Virginia & Truckee RR 4-4-0 No. 22 'Inyo'
Carson City, Nevada, United States 		Location: Nevada State Railroad Museum
Status: Overhaul
Related Notes
Photo Copyright © Jeff Terry
Here are the notes for Virginia & Truckee RR No. 22 'Inyo', a 4-4-0 located in Carson City, NV. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.
Posted: Sep 13, 2025 @ 15:09:23 by
currently under overhaul
Posted: Mar 13, 2025 @ 10:03:17 by Stuart
This engine is one of the oldest steam locos to run in the USA, but not the oldest. To my knowledge, the oldest is Torch Lake #3 which runs in Michigan and is a few years older than the Inyo
Posted: Jul 17, 2020 @ 12:07:03 by luke
named inyo
Posted: Nov 3, 2019 @ 14:11:45 by Matthew Gardner
This engine is the only operable engine at the museum to still have a lap joint boiler. The Glenbrook had its boiler converted.
Posted: Mar 26, 2018 @ 16:03:35 by Dillon Trinh
i meant oldest in America
Posted: Dec 3, 2017 @ 15:12:48 by Steve Frost
Sorry, Dillon, I think you'll find that in the UK we'd had several generations of steam locomotives by 1875. Check out 'Wylam Dilly' of 1813 in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh and 'Puffing Billy' also of 1813 in the Science Museum of London. Both old age pensioners by the time this loco was being built!
Posted: Dec 3, 2017 @ 15:12:14 by Dillon Trinh
since william mason is in display now the inyo is world oldest steam locomotive
Posted: Nov 27, 2005 @ 23:11:46 by Michael Ledingham
Scratch my last note; the Inyo is now operated at 75 psi to save wear and tear on the boiler. Also, some of the information in the previous poster's note is not quite correct. "Brass Betsy" was Inyo's nickname, not its real name. 116,000# is most likely the weight of the engine and tender together. The Inyo is also not the oldest operating locomotive in the world. B&O #25 "William Mason" (which was also featured in "The Great Locomotive Chase"), built in 1856, is operable, as is Camden & Amboy #1 "John Bull", built in 1830. There is also an operating 0-4-0 in the UK built in 1860.
Posted: Mar 26, 2004 @ 24:03:25 by Chris Elpatric
This is the oldest operating locomotve in existance through out the world.  This locomotive was in several movies like The Great locomotive Chase.  The locomotives fuel is wood not oil.  Its actual weight is 116,000 lbs (58 tons).  The locomotive was the Virginia & Truckee Railroads most beloved locomotive apart from the Reno (V&T #11).  This locomotives Real name is Brass Betsy.  The Virginia & Truckee Railroad called her that because she had more brass on her than any of the other V&T engines.  This locomotive runs on special events and is operated by special volenteers at the museum. 
Posted: Jul 25, 2003 @ 16:07:47 by Michael Ledingham
NSRM's website says that Inyo's tractive effort is 11,920. If this is true, the boiler pressure is 130.