Virginia & Truckee Railroad Tunnel #3 "Homestead Tunnel" (1869-1938)
Gold Hill, Nevada

The Virginia & Truckee opened in 1870 to transport ore from mine to mill between Virginia City and Carson City, Nevada. After once operating 40 trains per day, the V&T ceased service to Virginia City by 1938 due to mining declines and highway development. The V&T had a total of seven tunnels, all originally timber-lined:

Tunnel 1: Lake View Tunnel aka Summit Tunnel (367 feet, milepost 26.8, collapsed and bypassed in 1932)
Tunnel 2: American Flat Tunnel (566 feet, milepost 45.9, restored for tourist railroad in 2008)
Tunnel 3: Homestead Tunnel aka Gold Hill Tunnel (250 feet, milepost 50.3, partially collapsed and bypassed by tourist railroad)
Tunnel 4: Yellow Jacket Tunnel aka Ward Tunnel (433 feet, milepost 50.5, restored for tourist railroad in 1987)
Tunnel 5: Julia Tunnel (93 feet, milepost 51.1, daylighted in 1938)
Tunnel 6: E Street Tunnel (587 feet, milepost 51.9, sealed under E Street in Virginia City)
Tunnel 7: Washington Street Tunnel (on the C&C Mine spur in Virginia City)

The V&T was reborn as a steam-powered tourist railroad in Virginia City in 1976. After a failed attempt to restore Tunnel #3 in the late 80's, the new V&T reached Gold Hill in 1991 by building a 19-degree curve around the partially-collapsed tunnel. For photos of the tourist operation, please see the Virginia & Truckee Railroad Gallery.

Note: This text and accompanying photos are the copyright of Christopher Muller and may not be reproduced in whole or in part on any website, message board, or other medium.