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Towns, Trains and Trails of Nevada 2004 Page-4 |
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Leaving
Wendover, like so many before us, we now steered west along I-80. Along the
way we would make a number of stops, our first being Wells. Its
original name was Humboldt Wells; it was here the emigrant wagon trains
would stop to water their animals along the California Trail, later the
Donner route, having just come from Fort Hall (ID). Humboldt
Wells; These springs, seen as marshy spots and small ponds of water
in the meadows here, are the Humboldt Wells. A historic oasis on the
California Emigrant Trail. Here during the period 1845-1870 hundreds of
covered wagons each year rested and refitted from their arduous journey up
Raft River... a grueling 300 mile trek along the Humboldt Valley. The
C.P.R.R. named the area in September 1869. marker #45.
Below:
Old Wells, NV. Leaving Wells we picked up old Highway-40 west until it ended, where we re-joined I-80. Nearby is the original CPRR railbed from 1868. Since it was nearing lunch time, so baby said, and since we have never stopped at Deeth, we figured "why not?" Heading north out of Deeth we soon found the California Trail crossing our path, and it was here we stopped to explore on foot after lunch.
From Deeth we again headed west; our next stop being Elko. I always liked Elko (and would move there if I could make a living). I remember it from the 1960’s & 70’s when I would go with my family to visit Dick Wright, then Land Rover dealer of Northern Nevada. We had no reservations for a room for the night, and after a few "Sorry’s", we checked-in at the Motel-6. Before dinner we toured the Northeastern Nevada Museum, a must see for anyone passing through Elko. For dinner we chose The Star, a long established (1910) Basque Restaurant. I remember eating there in the early 70’s, and like then, the food was great, the best of our trip! The old CPRR tracks which ran right next to the Star have since been relocated to the south of town. The following morning we visited the Sherman Station, located next to the museum; also well worth the visit. I would have preferred to see the house where it was first built.... but at least it was saved.
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On the road again, we took one last look at Elko then decided to head for Palisade instead of Tuscarora and Midas (next trip we’ll hit these two towns north of I-80). At Palisade we hoped to find the town ruins, as well as Trans Continental Railroad photo opportunities. We lucked out, we found the railroad photo opportunity I’d been thinking of. As for the town, not much remains. Recently I’d bought Lawrence K. Hersh’s new book; "The Central Pacific Railroad Across Nevada 1868 & 1997". There are some great pictures of then (1868) and now (1997) of the Trans Continental Railroad. Here we are (below) stopped near Humboldt Gate. What a place... too bad there are no steam trains coming past any longer. The dirt road we are parked on was the railbed from 1868, the realignment RR bed from the turn of the century can be seen in the background.
The STAR. 246 Silver St
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ELKO: "On December 29, 1868, representatives of the C.P.R.R.
started laying out lots for the future town of Elko. By 1870, the thriving
town had 5000 people..." marker 106.
