| Carson and Colorado Railway | |
|---|---|
| Locale | California and Nevada |
| Dates of operation | 1880–1960 |
| Successor | Southern Pacific Company |
| Track gauge | 3 ft (914 mm) |
| Length | c. 300 miles (480 km) |
The Carson and Colorado Railway was a U.S. narrow gauge railroad that ran from Mound House, Nevada, to Keeler, California below the Cerro Gordo Mines. It was incorporated on May 10, 1880 as the Carson and Colorado Railroad, and construction on the railroad began on May 31, 1880. A track gauge of 3 ft (914 mm) was chosen to reduce cost. Much of the route parallels U.S. Route 95 Alternate, U.S. Route 95, Nevada State Route 360 or U.S. Route 6
The Carson & Colorado began operations with a single Baldwin 4-4-0, the Candelaria. The first train arrived at Keeler on August 1, 1883. The 300-mile route reached an altitude of 7100 feet in Montgomery Pass.[1] The railroad served an arid area heavily dependent on mineral resources for economic activity. The line was reorganized as the Carson and Colorado Railway in 1892 to reduce accumulated debt.[2]
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The Virginia and Truckee Railroad, the parent company of the C&C, sold the line to the Southern Pacific Company in 1900. Silver and gold discoveries at Tonopah, Nevada and Goldfield, Nevada provided a major boost of revenues shortly after the Southern Pacific purchase.[2] The northern 140 miles from Mound House to Mina, Nevada was standard-gauged in 1905; and the C&C was merged into the Southern Pacific's narrow-gauge subsidiary, the Nevada and California Railroad.[3] The Nevada and California Railroad was reorganized into the Central Pacific Railroad in 1912.[3] In the early 20th century, it operated under the name "Southern Pacific Keeler Branch". Portions of the line were abandoned in the 1930s and the 1940s, and the last narrow gauge common carrier made its final run on April 29, 1960.[4] The rails were removed in January, 1961. The former parent company, the V&T, is currently being reconstructed.
| Number | Builder | Type | Date | Works number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st #1 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1880 | 5285 | sold to Eureka and Palisade Railroad 1907 |
| 2nd #1 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-8-0 | 1919 | 41300 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #14 acquired 1928 sold to Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad #9 1933 |
| 3rd #1 | General Electric | Diesel | 1954 | 32226 | sold 1961 |
| 2 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1881 | 5428 | scrapped 1907 |
| 1st #3 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1881 | 5430 | scrapped 1908 |
| 2nd #3 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1887 | 8791 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #3 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 |
| 1st #4 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1881 | 55782 | sold to Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad #7 1929 |
| 2nd #4 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1899 | 17124 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #4 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 |
| 1st #5 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1882 | 6089 | scrapped 1932 |
| 2nd #5 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1899 | 17123 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #5 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 |
| 1st #6 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1882 | 6090 | scrapped 1907 |
| 2nd #6 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1877 | 4223 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #6 merged 1905 scrapped 1926 |
| 3rd #6 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1903 | 22020 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #6 acquired 1928 scrapped 1934 |
| 1st #7 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1883 | 6687 | scrapped 1932 |
| 2nd #7 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1903 | 22012 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #7 acquired 1928 scrapped 1935 |
| 1st #8 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1883 | 6689 | scrapped 1932 |
| 2nd #8 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1907 | 31445 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #8 acquired 1928 donated to Sparks, Nevada 1955 |
| 1st #9 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1885 | 7604 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #16 merged 1905 scrapped 1911 |
| 2nd #9 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1909 | 34035 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #9 acquired 1928 donated to Laws, California 1960 |
| 10 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-4-0 | 1885 | 7605 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #17 merged 1905 scrapped 1933 |
| 11 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-6-0 | 1881 | 5649 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #11 merged 1905 rebuilt to 4-6-0 1924 scrapped 1934 |
| 12 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-6-0 | 1881 | 5650 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #12 merged 1905 rebuilt to 4-6-0 1924 scrapped 1934 |
| 13 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 2-8-0 | 1882 | 6157 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #13 merged 1905 scrapped 1927 |
| 14 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1886 | 7939 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #18 merged 1905 retired 1945 |
| 15 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1889 | 9929 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #22 merged 1905 scrapped 1935 |
| 16 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1886 | 7941 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #19 merged 1905 scrapped 1935 |
| 17 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1887 | 8487 | ex-South Pacific Coast Railroad #21 merged 1905 retired 1945 |
| 18 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1911 | 37395 | ex-Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #12 acquired 1928 donated to Independence, California 1955 |
| 22 | Schenectady Locomotive Works | 4-6-0 | 1899 | 5399 | ex- Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad then Nevada-California-Oregon Railway #22 acquired 1929 scrapped 1949 |
