For All Amateur Railroaders By Cyn Bagley on Aug 03, 2008 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

Museums. I love museums. And, when my son-in-law and daughter said that their son loved trains, my husband and I decided that they needed to see the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, Nevada off Hwy 395.

On the weekend there is a train or a motor car that rolls down the track. It is not a long track, but it gives the railroad enthusiast some fun. But, the train or motor car do not run during the week. It is strictly on the weekend.

So when we went to the museum the motor car wasn't running. But, it was NOT a disappointment. For the kids, there is a small wooden train called "Whistlin' Billy." The children can climb into it and pretend they can drive the train. There are large trains like Train 22, which is recognizable because it was in many western movies many years ago. At the end of the museum, there is a small electric train that goes through a desert scene, another great fun thing for young'uns.

But, what excited the dad and grandpa was a hand-powered handcart on a rail. The kids, grandpa, and dad pushed the handcart lever up and down. They went about twenty feet and came back. It was an old cart that had been used on the Northern Nevada railroads. The men would go down and check the track.

In the back the McKeen train was being refurbished. They have been working on that engine/car for about three years now. They hope to have it ready by next year.

If you want to see some great train pictures and more information about this museum, the link is http://www.nsrm-friends.org/ .

The price for the museum is quite inexpensive at 4.00 for adults, 3 for senoirs, and 0 for children under 18. There is a lot of things to see including a store. Most of the people working at this museum are volunteers who are train enthusiasts. They are willing to give you any information you want about past or current trains.

I would recommend this museum to anyone interested. Also, there is a Nevada State Railroad down in Boulder City Nevada. So if you ever come up to Northern Nevada and see Lake Tahoe, take a side trip down to Carson City, Nevada and see the trains.