The Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company has offered steam tourist train rides since 1976. Based in Virginia City, the railroad offers three scenic railway routes through Nevada's gold country: the Virginia City-Gold Hill Route, the Carson City-Virginia City Route, and the Carson Canyon Route. Each of these spectacular tours provides not only a glimpse into the Silver State's storied gold rush history but is also chock-full of panoramic views as train tracks wind through the picturesque landscape. Take a look at these amazing scenic railway routes.

The V&T Railway offers three scenic railroad tours through Nevada's historic gold country. Covering Virginia City to Gold Hill to Carson City to Carson Canyon, riders will enjoy the breathtaking beauty of northern Nevada while being immersed in Nevada's colorful mining history.

First, the Virginia City-Gold Hill historic route is a fully-narrated four-mile scenic trek that leaves from the original V&T 1870 Depot en route to Gold Hill.

Passengers will pass by several Comstock mines and mills including the Hale & Norcross, Savage, Potosi, Chollar, Julia, Yellow Jacket, Crown Point, Ward Bullion, and Virginia City's combination shaft (pictured.)

This train passes through the historic 566-foot long Tunnel #2 (also known as the Yellow Jacket Tunnel, so named for a nearby mine.) This tunnel is the last before Virginia City.

The tour ends in Gold Hill where the Comstock gold rush began. This town is steeped in mining history and is the home of the haunted Gold Hill Hotel and Saloon.

Next, the Carson City-Virginia City "Sisters in History" Route is a fully narrated, scenic 24-mile round-trip tour through the Virginia Range.

The tour begins in historic Carson City as the train departs for the scenic trip to equally historic Virginia City.

Wild mustang sightings are quite common along this route.

This particular route passes by American Flat. The once bustling mining town and sprawling cyanide mill is now Nevada's abandoned yet singular canvas for graffiti.

The train passes through Gold Hill en route to Virginia City. Here, the Gold Hill Cemetery.

The track chugs by the scales and water stop where over 260,000 tons of ore were weighed, by the 120-foot deep Overman Open Mining Pit, and through Tunnel #4 into Virginia City.

The final 45-minute tour leaves Carson City and winds through the Carson Canyon.

This ride offers spectacularly scenic views of the Carson Canyon and Carson River.

These scenic railway routes should be atop any history buff's bucket list. Additionally, the V&T Railway offers specialty train rides like the Christmas-themed Polar Express, the Toast of the Canyon Wine Tasting Train, and the highly entertaining Dinner and Melodrama Train. For more information on any of V&T's scenic railway routes or specialty rides, please call (775) 847-0380.

Have you taken any of these amazing and historic scenic railway routes through Nevada's gold country? Please share your thoughts and experiences below.