LAS VEGAS TRAIN HISTORY

The history of railroads in Las Vegas, Nevada is relatively short compared to other cities in the United States. The first railroad to reach Las Vegas was the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad, which arrived in 1905. This was a significant event for the city, as it helped to spur growth and development in the area by making it more easily accessible to the rest of the country.

Several other railroads, including the Union Pacific and the Santa Fe railroads, built lines through Las Vegas in the following years. These railroads were primarily used to transport goods and materials to and from the city. Still, they also played a role in developing the city's tourist industry by making it more accessible to visitors.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the city's population boomed as the construction of the Hoover Dam brought many workers to the area. The railroads were crucial in transporting many materials and equipment needed for the construction.

However, in the following decades, the popularity of air travel and the construction of interstate highways led to a decline in the use of railroads for transportation. Today, there is limited rail service in Las Vegas, but it is mainly used for freight transportation, not passenger service.

Overall, railroads played an essential role in the growth and development of Las Vegas, but their use has decreased over time as other forms of transportation have become more popular.

The Boulder Dam Railroad, also known as the Boulder Dam Railway, was a short-line railroad built in the 1930s to support the construction of the Hoover Dam. The railway was created by the Six Companies, the consortium that was responsible for the construction of the dam. The railway was approximately 27 miles (43 km) long and ran from the towns of Boulder City and Las Vegas, Nevada to the dam's construction site.

The Boulder Dam Railroad was built to transport materials, equipment, and workers to and from the dam's construction site, which was located in a remote area with limited access. The railway also transported concrete and other materials to the dam site. The construction of the railway was a significant engineering achievement, as it had to be built through rugged terrain and deep canyons.

The construction of the railway was completed in 1931, and it was in operation until the completion of the dam in 1935. After the completion of the dam, the railway was dismantled, and its tracks were removed. Some locomotives and rolling stock were sold to other railroads, while other equipment was scrapped.

Today, the Boulder Dam Railroad is remembered as an essential part of the history of the Hoover Dam. Some of the railway's equipment and artifacts are displayed at the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum in Boulder City, Nevada.