The Nevada Northern Railway | Nathan D. Holmes

The Nevada Northern was built between mid-1905 and late 1906 to serve the emerging copper mining industry around Ely, Nevada. The line stretches from the mines, located about twelve miles west of Ely, and the interchange with the Southern Pacific at Cobre, NV – a total distance of approximately 151 miles. In addition, there was a short branch from McGill Junction to McGill, and a nine mile branch – known as the Mill Branch, Adverse Branch, or Hiline – running from just east of East Ely to the smelter and mill on the hillside above McGill.

With the cessation of copper mining in the early 1980s, the railroad wrapped up operations on 21-Jun-1983. From 1985-1987, Kennecott slowly donated the line from Keystone to McGill Junction, as well as the East Ely facilities, to the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation. Abandonment was approved for the remainder of the line to the north, but before dismantling, it was sold to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. LADWP was interested in the route due to its proximity to a proposed coal-fired generating facility, and they wanted to assure the route would remain available for possible future construction and coal train use.

The route briefly returned to its mining roots in 1995, when Magma Copper started up production on the mines again. The railroad was reactivated as the Nevada Northern Railroad, which soon became the BHP Nevada Railroad once BHP bought out Magma Copper. The line was operated as far as the Union Pacific (formerly Western Pacific) interchange at Shafter, and soon purchased several old SP SD9s to haul concentrate. This operation was short-lived, though, and BHP ran their final train to the interchange on 9-Jul-1999.

Having no further use for the route after the original generating station was cancelled, LADWP sold the remainder of the line to the City of Ely for $1.5 million in 2006. The sale had been in a state of flux for several years due to a lawsuit by the V&S Railway – associated with railroad scrapper A&K Railroad Materials – and their attempt to seize the route. (Yes, these are the same folks who just bought the Towner Line from the State of Colorado.) However, judgments have been universally in favor of Ely, and the suit was finally dismissed in March of 2007.

Today, there are no freight operations (yet), and the Nevada Northern exists as an operating museum – an ore railway preserved with a large selection of its original equipment. It’s really an excellent time capsule, and one of the best-preserved combinations of standard gauge railway and native equipment anywhere. They normally have two steamers up and running – NNRY 40, a 1910 Baldwin 4-6-0, and NNRY 93, a large 1909 Alco 2-8-0. In addition, they also have NNRY 81 – a Baldwin 2-8-0 – in the enginehouse awaiting future restoration. Their collection is not purely steam, however. Their collection also includes one of the very few Alco RS-2s still operating (KCC #105), a couple of RS-3s (one operational, the 109 – and one not so, the 13), some MRS1s, a few SD9s, and a whole assortment of other goodies – a steam rotary, a steam crane, electric locomotives, a Baldwin VO1000, and much more.

The route may still have a future in freight. There are new proposals for a coal-fired generating station along the route (though not involving the City of LA), and my understanding is that the copper mines are once again operating. Newspaper articles in 2006 and early 2007 indicate that the City of Ely is considering investing enough in the route to bring it back up to Class 1 or 2 track as a tool of economic development in the region. The story of the Nevada Northern as more than an operating museum may not be quite finished.

The railroad operates year-round, offering trips for both the casual tourist as well as for the railfan (such as the legendary winter photo freights). Both steam and diesel locomotives are used regularly, and their specific daily assignments are indicated on the railroad’s website. For those interested in learning more, please see the official Nevada Northern Railway website. In addition, for those interested in the more historical railfan details of the route, there’s Keith Albrandt’s interesting Nevada Northern & Railroads of White Pine County website. (As a note, the depot is actually no longer owned by the Nevada Northern, but is actually the East Ely Railroad Depot Museum, a division of the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Still, it’s where the NNRY operates their ticket offices and gift shop, and it’s a key element to the East Ely yard.)

On my way back from California this last summer, I decided to make my first visit to the Nevada Northern. What follows is basically a very hot summer day (102+ degrees) in the operations of the NNRy, including steam (though the famous 93 was out of service with bearing problems) and a ride behind a rare Alco RS-2. Enjoy! Hopefully if I can get the time and cash together, I’ll be back for one of the famous photo freights in February 2008.

Chasing Steam on the Keystone Line

Welcome to East Ely (pronounced: eee-lee), Nevada - home of the Nevada Northern Railway — Welcome to East Ely (pronounced: eee-lee), Nevada – home of the Nevada Northern Railway

The Keystone Branch was built to bring ore from the mines above Keystone down towards the smelter above McGill. Trains bound for this line actually go out the east end of the yard, and then swing around the north side of the yard on a track built to bypass Ely. Here's NNRY 40 coming west on the bypass. — The Keystone Branch was built to bring ore from the mines above Keystone down towards the smelter above McGill. Trains bound for this line actually go out the east end of the yard, and then swing around the north side of the yard on a track built to bypass Ely. Here’s NNRY 40 coming west on the bypass.

The bypass line crosses a road - it's just sort of odd to see a steam engine and LED crossing signals. — The bypass line crosses a road – it’s just sort of odd to see a steam engine and LED crossing signals.

Immediately west of Ely is the famous tunnel shot, one of only two tunnels originally on the line (the other has been daylighted). This is the west portal, and an afternoon westbound headed for Keystone.

Normally I'd be annoyed when someone pulls into my shot, but the Ford Model T is very appropriate with #40, a Baldwin 4-6-0 built in 1910. The car could actually be older than the locomotive, with the first Model Ts being produced in 1907, but this one is at least a 1911. — Normally I’d be annoyed when someone pulls into my shot, but the Ford Model T is very appropriate with #40, a Baldwin 4-6-0 built in 1910. The car could actually be older than the locomotive, with the first Model Ts being produced in 1907, but this one is at least a 1911.

Another look at the morning Keystone train and the impromptu period prop.

The end of currently operated trackage is just west of where the line swings away from US 50 at Keystone Junction. The train pulls in the far end of the wye, and then backs out through the spring switch at the west end. This morning train is turned and ready to head for East Ely again.

Passing a small siding about halfway back to Ely - my guess is that this is Lane, but I can't remember — Passing a small siding about halfway back to Ely – my guess is that this is Lane, but I can’t remember

Approaching the US Hwy 50 underpass, the train is nearly back to Ely

The NN track passes through Ely against the northern hillside.

Once the train arrives back at the East Ely depot, the steamer is cut off and run down to the wye to be turned for the next run.

Riding the Adverse Line behind an RS2

The Nevada Northern is not just a steam railroad, though. In fact, when I was there, 93 was down for emergency maintenance, and the diesels were picking up some of the work. 105 is no less rare - it's one of a very few operational Alco RS-2s left anywhere. — The Nevada Northern is not just a steam railroad, though. In fact, when I was there, 93 was down for emergency maintenance, and the diesels were picking up some of the work. 105 is no less rare – it’s one of a very few operational Alco RS-2s left anywhere.

The Nevada Northern Railway Museum owns nine diesels, all of which operated on the railway. One of the later units is BHP Nevada 203, an ex-SP SD9 purchased to run the line during a brief freight revival between 1995-1999.

The mid-day train eastward up the branch towards Adverse and the former smelter site was powered by the 105. The Hiline, while less scenic than the Keystone trip, is much less accessible. Combined with the chance to ride up close and personal with an RS-2, I decided this was the trip to ride that day.

The mid-day train waits for a bit while a special, powered by SD9 203, gets out of the yard and heads west.

Rounding one of the curves on the trip eastward, before the Hiline diverges from the northbound mainline.

As the train heads towards the smelter, it diverges from the mainline just east of town. The track you see here to the left is the old Nevada Northern line to the interchanges at Cobre and Shafter. We're now on the "Hiline", towards Adverse and the former smelter site above McGill, NV. — As the train heads towards the smelter, it diverges from the mainline just east of town. The track you see here to the left is the old Nevada Northern line to the interchanges at Cobre and Shafter. We’re now on the “Hiline”, towards Adverse and the former smelter site above McGill, NV.

The Hiline trains do a run-around at the Lavon siding, and then push back about another mile to get to the end of passable track.

Looking downhill from Lavon as 105 runs around the train.

This is on the final mile beyond Lavon towards Adverse, as the train heads for one of the few cuts.

The return trip was mostly into the sun and over a hundred degrees, so I decided to move inside. This is a photo of the train upon arrival back at the East Ely station.

My last shot of the mid-day run is actually in the East Ely yards, as the crew goes to work putting the Alco away and spotting the cars for the afternoon Keystone train.

With the work done, 105 is parked inside the engine shed as some of the crew have a meeting.

Touring the East Ely Yard & Shops

A map of the East Ely yard, posted outside, west of the station.

Probably one of the most famous structures is the repair-in-place shed with the famous "SAFETY FIRST" on the end, located east of the engine house. — Probably one of the most famous structures is the repair-in-place shed with the famous “SAFETY FIRST” on the end, located east of the engine house.

One slight detail on the East Ely depot - these particularly aggressive handrails... — One slight detail on the East Ely depot – these particularly aggressive handrails…

This is the Nevada Northern's East Ely shops, where all of the maintenance and restoration takes place, and many unrestored artifacts are stored. — This is the Nevada Northern’s East Ely shops, where all of the maintenance and restoration takes place, and many unrestored artifacts are stored.

NNRY 93 is in the shop out of service while one of the bearings and some of the spring rigging are rebuilt. It just went out of service a week prior, when driver #2 overheated on a 22-Jun-2007 run to Keystone.

Here's the problem bearing from the #2 driver, already with the new brass in place — Here’s the problem bearing from the #2 driver, already with the new brass in place

Just another shot of 93 in the shop with her driver pulled.

On the other side of the bay is RS3 #109, receiving some major engine work

A bunch of cylinder heads off the 109 sitting on palletes, as well as some new ones yet to be installed.

And one of the corresponding pistons out of the old Alco 244 power plant.

A look at two of the cylinders, through an open door in 109's side. — A look at two of the cylinders, through an open door in 109’s side.

One of the other items lying around the shop are all these old firebox grates, removed from the two steamers.

Moving on, the northern part of the enginehouse serves as storage for much of the collection, both operational equipment and not. Here's NNRy 81, a 1917 Baldwin 2-8-0. It's due to be restored after 40 and 93 are both back in top shape. Steam crane "A" and rotary "B" are in the background. — Moving on, the northern part of the enginehouse serves as storage for much of the collection, both operational equipment and not. Here’s NNRy 81, a 1917 Baldwin 2-8-0. It’s due to be restored after 40 and 93 are both back in top shape. Steam crane “A” and rotary “B” are in the background.

Another look at 81, from the south side (standing by the crane)

Kennecott 310, a small 25-ton GE that was once used as a smelter switcher. And yes, that's a Baldwin behind it - either a VO1000 or an S-12 (can't remember if this is 801 or 802). — Kennecott 310, a small 25-ton GE that was once used as a smelter switcher. And yes, that’s a Baldwin behind it – either a VO1000 or an S-12 (can’t remember if this is 801 or 802).

The Nevada Northern's other Alco RS3 isn't in such good shape. #13 could definitely use a new pilot. — The Nevada Northern’s other Alco RS3 isn’t in such good shape. #13 could definitely use a new pilot.

Nevada Northern steam rotary "B" - one of very, very few steam-powered standard gauge rotary plows still in existance. — Nevada Northern steam rotary “B” – one of very, very few steam-powered standard gauge rotary plows still in existance.

The railroad also has an assortment of authentic rolling stock from the line. Here's NNRY 1025, a boxcar that has been restored. — The railroad also has an assortment of authentic rolling stock from the line. Here’s NNRY 1025, a boxcar that has been restored.

Some sort of Maitenance-of-Way car, which looks to have been manufactured from a WWII-era Army troop sleeper car, similar to conversions found on the Alaska Railroad.

And of course, being a mining railroad, there are plenty of rugged-looking old ore cars around in a huge number of styles. Here's one of a string sitting in front of the engine house. — And of course, being a mining railroad, there are plenty of rugged-looking old ore cars around in a huge number of styles. Here’s one of a string sitting in front of the engine house.

And another one of the more interesting ore car variants.

And, as I headed out of town in the late afternoon, here's NN 40 pulling another Keystone run around the bypass on the north side of the yard. — And, as I headed out of town in the late afternoon, here’s NN 40 pulling another Keystone run around the bypass on the north side of the yard.

All photographs in this trip report were taken with a Canon EOS 20D using either a Canon 24-105mm F4 L IS/USM or a Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS/USM.

This work is copyright 2024 by Nathan D. Holmes, but all text and images are licensed and reusable under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. Basically you’re welcome to use any of this as long as it’s not for commercial purposes, you credit me as the source, and you share any derivative works under the same license. I’d encourage others to consider similar licenses for their works.