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Tonka,
Nevada
1902
and later era
Tonka
is about 20 miles west of Elko, Nevada, on the banks of the Humboldt river accessible
by walking from the I-80 freeway.
Elko County, Nevada
The Central Pacific Railroad began laying track eastward from
Sacramento California in 1863 and the Union Pacific began laying
tracks westward from Omaha, Nebraska two years later in
1865. They met in Promontory
Point, Utah on May 10, 1869. The Central Pacific
railroad founded Elko on December 29, 1868 when it was constructing
the railroad eastward toward Promontory Point.
Tonka
was founded during the construction of the nearby Tunnel 1. This tunnel
was completed in February, 1903. Before the tunnel was constructed the
rails went through Carlin Canyon where the old abandoned US 40 highway is
situated.
| TONKA
"Tonka now serves as a signal station for the Western Pacific
and Southern Pacific Railroads and is located where the two railroads
join just east of Carlin. Tonka came into being during the
construction of Tunnel 1 between here and Vivian. The tunnel was
completed in February, 1903. In addition to serving as a siding,
sectionhouses and cattle pens were built. Today, Tonka is only a
signal station. The sectionhouses and cattle pens were removed years
ago."
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NVGHOSTTOWNS.COM |
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USGS
Topographic Map of Tonka, Nevada
USGS
Aerial Photograph of Tonka, Nevada Area
USGS
Aerial Photograph of Tonka, Nevada
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Tonka can be seen on the right side of this photo
(at the trees). There are some additional structures up the
canyon to the right of the trees (off photo). Time did not
permit walking up to see them. |
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The Trees of Tonka |
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Crossing the Mighty Humboldt. Tunnels in
distance. The top photograph was taken from the top of the peak
in the center of this photo. |
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West bound train on Southern Pacific Rails.
East bound Union Pacific Rails are in foreground at Tonka. |
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Foundations at Tonka |
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Old appliances scattered at Tonka. Railroad
tunnels in distance. |
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Old structure and stove across river from trees. |
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Tonka
Links
Nevada
Pacific Gold And Kennecott (Rio Tinto) Alliance Expand Land Position On
Carlin Trend
Flying
to Guardianship
According
to this site, Tonka is used to bring you "Fortune".
Maybe
there is "gold in dem thar hills!" I don't
know. But when crossing the river near the wild roses I can verify
- "Thar is a snake in the grass" - a bull snake that
is.
The
Tonka Tree occurs in Tropical Forests and is found in South
America, Trinidad, Turkey, Venezuela. It is not found in the
high-desert of northern Nevada. How the town got its name is
unknown to me.
The
Tonka Bean is "much used in the cosmetics industry, as the seeds
are aromatic. It also has very strong narcotic properties, and
should only be taken when prescribed." It is found in:
South America, Trinidad, Turkey, Venezuela. One pound of beans
will cost you $33.00. Maybe this is where the fortune lies?
Tonka
Tree
"The
word tonka is taken from the Galibi (Carib) tongue spoken by
natives of French Guinea; it also appears in Tupi, another language of
the same region, as the name of the tree."
I'll
resist, barely, adding Hasbro Toy Company's Tonka Truck links.
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Additional Information: Northeastern
Nevada Museum
© 2001 - Elko Rose Garden Association
Recent Photos by Dan Turner
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