(The following article by Tim Anderson appeared on the Reno Gazette-Journal website on March 2.)
RENO, Nevada — Reno television news personality John Tyson’s desire to operate a private coach as a business enterprise on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad after the line is rebuilt has been derailed.
Tyson, a member of the Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway, said Wednesday he’s been advised his plan would be a conflict of interest.
But his dream to run a luxury rail car on an historic railroad still is alive. He has taken the idea to the Nevada Northern Railway in Eastern Nevada.
A legal opinion issued by commission attorney Michael Rowe concluded Tyson could not ethically own and operate a car on the railroad, or vote on any issue involving V&T operations, while he serves on the board.
Tyson, KOLO Channel 8’s rural reporter, said he was convinced his idea would be acceptable as long as he didn’t vote on any issues involving the car, where he stood to financially gain.
He said he believes the opinion by Rowe is overly broad. Tyson can appeal to the Nevada Commission on Ethics but said he won’t.
“My priority is to get the V&T rebuilt. It’s such an important project for the region, and I want to continue to be part of the process,” Tyson said.
Inside the timeframe?
Officials hope to have the train operating between Virginia City and Carson City as a tourist attraction in 2009.
When questions arose late last year whether it would be appropriate for Tyson to operate a car on the V&T, he said he immediately sought an opinion from Rowe.
Since it could be several years before the rail line is completed, Tyson said he began looking at other options for operating a rail car.
“There’s a possibility in Ely, and I’m pursuing the idea,” Tyson said.
Mark Bassett, executive director of Nevada Northern, said preliminary discussions have been held with Tyson about the proposal.
“Nothing has been finalized, but we’re very interested,” Bassett said.
A look at the history
Tyson is a Federal Railroad Administration-certified locomotive engineer for Nevada Northern.
Tyson said he has made a down payment on a 92-ton, 80-foot-long luxury coach built in 1923 that became part of the 1939 Royal Canadian Train. He said the car, which carried King George VI, includes bedrooms for overnight accommodations and an observation lounge.
For the past few years, Tyson said he has been seriously looking at the idea of acquiring a private rail car to operate as a business for retirement income. Tyson, 60, said the car he’s hoping to buy with investors is priced at $75,000.
Nevada Northern began operating in 1906 to haul copper ore from Ruth to McGill. The rail line, including rolling stock and buildings, was donated by Kennecott Copper Corp. to the city of Ely in 1979.
Today, excursion trains run on routes connecting the communities of Ely, East Ely, Ruth and McGill. Two major power plants are planned north of Ely that will result in additional track, Tyson said.