M.T. Burkhart

BOULDER CITY, Nev. – Another tourist line is on the verge of reopening, this time the Nevada Southern Railway near Las Vegas.

The railroad will operate on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, for the first time since the start of the global coronavirus pandemic. Trains will run at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 and 4 p.m.. Seating is assigned and available at the ticket window only on excursion dates with no pre-sales. Masks must be worn and social distancing respected, the railroad said.

While the railroad museum’s pavilion has been open since June (and Rail Explorers bike trips have included a one-way open-car train ride because social distancing was attainable), this marks the first full-scale excursions for the season. The railroad has several operable locomotives, including Union Pacific GP30 844 and a US Army Fairbanks-Morse H12-44. Others are on display.

Tourist trains have been running on several miles of the former Union Pacific Boulder Branch since 2002. The railroad expects to announce plans soon for upcoming holiday trains. For more information, visit nevadasouthern.com.