Bound for Carson City. Looking resplendent in the morning sunshine, V&T #22 "Inyo" heads south toward Carson City with a short passenger train. Photographed in this location at the north end of the NSRM complex, the story line above is almost believable. Actually, the Inyo is bringing her restored Caboose-Coach #9 into the Wabuska Station, in preparation for her run in the NSRM's morning "Parade of Trains."
I've visited the Nevada State Railroad Museum a number of times in the past, but it has always been on my bucket list to be there for the 4th of July, which is the only weekend when the Inyo is out making demonstration runs. My visit in 2017 did not disappoint. The weather in Nevada was "severe clear" the entire time I was there, and the Inyo was just beautiful to watch. She is obviously immaculately cared-for and this year, the museum brought out Caboose-Coach #9, which has been restored to its 1873 appearance. It is the first time I have ever seen an engine of this era (original or replica) paired with a coach that was historically correct for the same era. Inyo typically does not pull more than one car for a couple of reasons. First, she's operating at a reduced pressure of 70 PSI, and second, because the oldest V&T cars, such as #9, do not have any air brakes, so the locomotive is doing all of the braking.