- VISIT / RIDE
Ride the Train
Take a trip back in time. Trains operate throughout the year:
Hands-On AdventuresJoin railfans who come from around the world for a first-hand adventure on the "Best-preserved short-line in America":
Tourist Info + MapsGetting here can be a great adventure. Check out some of the options:
Clubs, Reunions, Schools, WeddingsUse this great facility for your next event:
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Winter Steam Photo Weekend Spectacular
Historic Railroad Steam Engines, Rolling Stock, and Maintenance Equipment
Fast Facts
WHO: Avid railroad photographers from around the world come to Ely for the annual photo shoot.
WHEN: Second and Third weekends in February. Three days, Friday through Sunday
WHAT: Most all of our vintage locomotives and rolling stock will be in operation. Organized run-bys, night photo ops, and working equipment demonstrations.
BRING: Cameras, tripod, and warm clothes.
HOW: Reserve your weekend here
Also, keep in mind our
Photo Workshop
If you think you were born one hundred years too late to witness the glory of steam railroading, then
we have good news for you: you weren't.
There still exists a place where steam locomotives rule the rails.
Hidden away in the high desert of east central Nevada is a time capsule like no other, the Nevada Northern Railway National Historic Landmark.
Annually during the first two weekends in February, time travel is possible.
Come to Ely Nevada, set your watch back a century, and photograph railroading as it was in the last century.
The Nevada Northern Railway is not a mishmash of equipment from different railroads or different countries, nor is the equipment prettified or garish. This is the original railroad equipment in the original paint schemes in the original setting,
on the original Nevada Northern Railway mainline.
All of this equipment has been on the property for decades, and some if it more than a century, all of it still operating on the original track that was graded and laid a century ago.
This was the time when steam moved mountains.
The real business of this railroad was copper and copper was king!
It was the reason that the railroad was built in the first place. Ore trains ran day and night, year round.
The demand for copper was insatiable. It was the miracle metal that made all of the newfangled inventions, such as the electric light and the telephone, possible.
Today our trains still move from the mine to the mill—steam powered, of course.
What can you expect during the photo shoots? World-class photographic opportunities, steam locomotives pulling vintage freight and passenger cars that are original to the railroad.
Here, trains are still made up with wooden cars whose origins date back as far as 1872.
The crews will be in period dress, adding to the experience.
So why come to Ely in the winter? If you think that Steam locomotive 93 looks good on an 85-degree day in August but wait till you see it on a frosty February day.
Billowing white clouds of steam plus plumes of black & gray smoke towering above the canyons and valleys.
Snow? Weather here can be capricious! It can range from blizzard conditions to cobalt blue skies sometimes within minutes.
In the past we've experienced every type of meteorological conditions that wintertime Ely experiences, including shirtsleeve weather.
But regardless of the weather, the show goes on.
Participants have won numerous photo contests, recording timeless scenes of a historical railroad that are second to none.
Many of the "Winter Spectacular" photos rival the best that National Geographic has to offer.
Of course locomotives, rolling stock and tracks are a big and obvious part of this railroad.
But its just part of what makes a railroad work. You also need the infrastructure:
Enginehouse, machine shop, carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, depot and dispatcher building.
Oh and don't forget, the locomotives go nowhere without stopping at the coaling tower and water standpipes.
We have those too, the original ones!
Considered by William L. Withuhn, Curator emeritus, History of Technology
and Transportation at the Smithsonian Institution, "Among all railroad historic sites anywhere in North America, the Nevada Northern Railway complex at East Ely is-no question in my view-the most complete, most authentic, and best cared-for, bar none.
It's a living American treasure and a stand-out one. Historic tracks, original depot and office building,
Enginehouse, Freight Station, three original steam locomotives, five historic and rare wooden passenger cars, Kennecott diesel engines, 60 early freight cars, working machine shop, foundry-even the coaling tower and water tower that are icons of the site-everything is still there."
What will we have running for the next photo shoot? It varies from
year-to-year, but in general we have a broad range of original, Vintage
Nevada Northern Railway equipment running out on the main line and in the
East Ely yard.
- We'll have steam pulling our original wooden passenger consist made up of a RPO/baggage car and passenger car. This consist has been serving passengers and departing from this depot for over a century now.
- Should there be a mishap on the tracks here, we'll send for the big hook; our original century old operating steam powered wrecking crane. This wrecking crane is pulled by a century old 2-8-0 steam locomotive that looks like it just rolled out of the American Locomotive Company shops. The wreck train consists of the crane, flat car, tool car, outfit car and, of course, a caboose. (Don't worry - even if there is no mishap we will stage one to demonstrate the big hook in action, under steam)
- Once the tracks are cleared, it's time to get on with the business of railroading. Freight trains can once again roll and so will ore trains. We will roll our fleet of original ore cars with our original locomotives.
- Most of the freight in the last century moved in boxcars. No self respecting railroad would be without boxcars - and the N. N. Ry is no different. A fleet of our original wooden boxcars with arch-bar trucks, built in 1912 are in top condition and are ready for their next load. Most model railroaders would give anything to have a vintage freight fleet like this. You will see the real-life, full scale 1912 freight roll by time-after-time this weekend out on our original main-line.
Take a look at the review written by Robert W. Scott of Trains Magazine.
We are offering "Steam, Steel and Strobes" Scholarships for two applicants, age 18-30. Details here.
View more details here:
Price and Discounts
| Winter Steam Spectacular 2023 | Member | Non-Member |
|---|---|---|
| Either Weekend | $638 | $750 |
| Both Weekends | $1,020 | $1,200 |
| Still Photography Workshop | $995 | $1,170 |
Members receive discounts. Memberships start at $30.
No other discounts apply to this experience.
Dates and Reserve Your Spot
Dates and Tickets for Winter Steam Spectacular
You may also want to consider our Photography Workshop.
Advanced reservations are strongly suggested since this event usually sells out.
Do not drive to Ely unless you have a confirmed reservation.
- VISIT / RIDE
Ride the Train
Take a trip back in time. Trains operate throughout the year:
Hands-On AdventuresJoin railfans who come from around the world for a first-hand adventure on the "Best-preserved short-line in America":
Tourist Info + MapsGetting here can be a great adventure. Check out some of the options:
Clubs, Reunions, Schools, WeddingsUse this great facility for your next event:
- VIEW
- BECOME INVOLVED
The Nevada Northern Railway is a non-profit 501(c) historical foundation that depends on your memberships, donations, and volunteer time to accomplish its mission.
Join the team that makes it happen - Become a memberDonate/Contribute:Volunteer and At-Home Opportunities - ABOUT
Press, Newsletters, Blogs
- CONTACT / CONNECT
- GIFTS
Gift Certificates
-
TripAdvisor
reviews about us
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Comments (8)
I love remembering the days of my childhood walking to school and waiting for the steam locomotive to pass through our small town. The engineers would blow the whistle and wave to us kids. Days gone by……..
I participated in a February 2022 Winter Steam Photo Weekend Spectacular. Spectacular is the right word. This is a great team on a superb property that loves to show their historic and unique property. Here you can see and do things not available at other railroads, including wandering (and photographing) the shops and yards. Because the railroad puts on its own program, there is added value and knowledge.
If you even think this might be fun, THEN DO IT! I'm coming back in 2022 for my second round and love visiting the NNRY Museum. The staff is wonderful and the photo shoot is a hoot! Great setups and opportunities. Being able to rove and shoot throughout the train maintenance house is incredible. Dirt was nonchalant about the whole thing, but I loved it. This is a great piece of living history you'll never forget. I'd like to thank Mark for all he does to support this great endeavor. NNRY Winter Spectacular is one of a kind. Don't miss it!
Steve, glad that you enjoyed the Locomotive 81 Inaugural Photo Shoot weekend. We enjoyed putting it on and having everyone on board after all of the work over the past two years restoring 81. Hope you see you again sometime.
I capped my three days of train photography with driving #40 up Robinson Canyon on Monday. It was my first time in a steam locomotive cab. I learned a lot about how these amazing machines work from my Engineer/Teacher Mike and my fireman, Chris. I highly recommend it.
So, if you love photography and you love steam, NNRY is the place to go in February. I'm headed back for 2020.I've got an album of photos from the weekend here:
https://www.persistentvisionphotography.com/Posts/2019/20190215A