. . . The number one question was when would locomotive 40 be ready? It was a question we didn’t have an answer to. Finally, the answer became “it will be ready when we throw the first match into the firebox and not before.” It was easy to see the progress being made on locomotive […]
The Queen of Steam — Part III Read More »
No one should undertake the rebuilding of a steam locomotive lightly. The museum had experience. Using outside contractors we had successfully rebuilt steam locomotive 93. The use of outside contractors caused the cost of the rebuild to be stratospheric. The museum simply could not afford the same amount of money for the rebuild on locomotive
The Queen of Steam — Part II Read More »
If you where within ten miles of Ely last Tuesday or Wednesday, you knew the Queen was back! After an eleven month rebuild, the pride of the Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotive 40 was back in service. As she went through the yard, the engineer used locomotive 40’s whistle liberally. A very distinctive whistle, you
The Queen of Steam Read More »
You can walk through the yard of the Nevada Northern in East Ely and look at the different railroad cars that are still here on the tracks. Most of the cars are easy to recognize, such as boxcars, tank cars, and flatcars. But there are a few that raise questions such as the wooden ballast
Large Wheels, Missing Locomotive Read More »
The 2005 brochure for the Nevada Northern is now at the printers. The headline for the timetable is “Excursion Schedule—Two Routes—Twice the Fun” and underneath that is the sub headline “Operating Rain, Snow, or Shine.” The reason for this sub headline is that I have received calls from people who were thinking of riding the
Snow and the Nevada Northern Railway Read More »
by Robby Peartree The byline this week is different. A member of the shop staff, Robby Peartree, wrote the following article. Robby is intimately involved with the work that needs to be done and the work that is being accomplished in the shop complex. He volunteered to write a monthly update of the activity down
Down the Track at the Shop Read More »
There is an old saying that knowledge is power. The rebuilding of steam locomotive 40 is proving that saying in spades. In Ely, from 1906 through the late 1950’s, the rebuilding of the steam locomotives happened with regular frequency. The tools, the techniques, knowledge, and the workers were available in-house. Now at the start of
Preservation Paradox — Part II Read More »
As a relatively new museum director, I thought my primary job was to preserve the locomotives, rolling stock, and buildings of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. You know, do the nuts and bolts repairs and maintenance to keep the grounds and equipment looking good. Also part of my responsibilities was keeping the excursion trains running.
Preservation Paradox Read More »
I recently filled out a grant application; on it was a typical question. The question asked me to describe the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. I’ve answered this question many times but after my recent trip to Colorado riding on tourist trains, the question took on new meaning. The short answer is that we are a
Getting Ready—Cleaning and Painting Read More »
When you think of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum most people equate it with the passenger excursions that we offer. We advertise ourselves as the best-preserved rail facility left in America. And there is another group of individuals who come to Ely not to ride the train but to photograph equipment and the buildings and
Planning Your Trip
About The Museum
Hours of Operation
Monday - Saturday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday - 8:00am - 4:00pm
Our Location
1100 Ave A, Ely, NV 89301
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