V&T Locomotive #15 "Aurora"

Virginia & Truckee Locomotive #15 "Aurora". This locomotive didn't have a long life on the V&T, only from 1872-1881. She was sold to the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, and later went through a series of other owners. In the early 1900s a logging locomotive fell off of a pier and ended up at the bottom of Lake Stevens in Washington State. The Aurora was owned by that logging company at the time, but there are no records confirming or denying if it was the Aurora that was lost. So that may be her final resting place.

https://www.nsrm-friends.org/nsrm127.html

Date Uploaded: September 13, 2026

Permanent Link: http://wnhpc.com/details/photo2244

Source: Nevada State Railroad Museum

Source URL: https://www.nsrm-friends.org/nsrm127.html

Source Caption: Ordered during the Big Bonanza, the (1st) 15. Danforth Locomotive & Machine engine arrived (November, 25 1872) with the name "W. C. Ralston." She was soon relettered "Aurora" (February, 1873). Wheelbase was too long (13'3") for use on the Virginia City line. Sold (8-8-1881), less tender to Oregon Railway & Navigation 39, then 16 and Union Pacific 1380 (1890) and OR&N 17 (1894). Sold to Rucker Brothers, Everett, WA for logging, scrapped.

Text from "Virginia & Truckee The Bonanza Road", Mallory Hope Ferrell

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