V&T Railway Commission (V&T Railway) is celebrating Halloween with family-friendly and spooky railbike rides. Running Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25 and Wednesday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 31, V&T Railway will offer family-friendly haunted railbike rides at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and adult-focused Halloween railbike rides at 8 p.m. Each ride will follow COVID-19 guidelines and offer an alternative this year for Halloween fun. Ticket prices are $40 per rider for the 4 and 6 p.m. family ride and $75 per rider for the 8 p.m. adult ride. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.vtrailway.com (make sure you scroll down and select the “Spooky Railbike Rides”).
“Our railbikes have presented us a unique opportunity to celebrate the holiday and we’re excited to offer family-friendly and spooky rides during our Halloween fundraiser,” said Elaine Barkdull-Spencer, general manager for V&T Railway. “The net revenue earned from these events will go towards purchasing a motorcar for our V&T operations. However, for those who are not able to attend but still wish to support us, we have created an option to donate directly through our website.”
The family-friendly railbike rides (4 p.m. and 6 p.m.) will run a shorter route across the bridge, stopped by friendly ghouls along the way. The ride will stop periodically up and down the track for a total of seven spots with trick-or-treating opportunities throughout. Upon the return, riders will venture through the Depot Witch’s haunted house located at the Eastgate Depot. Tickets are $40 per rider and each ride will be sanitized to keep to COVID health and safety compliance.
At 8 p.m., teens and adults can partake in the much spookier railbike ride. The adventure will begin at the Depot with a ghost story from the skeleton widow, Ingrid Walker, before departing into the Carson River Canyon. Haunted by ghosts and ghouls, riders will be treated to a surprise performance by the monsters before their return trip to the depot. Riders of the 8 p.m. tour will receive individual party trays with drinks, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages for those 21 and older. Tickets are $75 per rider and each ride will be sanitized to keep to COVID health and safety compliance.
All riders are encouraged to arrive in costumes that do not prohibit pedaling during the Halloween railbike rides and do not restrict their ability to load and unload safely. Closed-toe shoes are recommended. Social distancing and COVID safety guidelines will be in place for the entirety of the events and riders will need to wear masks. For more information on upcoming events, visit www.vtrailway.com.
About V&T Railway
V&T Railway, located at 4650 Eastgate Siding Road in Carson City, is a partially government-funded, historical railroad that invites guests of any age to enjoy a journey into rich Nevada history. With reconstruction efforts beginning in the early 1990s, the State of Nevada set up a commission to rebuild the line, operating today as the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway. Throughout the following decade, the commission was able to restore 16-miles of track from Gold Hill into the Carson River Canyon, giving the railway the opportunity for more diverse trains. The rail continues to operate its regular season from May through mid-October, with fully narrated roundtrip train rides from Carson City to Virginia City offering scenic routes and historic sites. The train also features various special events including Toast of the Canyon wine and beer trains and the wildly popular Polar Express.
