Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City

Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City
Overview
Union Pacific EMD GP30 No. 844: The primary road power of the heritage railroad
Headquarters	Boulder City, Nevada
Locale	Boulder City, Nevada
Dates of operation	2002–present
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length	7 mi (11 km)
Other
Website	www.boulderrailroadmuseum.org

The Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City is a railroad museum in Boulder City, Nevada which is an agency of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The railway is located on the Boulder City Branch Line, the historic railroad route installed to support construction activities at the Hoover Dam.^[1] The state obtained the tracks and right of way from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1985.

Heritage railroad

The museum operates a heritage railroad which offers passenger excursion trains using historic railroad equipment on a 7-mile, 45 minute round trip. Operations began in 2002, and the museum also offers the opportunity for passengers to ride in the locomotive cab, the caboose and to operate trains (subject to reservations and availability).^[2]

This ride is usually powered by Union Pacific EMD GP30, No 844, which became famous for necessitating the renumbering of steam locomotive 844 to 8444 from 1962 to 1989.^[3] It weighs approximately 125 tons and has a turbocharged V16 engine that develops 2250 hp.^[4] It was donated to the museum and refurbished in Union Pacific colors.

As part of the Interstate 11 project NDOT has replaced the bridge over US Route 93 that was taken out of service in 1998 during the widening of Highway 93 into Interstate 515. In April 2018, a grade separation was put in place at the former grade crossing near Railroad Pass Casino, re-linking Boulder City and Henderson together.^[5]

7½ inch miniature railway

The museum hosts a 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge railroad. The miniatures are 1/8th full size and accommodate children and adults easily.

Equipment

Locomotives^[6]
Name	Class	Locomotive Type	Manufacturer	Year built	Status	Notes
Eureka 12		Steam	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1896	Awaiting restoration	Narrow gauge (3 ft)
Union Pacific 264	UP C2	Steam	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1903	On display
Pacific Lumber 35		Steam	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1923	On display	Was also used on the Heber Valley Railroad
	30-tonner	Diesel	Davenport	1936	On display	Used for the construction of the Hoover Dam
Union Pacific 1000	NW2	Diesel	EMD	1939	Operational	Painted in the Nevada Southern Railway livery
Jackass & Western L-3	25 tonner	Diesel	GE	1943	On display	Also operated on the Nevada Test Site
US Army Transportation Corps 1855	H-12-44	Diesel	Fairbanks-Morse	1953	Operational
Jackass & Western L-2	80 tonner	Diesel	GE	1953 or 1964	On display	Also operated on the Nevada Test Site
Union Pacific 844 (Not to be confused with Union Pacific 844)	GP30	Diesel	EMD	1963	Operational	This locomotive was the reason why Union Pacific 844 was renumbered to 8444
Amtrak 315	F40PHR	Diesel	EMD	1979	Off property	To be moved from Spokane, Washington. This locomotive will stay inoperable as it lacks a prime mover