The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad was a railroad in the state of Nevada connecting Nevada-Douglas Copper Company mining facilities to the Southern Pacific's former Carson and Colorado Railway subsidiary at Wabuska, Nevada. The railroad was built south from Wabuska to the Walker River at Mason, Nevada in 1910, and began operations on 1 March. Railroad construction then proceeded up the West Walker River canyon from Mason to leave the river at Hudson reaching the Nevada-Douglas Copper Company mine at Ludwig on 1 November 1911. Rails also extended north from Wabuska to a smelter at Thompson. Agricultural products from irrigated ranches along the Walker River provided revenues in addition to the ore traffic.
Decline The railroad went into receivership in 1925, but traffic volume remained high until the Thompson smelter closed in 1929. The line from Hudson to Ludwig was abandoned when the Standard Gypsum Plaster plant closed in 1932. As trucks began hauling agricultural products, the railroad ceased passenger operations in 1945 and abandoned all operations in 1947.
Motive power roster NumberBuilderTypeDateWorks numberNotes1Baldwin Locomotive Works4-6-0189112204built as Los Angeles Terminal Railway #7; purchased 1909; scrapped 19162Lima Locomotive Works2-8-019111091purchased new3Baldwin Locomotive Works2-8-0191237577purchased new; sold in 1921 as Sierra Railroad #24. Scrapped 1955.4Baldwin Locomotive Works2-8-0purchased for parts; tender used on locomotive #25ALCO Richmond Locomotive Works2-8-0192566302purchased new; sold in 1947 as Virginia and Truckee Railroad 2nd #5. Retired 1950. Used in the films Thundering Rails and Train to Tombstone. Scrapped 1951.6Plymouth Locomotive Works6-wheel Gas-mechanicalpurchased used in 194520Fairbanks-Morsepassenger motordestroyed by accidental fire21Hall-Scottpassenger motor19105wooden 32-passenger body built by W. L. Holman Car Company; preserved at the California State Railroad Museum22Hall-Scottpassenger motor191413steel 25-passenger body built for Salt Lake and Utah Railroad; partially scrapped in 1947. Body at Nevada State Railroad Museum, Carson City, NV
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