BY JIM PRICE
ANOTHER CENTENNIAL IN GOLDFIELD'S HISTORY
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So imagine this: during 1906 and 1907, one train crew was building from Goldfield south to Beatty (BG) at the same time as another train crew was building north from Beatty to Goldfield (LV&T). Ah, the great spirit of competition (and in this case unnecessary duplication). BG won by a few months: its first train traveled between Goldfield and Beatty in May, 1907. LV&T’s first train arrived in Goldfield in October of that year.
So, by the end of 1907, Goldfield had one route north and two parallel and competing routes south – just in time for the nationwide financial panic of 1907, and a general downturn in the fortunes of mines at Rhyolite and Bullfrog.
Meanwhile, the T&T tracks were completed to Beatty in October, 1907. Beatty had one HUGE Railroad Days celebration at that time with the coming of the 3 rail lines, and its nickname as the “Chicago of the West” due to all the railroad activity!
But as with most mining camps, not only did Rhyolite’s mines play out quickly, but so eventually did most of those at Tonopah and Goldfield. And rail service to those towns was a related casualty. LV&T ceased operations in October, 1918, but the then combined single route south of Goldfield (BG + LV&T) operated until January, 1928. At that point in time, Goldfield’s rail service reverted to a single rail link – the T&G to Tonopah. That lasted until October, 1947. There hasn’t been a train on steel rail in Goldfield since then.
So, technically, there were 3 “first train” arrivals: T&G, BG, and LV&T. But the only one that resulted in a large celebration was the first: the arrival of the Goldfield Railroad (T&G) into town in September, 1905. So today, let us revel in looking back on this very significant event in the growth of what was then a young, vibrant mining camp: Goldfield, Nevada.
Sidebar, railroad legacy:
Pieces of the railroad legacy of the three Goldfield railroads lie scattered around the town site and nearby hills. The amount of physical railroad legacy is distressingly small compared to what was there. But let us enjoy what we can.
remnants of the turntable and roundhouse, and a safe labeled “Tonopah & Goldfield RR” in the middle of a field that was the rail yard. Go north on Broadway to the city park, turn left on the last street before the fence, and park before going downhill. The turntable remains looks like a big, shallow cement tank.
the railroad grade is visible on the east side of highway 95 for the first few miles heading north from Goldfield to Tonopah.
BG:
the properties across the streets to the north and east of the Santa Fe Saloon were the BG yard. The owner of the property to the east of the Santa Fe is in the process of constructing a railroad car barn which will initially house an historic railroad car that he has obtained.
portions of the BG railbed can be driven. Start at the Santa Fe, head north, then take the first right. You’ll be on BG railbed to the top of the hill. Then, see LV&T below.
LV&T:
a few walls of the LV&T depot stand at today’s Miners Avenue and 4th Street. The large area around the depot was the LV&T yard.
the LV&T railbed can be driven to the east and south of town. And it is spectacular! Start with the BG railbed above. When reaching the top of the hill, take a quick left where the two railbeds almost touch each other. Then turn right to be on the LV&T line. That road goes another 5 miles or so. After about a mile, you can look around and see nothing to indicate that man was ever in this place – except for the railgrade on which you are driving. The road comes to a sudden end, but the more adventuresome can keep walking the grade. One can also approach this same railroad grade from the south: turn east at Cottontail Ranch. You’ll soon meet the railroad grade. Turn north; in about 3 miles you’ll arrive at the site of Ralston – a beat up freight car is the primary ruin. From here to the end of the road out of Goldfield is about 9 miles. It’s possible to make the trek via 4WD, but not advisable to do it alone.