Can anyone tell me what is it used for?
Mike
This is what remains of the Tonopah and Las Vegas. Goes within a very few miles of the nuke dump in/next door to Area 51 they are building. Remains of main line now just a spur to the AFB.
Never have understood why they don’t just relay the T&LV from Las Vegas to the point where they would turn East to the mtn instead of building brand new railroad across the test site from Calentie.
its the governmen what do you expect
It is Nellis AFB.
Is he refering so a spur going north from the mainline or to the short spur going south into the main base? The spur at the former Castle AFB went past the fuel tanks then to some warehouses. They probably used rail to bring in supplies and fuel decades ago. I would guess any rail spur at most AFBs have not been used in years.
Indeed, Nellis. Just wait until the Yucca Mountain Nuclear (Not “nu-cu-lar”) Depository gets going. There will be several trains a day transporting nuclear waste through your town on the way to its “final” destination far below the Mojave Desert floor. Oh, wait…that’s not Nellis (and the so-called “Area 51”…HA!)…that’s the Nevada Test Site. Much more important.
Before the underground testing began the Las Vegas Casinos used to feature early morning special breakfasts then bus everyone to the edge of town to see the mushroom cloud rise from Mercury.
My guess is if they had a Nuclear accident on a train passing through Las Vegas on its way to the Nuclear Depository it would not even interupt the gambling, Remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Yeah, I was wondering what the plan was with that. Like SamSooter was saying, it’s the government. Why leave it to logic?
Thanks for the info![:)]
Mike
…Another UP branch in the Vegas area is or was…?? the one out to Boulder City…Does anyone know if it is still there…and if it has any use…Believe TRAINS had brief article on a possible tourist train to run on it some months ago…Believe that is the line that at one time extended all the way to Boulder Dam…as it was used to haul material to the dam during it’s construction…
Years ago when I was involved in automotive tests in the area I explored some of the abandoned ROW near the dam and noted tunnels…
From what I’ve seen, the rail no longer goes all the way to Vegas. It’s been taken out where it crosses the highway. I’d love to explore the abandoned ROW. There’s a rail museum in Boulder, but I don’t know about excursions. That would be an interesting excursion line if it went out near the dam. With all the tourists, I’d think it might be a good one.
Quentin- I was just out there in October, and it looked that part of the line is still in service with the rail museum in Boulder City (It is a small one whose name escapes me, probably because I didn’t have the chance to stop there since my family wasn’t eager to visit) but unless I missed another connection I believe it doesn’t go all the way through to Boulder City anymore, rather a section of it that crosses South Boulder Hwy/93/95 was torn out between Henderson and Boulder City. Here is the section I’m referring to courtesy of Google Maps:
[#wstupid]Sorry, you’ll have to cut and paste as for some reason I can’t get the form page to link to it.There should be plus signs between the words Las and Vegas and ,NV
There is a older casino just to the southeast that would have a great view of the tracks if they were getting any use but thinking about it further I’m not sure what company in Boulder City they’d service anymore. As for the Hoover Dam I asked and their rail lines are only used to move generator parts short distances if at all.
Mike
P.S. It’s the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Here’s the link:
http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/museums/BoulderCity/rr.htm
…WDGF…It is an interesting ROW to take a look at…I worked in the area 30 some years ago and did it at that time. After leaving Boulder City and {going towards the dam}, and starting down grade on Rt. 93…{I believe it is}, at that time one could look over to the left and see a large horseshoe curve the ROW traveled as it made it’s way towards the dam…I expect that area is fully covered with houses now…
And as for that highway crossing…{again Rt. 93}, the rails were paved over way back then…but the rails were still in as they headed off down past Henderson and on to Vegas…Down near the water edge of the dam…some distance from it…there are a few tunnels that were still open back then and I’d guess they are still are…Looked like solid rock all around them…Interesting stuff…
My wife, son, and I drove through there back during January 2004- I remember alot of construction going on to reroute the highway over new bridges just downstream from the dam. Is that done yet?
Mike…Interesting stuff…I haven’t yet tried to check out your Google stuff…but understand there may have been considerable changes since I’ve been there…{see above post of mine on 30 years plus, etc}…Perhaps the railroad activity they were telling you about is down at the level below the *** of the dam…near the powerhouses, etc. used to move equipment around down there…The rail line I speak of did go to the dam and terminated above the massive metal towers that most likey are still there…That UP RR I traced down from Boulder City did haul supplies to the dam back in the mid 30’s when it was built. If you get back out there again, try to get down near where the water is backed up along the NV side of the dam and you will see the ROW remnants and some tunnels…
Good one! [:D][:D][:D]
Mike…Another thought: I haven’t tried it yet but one could try TerraServer {satellite photos}, of the area just beyond Boulder City…{towards the dam}, and seek out the old ROW I speak of…I will try that a bit later and see if I can find the route I’m talking about.
Yeah, you may also want to try Google Earth. If you haven’t checked it out, you should…quite a trip.
Michael
…Thanks…
supposed to be done in 2008…I think. Last I heard they shot some cables from one side of the canyon to the other. Some Oriental company is supposed to erect the bridge. Kinda crazy looking acros there and seeing the machinery perched on the side of that chasm. BTW where the rails cross 95 hwy going into Henderson is called Railroad Pass, the casino located there goes by the same name.
Now howduya think they got all them recovered ‘flying suacers’ up to Area 51?
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