobson Interpretive Center.
  4. Edwards Motor Car No. 401Bought in 1926 to serve the mining town of Ajo, Arizona, it turned 100 in 2026 and got its own Motor Car Rally.
  5. The Wabuska depotA real station moved from Wabuska, Nevada, where you still buy your train ride tickets.
  6. Jack and Marge Gibson CollectionFifteen detailed half-inch scale models of V&T locomotives and motorcar No. 22, a good close-up for kids who cannot see over a full-size frame.

Handcars, pumpkins and a ride behind steam

Kids 17 and under get into the museum free, which makes it an easy add to a Carson City day. Train rides run on scheduled days behind steam locomotives or historic motor cars, and at events like the Harvest Train families can pick a pumpkin, try the museum's handcar and ride behind V&T No. 25 or the Glenbrook. Kids also tend to love watching the crew put the trains away at the end of the day and the volunteer in period clothing who throws the switch.

The scale models in the Jacobson Interpretive Center bring the big engines down to eye level for little ones. Ride tickets are separate from museum admission, so check the timetable before promising a train ride.

Plan your visit: tips for Nevada State Railroad Museum

  • Check the train ride timetable before you go, since rides run on set days only.
  • Train rides are not included in museum admission.
  • The annex opens when enough volunteers are on hand, so ask at the front desk.
  • The museum is closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
  • Call (775) 687-6953 ahead if you are planning a group tour or photography.

Fall brings the Harvest Train, with steam rides behind V&T No. 25 and the Glenbrook, a pumpkin patch and a turn on the handcar, and the season closes with the Santa Train. Tickets for both go fast, so watch the museum's events page. For more seasonal ideas, see our guides to Christmas train rides in Nevada and fall and Halloween train rides in Nevada.

State staff, a restoration crew and many volunteers

The museum is run by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, with a small staff, a restoration supervisor and restoration specialists in the shop. Volunteers guide tours, open the annex and help run the trains, and the museum welcomes new ones. You can also support it through a membership, which includes free admission, a gift through its Give page, or a stop at the museum store.

More Comstock and Sierra railroading near Carson City

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad in Virginia City is about 13 miles away and lets you ride the line these engines once worked. Over the state line, the Truckee Railroad Museum is about 26 miles off and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola is about 59 miles. The museum's sister site is the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City, and you can see every train museum in Nevada on our state page.

Every train museum in Nevada

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Families who visit here keep mentioning the volunteer in period clothes who runs the switch, and I love that. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand to Rally, and it is the moment that makes the trip feel safe and grand at the same time. People like that are the heart of every train ride. If your little one wants to color Mr. Conductor, he is on our coloring pages.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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

Work or volunteer at Nevada State Railroad Museum?

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

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City?

The museum is at 2180 South Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada 89701, on the south side of town along Carson Street. Train ride tickets are sold at the Wabuska depot on the grounds. If you need directions or help planning, call the museum at (775) 687-6953.

What are the Nevada State Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the Carson City museum is open Thursday through Monday from 9 am to 4:30 pm and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It also closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Train rides run on their own schedule, so check the ride timetable separately.

How much are Nevada State Railroad Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, museum admission in Carson City is $10 for adults and free for children 17 and under. Museum members also get in free. Train rides are not included in admission and are ticketed separately, so budget for both if your family plans to ride. Tickets can be bought through the museum's website.

Can you ride a train at the Nevada State Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum restores and runs pieces of its collection, including steam locomotives like V&T No. 25 and the Glenbrook and historic motor cars, on scheduled ride days through the year. The 2026 timetable is posted on the museum's website. Ride tickets are bought at the historic Wabuska depot on the grounds and are separate from admission.

When do Nevada State Railroad Museum train rides run?

Rides follow the museum's yearly timetable rather than running every open day. As of October 2026, the events calendar showed V&T No. 25 train rides from 10 am to 3 pm on October 30, October 31 and November 1. Download the 2026 timetable from the museum's website or call (775) 687-6953 for upcoming dates.

What events does the Nevada State Railroad Museum hold?

The Carson City museum hosts the Harvest Train in fall, the Santa Train at the holidays, special celebrations like the 2026 Motor Car Rally for the Edwards car's 100th birthday, and Behind the Rails evening lectures. It also holds an annual railroad history symposium. The events page on its website lists current dates and tickets.

What is the Harvest Train at the Nevada State Railroad Museum?

The Harvest Train is the museum's fall celebration. Families ride behind V&T Locomotive No. 25 and the Glenbrook under steam, pick out a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch and try the museum's handcar. Dates and tickets for each year's Harvest Train are posted on the museum's events page, and tickets are sold separately from regular admission.

Does the Nevada State Railroad Museum run a Santa Train?

Yes. The Santa Train is one of the museum's ticketed holiday events and is listed under Events on its website. Dates, times and prices change each year, so check the site in the fall and buy early. You can also call (775) 687-6953 with questions about the holiday schedule.

What locomotives are at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City?

Highlights include Virginia & Truckee No. 25 from 1905, the 1875 Glenbrook from the Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Company, V&T No. 12 Genoa and No. 21 J.W. Bowker on loan, V&T McKeen Motor Car No. 22 and Edwards Motor Car No. 401. V&T No. 22, the Inyo, is currently off display for restoration.

When did the Nevada State Railroad Museum open?

The museum opened in Carson City in 1980 as the Virginia & Truckee Railroad Museum, often called the V&T Railroad Museum. It was renamed the Nevada State Railroad Museum in 1985 as its mission grew to cover railroads across the state. It is operated by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

Is there a Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City too?

Yes. The Nevada State Railroad Museum also has a location in Boulder City in southern Nevada, with its own hours, events and train rides. The Carson City museum in northern Nevada focuses heavily on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. The two sites are a long drive apart, so make sure you are booking tickets for the right one.

Is the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Ely?

This page covers the Carson City museum in western Nevada. Ely is far to the east, and its railroad history is shown at separate sites on the grounds of the Nevada Northern Railway, each with its own hours and tickets. Check the town name before you buy anything, and use our Nevada state page to find the Ely museums.

Is the Nevada State Railroad Museum good for kids?

Yes, and it is easy on the budget, since children 17 and under get in free. Kids can ride behind real steam engines on scheduled days, try the handcar at events, see scale models up close and watch volunteers in period clothing at work. Visitors with children often say the knowledgeable volunteers made the day.

Can you go inside the train cars at the Nevada State Railroad Museum?

Sometimes. The annex at the back of the museum lets visitors step into the passenger areas of the cars, but it is only open when enough volunteers are available to staff it. Ask at the front desk when you arrive, or call (775) 687-6953 ahead to see whether the annex is expected to be open.

How long should I spend at the Nevada State Railroad Museum?

Plan on about two hours to see the Jacobson Interpretive Center and the annex at a comfortable pace. Add time on a ride day for the train ride and the wait at the Wabuska depot, and longer still for events like the Harvest Train with its pumpkin patch and handcar.

Does the Nevada State Railroad Museum have reviews from visitors?

Visitors consistently praise the volunteer guides, the quality of the restorations and the chance to ride trains that the museum actually operates. Several reviews mention guided tours of the shop, engine demonstrations and watching the crew put trains away at the end of the day. Many recommend timing a visit for a ride day.

Does the Nevada State Railroad Museum offer group tours?

Yes. The museum has a Plan a Tour page on its website for groups and school visits, and it encourages visitors to contact it as they plan a trip, whether for a tour, photography or an event. Call (775) 687-6953 or email the curator of history to arrange details.

Is the Nevada State Railroad Museum hiring?

The museum's contact page lists its staff positions, and some, such as Curator of Education and Museum Attendant I, have been shown as vacant. As a state-run museum, job openings are handled through Nevada state hiring. For current openings, call (775) 687-6953, and if you simply want to help, the museum also has a volunteer program.

How can I volunteer at the Nevada State Railroad Museum?

The museum says it depends on many talented volunteers, who lead tours, staff the annex, help with events and support train operations. Visit the Volunteer page on its website to learn more and apply, or call (775) 687-6953. You can also support the museum with a membership, a donation or a purchase at the museum store.

What train museums are near the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City?

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad in Virginia City is about 13 miles away. Across the California line, the Truckee Railroad Museum and the Truckee Donner Railroad Society are each about 26 miles off, and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola is about 59 miles away, so a full rail weekend is easy to plan.

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Kelsey Cecil
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