Gypsy Heart
Gold Member
Wadsworth today is a sleepy little village located 29 miles East of Sparks, on the edge of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation, near the "Big Bend" of the Truckee River. Where once all east-west traffic, both rail and road, funneled through Wadsworth, the town is now bypassed by Interstate 80, as well as by the Southern Pacific railway (then Central Pacific), which was originally the reason for its existence.
The town was born in 1867, as a division point of the Central Pacific. At the height of its glory, Wadsworth boasted a 21 stall roundhouse, an impressive and commodious two-story depot that accommodated the division operating offices, the Nevada House Hotel, noted for its affluence and plush appointments, complete with sprinklers and fountains, and passenger trains lined up end to end at the depot.
The town was destined to become the victim of the realignment of the Central Pacific roadbed, which occurred between the years 1901 and 1904. The major realignment occurred in the stretch between Reno and Lovelock, which included the portion from Clark to Browns, where the tracks were moved to the south side of the Truckee River, stranding Wadsworth on the north side of the river. The change actually added five miles of track by way of Hazen to Browns, but it eliminated helper districts, except for that portion over the Pequop Mountains.
The realignment eliminated the need for the installations at Wadsworth, so, in 1902, plans were made to move the railroad's shops and facilities to the Mary Wall Ranch in the Truckee Meadows, three miles east of Reno. The Company moved its employees free of charge, and sold them building lots at the new site for $1.00 each. In 1904 Wadsworth Lodge's charter was relocated to its new home in Sparks, where it rejoined its members.
The town was born in 1867, as a division point of the Central Pacific. At the height of its glory, Wadsworth boasted a 21 stall roundhouse, an impressive and commodious two-story depot that accommodated the division operating offices, the Nevada House Hotel, noted for its affluence and plush appointments, complete with sprinklers and fountains, and passenger trains lined up end to end at the depot.
The town was destined to become the victim of the realignment of the Central Pacific roadbed, which occurred between the years 1901 and 1904. The major realignment occurred in the stretch between Reno and Lovelock, which included the portion from Clark to Browns, where the tracks were moved to the south side of the Truckee River, stranding Wadsworth on the north side of the river. The change actually added five miles of track by way of Hazen to Browns, but it eliminated helper districts, except for that portion over the Pequop Mountains.
The realignment eliminated the need for the installations at Wadsworth, so, in 1902, plans were made to move the railroad's shops and facilities to the Mary Wall Ranch in the Truckee Meadows, three miles east of Reno. The Company moved its employees free of charge, and sold them building lots at the new site for $1.00 each. In 1904 Wadsworth Lodge's charter was relocated to its new home in Sparks, where it rejoined its members.
