Nevada's iconic Virginia & Truckee is a highlight of any visit to Northern Nevada. And #29, the Robert C. Gray, is a staple of the legacy of this legendary railroad.
Built back in 1916 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, this 2-8-0 spent her steam era career either as a swamp crawler for the Louisiana & Pacific as their brand-new #252 or as redwood stomper #680 for the Longview, Portland, & Spokane who stuffed her into a roundhouse in Longview, Oregon in the 1960's.
Robert Gray, the man who resurrected the V&T, bought the locomotive at auction in 1977 and gave her new life harvesting dollars from millions of rider's wallets to ride the scenic mountainous terrain of Nevada's Great Basin & Comstock Lode.
The 29 is an interesting machine with her shotgun stack and saturated (or wet) steam, she has an iconic bark that is only amplified by the echoes of the mountains of Virginia City and Gold Hill.
These clips were shot over 2022 in the locomotive's final year of operation before her 1472 overhaul. The first part was in September as the regular season began to die down. The wintertime shots were the results of a trip with @virginiatruckee to catch the locomotive as she pulled the Candy Cane Express & Train O' Lights in the frigid December air.
Also heavily featured in this video is the other mascot of the V&T: Ed Gallegos
30 сен 2024
