The Alder Gulch Short Line is a narrow-gauge steam railway running between Virginia City and Nevada City, a mile west along Alder Gulch. The train runs in summer months and the short ride gives a pleasant view of the gulch where the 1863 gold discovery was made. The locomotive is a genuine steam engine, not a diesel replica.
The return journey makes sense of the relationship between the two towns — Virginia City grew up as the commercial centre while Nevada City was the site of active digging. At the Nevada City end, the open-air museum of relocated frontier buildings is worth an hour or two on its own. The train operates on a summer schedule; check times before planning your visit.