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 Mules Relief Posted by:  Volcanoguy
N 39° 29.578 W 117° 04.285
11S E 493859 N 4371486
History sign in Austin, Nevada.
Waymark Code: WMVE1G
Location: Nevada, United States
Date Posted: 04/06/2017
Views: 3
One of three large history panels located on wall at Austin’s outdoor Loneliest Highway Visitors Center.
Marker Title (required): Mules Relief
Marker Text (required):
In an effort to control costs, the Manhattan Mill Superintendent, Allan Curtis, devised a plan to build a line from the railhead at Clifton through Austin and to the silver mills. The 2.8 mile stretch, with grades as steep as 8.5 percent, seemed insurmountable for a steam engine. On August 18, 1880, an eleven-mule team was hitched to a railroad flat car loaded with freight to test the railroad line. Soon thereafter, track was laid to the upper end of town and plans made to relive the mules. The “Mule’s Relief” engine arrived in Clifton on May 31, 1881 and two weeks later, as spectators looked on, the steam engine successfully made the journey to Austin. The Austin City Railway operated until 1889. The engine was kept by the Nevada Central and ran for many more years.
County (required): Lander
Marker Type (required): Other (describe below)
Other Marker Type (optional): Fiberglass sign
Is Marker Damaged? (required): No
Other Damage Type (optional): NA
Marker Number (If official State Marker from NV SHPO website above, otherwise leave blank): Not Listed
URL - Website (optional): Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
- The marker must be visited in order to log a Waymark
- Pictures are optional, however, if adding a picture try to include one of a different perspective (e.g. different
angle/season/lighting etc.)
- Add any personal experience or research information that would enhance the history of the marker.
- Thanks!
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