Virginia and Truckee 22 Inyo

Virginia and Truckee Railroad No. 22, also known as the "Inyo", is a 4-4-0 "American" type steam locomotive that was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1875 and pulled both passenger and freight trains. The Inyo weighs 68,000 lb (31,000 kg).[2] Its 57 in (140 cm) driving wheels deliver 11,920 lb (5,410 kg) of tractive force.[2] In 1877 it was fitted with air brakes and in 1910 it was converted to burn oil rather than wood.

Inyo
The Inyo at the Carson City NSRM branch in 2018.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 3693 Model 8-26 C Build date February 1875
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 57 in (1,448 mm) Loco weight 68 short tons (61.7 t) Fuel type Wood Boiler pressure 75 psi (0.52 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 16 in × 24 in (410 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 6,870 lbf (30.56 kN)
Career Operators Virginia and Truckee Railroad Numbers 22 Official name Inyo Retired September 9, 1926 Restored May 29, 1983 Current owner Nevada State Railroad Museum Disposition Operational U.S. National Register of Historic Places Official name Virginia and Truckee RR. Engines No. 18, The Dayton; and No. 22, The Inyo Designated December 18, 1973 Reference no. 73002245[1]

Inyo was retired on September 9, 1926.[3] It was kept in generally working order, to provide a source of spare parts for another V&T locomotive, the Reno.

It was sold to Paramount Pictures in March 1937 for $1,250, equal to $25,446 today.[3] Though not rebuilt by the studio as was the Dayton (another V&T locomotive also purchased by the studio at the time), the engine was repainted and renumbered for use in motion pictures.[4]

In 1969 the locomotive participated in ceremonies for the centennial of the Golden Spike. Inyo was decorated to look like the Central Pacific's Jupiter. It remained at the Golden Spike National Historic Site throughout most of the 1970s. In 1974 the locomotive was sold to the State of Nevada, but it remained in Utah while a brand-new replica locomotive was built to replace it.[5] Inyo finally arrived at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City in late 1978.

An assessment of the locomotive showed that the Inyo was in good shape, and it was chosen for a full restoration to steam operation. Inyo was completed the next year, debuting on May 29, 1983.[6]

The Inyo remains in Carson City, where it steams up and runs around the museum's track on selected dates, most notably July 4 every year.[7] It was brought to Las Vegas for the month of April 1984 to mark the grand opening of the railroad-themed Palace Station casino.[8]