Thorne, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thorne, Nevada
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Railroad junction
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Mineral |
| Named for | Shortened form of Hawthorne, Nevada. Thorne is seven miles northeast of Hawthorne. |
| Elevation | 4,196 ft (1,279 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 844291 |
Thorne, Nevada was once a busy railroad hub and a small town. It is located in Mineral County, Nevada. Today, it is mostly a historic site, known for its past as a key train stop.
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Thorne: A Nevada Railroad Town
Thorne was an important place where train tracks met. This allowed trains to change routes or connect to different lines. It was a vital spot for moving goods and people in the past.
Early Days of Thorne
Thorne first became a train station in 1881. It was part of the Carson and Colorado Railway. Trains would stop here on their long journeys.
In 1905, a special train line that went to nearby Hawthorne was closed. Because of this, Thorne became the main end point for trains going to Hawthorne.
A Busy Hub
Between 1909 and 1910, Thorne became a very active place. This was because of a mining boom at the Lucky Boy Mine. Many people came to Thorne, and it even had two saloons.
Thorne also had its own post office. It was open from July 1912 until September 1921. This shows that many people lived and worked there.
Thorne and the Army Depot
In 1929, construction began on the Hawthorne Army Depot nearby. Thorne became the main shipping point for this big project. Everything needed for the depot came through Thorne.
By 1937, Thorne was connected to the Southern Pacific Railroad. This made it even easier to move goods.
World War II and Train Traffic
During World War II, Thorne was incredibly busy. At first, it handled about 380 train car loads each month. But during the war, this number jumped to an amazing 5,000 train cars per month! Thorne played a big role in supporting the war effort.
Thorne's Legacy Today
In 1983, the old Thorne Depot building was planned to be torn down. While the depot was demolished, some parts of it were saved. These parts, along with the Wabuska Railroad Station, were moved to the Nevada State Railroad Museum. This helps preserve the history of Thorne.
Today, trains still use the tracks near Thorne. However, they do not come as often as they used to. Most of the train traffic now serves the Hawthorne Army Depot.
