Western Railroad Discussion > UP's Boulder City Branch and the Nevada Southern RR

The other day took a day trip to Vegas/Hoover Dam, and noticed the Nevada Southern RR. Couldn't ride it, as their season wasn't yet operating. Anyhow, heading back to Vegas along Highways 93/95 just pass the Railroad Pass Casino, the tracks have been paved over Highway 93/95. The dumb question to ask is this: the equipment that belongs to the Nevada Southern RR is "trapped" along that section? What if a piece of equipment needs to get out?

How did their cars get there? Was it before the tracks were paved over?
I was shocked to see a three-or four mile railroad with no outside connection to the rest of the US rail network.

And satellite images of Google Maps shows the tracks paved over.

Previously before the track was paved over the majority of the equipment arrived by rail. Afterwards such as their recent addition a 80 tonner by truck. Plans are in the works for a run around track at Railroad Pass and a highway bridge at Boulder Hwy/State Route 95. Presently completion date on the latter is to be determined, but some time in the coming year (2008) the railroad will no loger be trapped.
Of course as it stands in the summer with the high heat there's been talk that they could take a train and run over the roadway, the tracks are still there just paved over.

Went through Boulder City on our 2005 vacation and wondered the same thing (Rt. 95 crossing). Good to know they will be "connected" again.

Got to wonder if they might attract more riders operating from the edge of Vegas rather than out of Boulder City?? Or is the ultimate plan to run all the way between the two?

When I was there, I was trying to visualize how/where the tracks went to the dam construction site back in the day. Is there a website/book/other source that has a good map or photos of the 1930s-era Boulder City trackage? What year did they cut the track back to its current endpoint?

Thanks in advance for replies,

NZ

Check the Library of Congress American Memory collection and the Denver Public Library collection. I sawpictures in one of my surfing expeditions.

You might also want to check Google Earth, I can recall seeing them on the west side a little away from the Dam my last triup over there.

NebraskaZephyr Wrote:
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> What year did they cut the track back to its
> current endpoint?
>

Did a search and found this: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=423

Scroll to the bottom of the page and there's a link to a rinky-dink map.

It says the tracks were dismantled and sold for scrap in 1962.

My dad happened to be out there and watched them lower the final generator in '61.

The tracks across Boulder Highway were still exposed/usable sometime in the 90's I'm pretty sure. Time flies, so it could be farther back, but not much.

CZ

The tracks were paved over in the late nineties, like 97 to 98 give or take. As you go down the hill from Boulder City to the dam, just pass the visitors center turn-off look to your left. You will see a hard rock tunnel bore, that is the old rail line.

Ken - if only I could believe it would happen in 2008! Don't see why the 95 crossing could not be opened up sooner (other than $$$, installing crossing gates, etc), but that is not a priority with the State! Then we could go down to the Fiesta Bowl - that's where the ride should start. There is a piece of vacant land there that would be perfect - does anyone know who owns it?
rrChuck/Las Vegas

Thanks for the link to the trail site. Went back and loked at our vacation pix and sure enough, you can see the trail in a couple of shots, now that I know where to look....

NZ