Nevada Copper Belt Railroad facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Lyon County, Nevada |
| Dates of operation | 1910–1947 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad was a special train line in the state of Nevada. It helped connect copper mines to a larger train system. This railroad was built to move copper ore from the Nevada-Douglas Copper Company mines. It linked these mines to the Southern Pacific's train line at Wabuska, Nevada.
The railroad started building south from Wabuska in 1910. It reached Mason, Nevada, by the Walker River. Train operations officially began on March 1, 1910. Construction then continued up the West Walker River canyon. The tracks left the river at Hudson. They finally reached the Nevada-Douglas Copper Company mine at Ludwig on November 1, 1911. The railroad also had tracks that went about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) north from Wabuska. These tracks led to a special factory called a smelter in Thompson. Besides copper ore, the railroad also earned money by carrying farm products. These products came from irrigated farms along the Walker River.
Why the Railroad Stopped Running
The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad faced tough times in 1925. It went into a special financial process called receivership. This happens when a company needs help managing its money. Even so, many goods were still transported by the railroad. But things changed when the Thompson smelter closed down in 1929. A smelter is a factory that melts metal from ore.
More parts of the train line closed later. The section from Hudson to Ludwig was abandoned in 1932. This happened when a plaster factory, the Standard Gypsum Plaster plant, closed. Over time, trucks became a popular way to move farm products. Because of this, the railroad stopped carrying passengers in 1945. Finally, all train operations ended completely in 1947.
The Trains of the Railroad
The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad used several different types of trains. These trains were called locomotives or motor cars. They were used to pull freight cars filled with ore and farm products. Some also carried passengers. Here is a list of the main trains they used:
| Number | Builder | Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 steam engine | 1891 | This train was bought in 1909. It was taken apart for scrap metal in 1916. |
| 2 | Lima Locomotive Works | 2-8-0 steam engine | 1911 | This train was purchased brand new. |
| 3 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-8-0 steam engine | 1912 | This train was also bought new. It was sold in 1921 to the Sierra Railroad. |
| 4 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-8-0 steam engine | This train was bought for its parts. Its tender (the part that carries fuel and water) was used on train number 2. | |
| 5 | ALCO Richmond Locomotive Works | 2-8-0 steam engine | 1925 | This train was bought new. It was sold in 1947 to the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. It was used in two movies: Thundering Rails and Train to Tombstone. |
| 6 | Plymouth Locomotive Works | 6-wheel Gas-mechanical | This train was bought used in 1945. | |
| 20 | Fairbanks-Morse | Passenger motor car | This motor car was destroyed in an accidental fire. | |
| 21 | Hall-Scott | Passenger motor car | 1910 | This motor car had a wooden body and could carry 32 passengers. It is now kept safe at the California State Railroad Museum. |
| 22 | Hall-Scott | Passenger motor car | 1914 | This motor car had a steel body and could carry 25 passengers. It was taken apart for scrap in 1947. |
