The historic Virginia & Truckee Railway will stoke its boilers, blow the whistles and highball this holiday season (Nov. 27-Dec. 19) for a series of theme rides over four weekends during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Historians in Victorian dress, cowboy regalia and other period attire will represent “living legends” of the area, riding along with passengers on the V&T’s seasonal round-trip trains and answering questions about the area and taking photos with travelers.

Theme rides include an Early Bird Shopper’s Special, Family and Friends train, Locals Special, Comstock Night Train, December Danish Run, and Christmas on the Comstock train.

The holiday trains will be the last to run the 12.8 mile route until re-opening next year with special event trains and a full schedule in May 2010.

Classic steam and authentic diesel engines take passengers on 60- and 90-minute rides (one-way or round-trip) with scenic vistas of the “old West” countryside, historic cemeteries, abandoned mine shafts, two tunnels and occasional sightings of wild mustangs, all with the nostalgic sounds of steel wheels to track and the steam whistle cutting the crisp air.

The reconstructed V&T opened along 12.8 miles of its original 16-mile route to great fanfare in August after 70 years.

For more details, go to www.VisitCarsonCity.com.