Nevada State Railroad Museum

The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City is situated at 601 Yucca Street, occupying a 100-acre site that was once a critical hub for the construction of the Hoover Dam. It preserves a segment of the Boulder City Branch Line, a railroad built by the Union Pacific in 1931 specifically to transport the massive quantities of gravel, cement, and steel required to build the dam. After the dam's completion, the line eventually fell into disuse until the Union Pacific donated the Boulder City section to the state of Nevada in 1985, leading to the museum’s establishment as a heritage site dedicated to Southern Nevada's rail history.

The museum’s primary draw is the Nevada Southern Railway, which offers excursion rides on vintage equipment along seven miles of the original historic tracks. Passengers typically board early 20th-century rail cars pulled by diesel-electric locomotives, such as the powerful EMD GP30 No. 844, for a 45-minute round trip toward the Henderson border. The journey provides scenic views of the Mojave Desert and the Eldorado Valley, often allowing riders to spot the local herd of desert bighorn sheep that frequent the area near the cliffs and parks of Boulder City.

On the museum grounds, the open-air Display Pavilion showcases an impressive collection of rolling stock and locomotives that highlight the evolution of Western transportation. Visitors can explore various historic pieces, including a 1914 Union Pacific Chair Car that now houses detailed model railroad layouts. Other notable exhibits include the "Merci Car," a wooden boxcar sent by France to Nevada in 1949 as a token of gratitude for post-war aid, and a variety of specialized maintenance-of-way equipment and cabooses that offer a glimpse into the daily lives of railroad workers from decades past.

One of the more unusual features of the site is the "Live Steamers" miniature railway, which operates on a 7.5-inch wide track. These 1/8th-scale steam engines are fully functional replicas that provide free rides on select days, delighting both children and adult enthusiasts with their mechanical complexity. For those seeking a more active experience, the museum also hosts "Rail Explorers," a unique attraction where visitors can pedal custom-built rail bikes along the tracks, using human power to navigate the same historic route once traversed by heavy freight trains.

An interesting piece of local lore involves the museum's prized No. 844 locomotive. Because this diesel engine shared the same number as a famous Union Pacific steam locomotive, the steam engine—which is part of UP's heritage fleet—had to be renumbered to 8444 for over two decades to avoid confusion in the company's tracking system. It was only after the diesel No. 844 was retired and moved to the museum in Boulder City that the legendary steam engine was allowed to reclaim its original number, marking a quirky chapter in American railroading history that connects this small desert museum to the broader national rail network.

Fun Facts

Much of the original railroad built for Hoover Dam construction was dismantled after the project was completed, making the preserved sections at the museum especially valuable.

Attraction Advice

The Nevada State Railroad Museum is open daily from Monday through Sunday from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. Admission is $2 for those over age 4. Train rides are at 10 AM and Noon from September through November and January through June, with an additional ride at 2 PM from September to May. Tickets are $12 over age 12 and $6 for children ages 4 to 11