|
Gold Hill Depot
Photo by Terri McBride,
Courtesy of Nevada State Historic Preservation Office |
By the late 1860s, it had become apparent to Comstock mine owners that
a more efficient means to transport ore from the mines to the mills along
the Carson River (as far as 15 miles away) was needed. The Virginia &
Truckee Railroad (V&T) was built under the direction of William Sharon,
manager of the Bank of California, owner of many mines and most of the
mills on the Comstock. The V&T has been called the most famous of the
American shortline railroads. The Gold Hill Station on the V&T was completed
in September 1869, and the first locomotive passed through American Flat
Tunnel on November 3 of that year. That day the engine Lyon, covered
in garlands of flowers, pulled into Gold Hill Station, where the mayor
and other dignitaries were gathered to celebrate the completion of the
railroad.
Historic photograph of depot, with
train arriving
Photo courtesy of Nevada State Archives |
|
The Gold Hill station was located on a sharp curve in the railroad line--one
of the few flat places available in Gold Hill. As a result the passenger
section of the building is trapezoidal thereby accommodating the limited
amount of space available. Indeed this depot was intended as a temporary
building to be replaced at a later date. The station served passengers
and freight, and was also a telegraph station. Gold Hill was a regular
stop on the V&T, along with Reno, Carson City and Virginia City. The station
was decommissioned by July 19, 1938, when the Reno pulled the last
V&T train out of Virginia City and Gold Hill. Service on the V&T line
from Virginia City to Gold Hill was revived in the 1990s. More than 130
years after this "temporary" building was constructed it has been rehabilitated
and once again serves a traveling public.
The Gold Hill Depot for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad is located
at the north end of Gold Hill, one mile south of Virginia City on Hwy.
342. The depot is open to the public during special events in the summer,
although visitors may park in the lot and examine the exterior of the
building anytime.
|