Ely and the Nevada Northern Steam Train Sept 23 - 26th

Today's drive is an uneventful 4.25 hours to Ely from Battle Mountain, NV. We opted to take the I-80 to Wells and then go south on the US 93. The trip is 30 minutes longer according to Google, but we are avoiding going over 3 mountain passes (Pinto 7,376', Pancake 6,517' and Little Antelope 7,438') on Hwy 278. There is still snow on the top of the mountains. 

East Humbolt Range

It certainly is a "lonely" highway. Very little traffic and miles of nothing.

We even went through a tunnel.

After arriving at the KOA, we checked in and just left the MH to go find a watering hole for lunch. The Racks Bar and Grill have the best reviews so off we went. A small hole in the wall kind of place with 8 deer heads on the walls with impressive racks, hence the name. :) Usual bar fare, but we enjoyed our meal.

I didn't take a picture so this one is from google and is exactly what it is like, kinda looks like the same people we saw. :)

After lunch we took a drive to the Northern Nevada Train Station to check it out in advance of our trip on Monday morning. The lady told us the train would be coming back through the tunnel a short distance up Highway 50 in about 15 minutes. Of course we took off in the car to have a look. We just made it with only about a 3 minute wait and there it was.

Strange seeing the caboose behind the engine.

Back in the car to go back to the RV Park and set up the coach for the next 4 nights. First we stopped at a roadside vegetable stand and bought a few fresh items grown here. Can you guess what this is?

A Pink Banana Squash about 2 feet long!

Sunday morning we were out of the door at 7:22 to go up the Success Loop past Cave Lake State Park.They are working on rebuilding the dam up there so Cave Lake is drained currently.

This is what it should look like, instead of just a dry bottom. As this is a stocked lake they tried to collect all the fish as the levels went down. This work is supposed to take 18 months and started in 2022.

We continued on past onto Success Loop. This is quite the narrow dirt road that meanders back and forth up the mountain side to about 8000 feet. (Ely is at 6400 feet) The aspens need about another 2 weeks to be fully yellow, but we took the best pictures we could today. 

Top of the Summit

The road zig zagging all the way up.

Colourful vegetation.

I drove us up to the summit and started down the other side but the trees were really overgrown and couldn't see any views, so we turned around and went back the way we came. At Cave Lake we were a balmy 46F but by the time we were at the top it was only 33F. Burrr.

After we were down the mountain and on pavement, Ray suggested we go see the Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park as it's only a short distance away. Heading south on Hwy 93, you take the second entrance to the park which is a well-maintained gravel road that has been treated for no dust. 5 miles later off the highway you reach the Charcoal Ovens. We paid our $10 entrance fee to the Iron Ranger and set off to see what these were all about.

The ovens are at the base of the right small peak upper left.

There was lots of evidence of cow patties inside.

They sure are in excellent shape after all this time but probably because they were in operation only for 3 years.

This is what they consider second growth.

Once we walked around them, we jumped back into the car to check out their campsites. About 5 or so of them would fit large rigs like us surprisingly. Fees, $15 per night for a shelter, table, firepit and pit toilets. They do have a pump for drinking water. Here is a picture from Google as we didn't stop to take any.

We decided to take the other way home down the gravel road ... and saw the turn off to Ward Historical Mine District. The very end of the road is pretty sketchy and you couldn't get to the actual mine site. No evidence left of the town site that we could see i.e. house foundations, but a small cemetary. 

I couldn't drive up to the building, mounds of tailings put in front.

The second entrance going south on Hwy 93 from Ely is a better choice for rigs going to the campsite.

Now the weather is quite a bit warmer, so we went back to the MH and changed into lighter clothing. Off again to get fuel for the car and then check out the Nevada Northern Railway Museum (a Natiuonal Historic Landmark) and pick up our train tickets for tomorrow. We (Ray) will visit the engine shop tomorrow.

They had a later train today that departed at 11:30. As we were there around 10:30, we walked around to see some of the old stuff, and took pictures of the train waiting to board it's passengers. 

The engineer with his oil can and grease.

The conductor's name is Bill and he is the proud owner of a 1951 Frazer. What a good looking car.

Conductor Bill

Coal and Water loading towers

RIP (Repair In Place) Building 1945, Blacksmith Shop1915 and Material Buildings 1915 (l to r)

Carpenter Shop 1915 and Air Brake Building 1917

Carpenter Shop

Tool House

Here is a short video of the train leaving the station. It goes backwards to connect to the line that goes around the station.

Realizing that it would be going through the tunnel again by Highway 50, we took off to the other side of the tunnel and waited for the train to appear. Ray took photos and I videoed. 

We certainly are getting lots of opportunities for photos of this train. Time for lunch. We decided on Margarita's Mexican Restaurant located in the casino. As per their name, I had a great margarita and Ray had a virgin one, with a delicious meal of pork poblano enchilatas for me and Ray the pork chili rellenos and tamale, served with rice and beans. It was a great choice. Lots of families go there after church.

They had a beautiful courtyard where we opted to eat.

We were definitely done for the day arriving back to the coach at 2 pm. for "toe's up". Tomorrow our train ride leaves at 9:30 am.  My plantar fascitis has kicked in on my left foot. :( So hopefully I can get it under control with meds and rest.... We have more walking adventures planned in the near future.

Nevada Northern Railway Adventure.

T
The Nevada Northern Railway was built over a century ago to service what would become one of the largest copper mines in North America. Today, several of the original coal-fired standard-gauge steam locomotives that were ordered and delivered new to the railroad over 110 years ago are still in operation! The Nevada Northern Railway is the best-preserved example of a standard-gauge short-line left in North America.

Time stopped here. It’s as if the workers went to lunch and never came back. They left behind a complete railroad, now a National Historic Landmark; the grounds include over 70 buildings, structures and 30 miles of track.

Time

The story about Dirt the Cat

Born in Nevada Northern Railway’s cavernous locomotive shop, the aptly named Dirt the Cat is famous around the world for his fur stained by soot and oil and his habit of personally greeting visitors to the museum in Ely, Nevada.

One of the world’s most famous cats is a railroader. Dirt, his fur coat stained by a lifetime amid the soot and grease of Nevada Northern Railway’s 114-year-old engine-servicing facility, is nobody’s pet and everybody’s friend. The people-loving shop cat has an international following thanks to a series of widely shared social media posts.

His fame is even more remarkable given his humble start. In 2008, a feral cat gave birth to a litter of kittens under the railway’s rotary snowplow, which was parked on a shop track. The mother soon moved her kittens, but for some reason Dirt was left behind. Shop workers and locomotive crews noticed the abandoned kitten hiding in a floor drain in the shop and, thanks to strategically placed open cans of tuna fish, won his trust. He has lived in the shop ever since. Despite the noise, smoke, and steam, it’s the only home Dirt has ever known, and the shop workers are his family.

Dirt Chose to Live in a Caboose

Since moving in, Dirt lived in an old, deteriorated caboose in the foundry and slept in the steam locomotives. The train crews put out cans of tuna for Dirt, and he learned to trust them, letting them pet him.

The cat offered a valuable service as a train inspector, mouser, and caught bats! (Note: We love bats, which often get a bad wrap but are also highly effective at killing insects like mosquitos.) Additionally, Dirt boosted morale and was an incredible draw for visitors.

In October 2020, DJ the orange kitten appeared at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. DJ stood for Dirt Junior, and he was Dirt’s protégé. He also became a regular and beloved fixture, who carried the Boss Cat’s torch. Once again, it’s like it was meant to be.

In May 2022, the aging Dirt, then nearly 15, got a new handmade yellow caboose to live in with his name on it in the heated machine shop. He had a cozy bed in front and so did DJ.

By the summer, Dirt’s health declined, and he rested most of the time. With a heavy heart, everyone said goodbye to Dirt when he passed away on January 10 2023, surrounded by his human friends. The crew had a private ceremony and burial for their beloved cat.

Ray spotted a mural of Dirt on the side of a building on our way back to the MH.

You can actually take the Nevada Northern Railway's restored Fairmont Hy-Rail car out on the original Mainline track. This vehicle began life as a very cool 1956 Pontiac Chieftain station wagon. Fairmont converted many of these American family cars into utility vehicles for America's railroads. Hy-Rail cars are equally at home on both highways and railroad tracks.

In this experience you will be there for the transition from road-to-rail and back again, and half of the trip on rail and half on highway.

The experience is round-trip from East Ely to Lane City. You will go out on the NNRY mainline through two tunnels and up 2% grades. We return to East Ely via highway on the "Loneliest Road in America', US 50. The entire experience covers about 10 miles and take about an hour.

Monday morning we headed out for our train adventure at 8:50 am as we are only 10 minutes away. They board you at 9:15 and take off precisely at 9:30. It was a cool 60F, but by the time the train was ready to go it was about 66F, so warm enough with just a light fleece, or none in Ray's case. 

Bill the conductor by his 1951 Frazer Sedan.

Ray got a chance to climb up into the engine and take a picture.

Leaving the yard is the famous Wig Wag crossing signal (On the episode of American Restoration aired on April 16, 2013, a pair of WRRS Autoflag #5 wigwag signals were restored for the Nevada Northern Railway Museum ...) The pendulum swings back and forth ringing the bell.

A long term employee

We passed over "Dale's Crossing". This guy's father was head mechanic until he died a few years go. Dale has always met the train at this crossing. He goes to the crew meetings every Thursday for the schedule and shows up to wave at the trains.

Trainmaster telling us stories.

From the other end

The scenery on the train isn't that picturesque, but we sure enjoyed the ride. The steam engine goes up the 20 mile round trip track at 9 miles and hour and slows to 5 miles per hour through the 2 tunnels. We chatted with the trainmaster, who happened to be riding today.

He explained that he was curious about the power of the steam mathematically, so he decided to figure it out. The steam engine goes up to a maximum pressure of 190psi before the safety valve blows off surplus. With the amount of water they carry, if you could turn the steam engine on it's back pointing up and still be able to give off the steam at once, it would rocket the engine a mile and a half into the sky.

Above, a view looking along #93's tender just inside the engine house. The tender weighs 115,080 lbs light. It holds 7,500 gallons of water and 12 tons of coal.

#93 is a one of four Consolidations built by Alco in 1909 for the American Smelters Securities Co., to haul ore trains on the Nevada Northern Railway at a cost of $17,610. The locomotive weighs 187,000 lbs, 168,000 lbs on its drivers, and has 51" drivers and
21" x 30" cylinders. A coal burner operating at a boiler pressure of 190 psi it delivers 41,890 lbs tractive effort.

Apparently this engine goes through 1 to 1.5 tons of coal for each run up and back. Wow! It is usually train enthusiast volunteers who shovel the coal.

The end of the line is the Keystone Townsite before backing up into a Y to go straight back to the Ely Depot.

Keystone Junction

After we got back to the yard. Ray and a bunch of others were dropped off at the Service Shop where they repair all the engines themselves. This includes the No. 40, which is getting it's 15 year boiler inspection, so is pulled apart at the moment. They do all their repairs here on site and refurbishing. 

Getting rid of excess water (which is 500F) before backing into the yard.

Bunkhouse for the volunteers

DJ (Dirt Junior) the new shop cat.

Engine 40 torn apart for its' boiler inspection

40 getting it's 15 year boiler inspection.

Coal Tender

Ray used to go to work on the railline in one of these.

Ray disembarked for the Service Shop tour.

Bye Bye honey!

The train continued one block more and dropped the rest of us off at the depot. I drove down to the engine building and picked Ray up. I'm not interested in the "parts and pieces" just the ride and history. 

They have a few special excursions you can purchase, one of them with this car ... didn't say how much though.

You can actually take the Nevada Northern Railway's restored Fairmont Hy-Rail car out on the original Mainline track. This vehicle began life as a very cool 1956 Pontiac Chieftain station wagon. Fairmont converted many of these American family cars into utility vehicles for America's railroads. Hy-Rail cars are equally at home on both highways and railroad tracks.

In this experience you will be there for the transition from road-to-rail and back again, and half of the trip on rail and half on highway.

The experience is round-trip from East Ely to Lane City. You will go out on the NNRY mainline through two tunnels and up 2% grades. We return to East Ely via highway on the "Loneliest Road in America', US 50. The entire experience covers about 10 miles and take about an hour.

Their picture.

Another excursion you can purchase is a ticket so you can "drive the steam engine" for $900. We talked to a guy on the train who said that he did it yesterday as it was a Christmas gift. There were 2 of those tours today and we got a picture of the steam engine coming back from Keystone Junction. I guess it's that expensive because you use up 1 ton of coal.

Time for lunch, so we tried out the Homestyle Pizza place on the main drag. The Google reviews did not disappoint. The pie was delicious.

Back in the car for a short trip up Highway 50 to Garnet Hill Rockhound area. I am sure my cousin Pam would be all over this place.

Garnet Hill Recreation Area

Garnet Hill near Ely, Nevada is located in White Pine County along Highway 50 on a well-maintained dirt road. A “Garnet Hill” BLM marker on the right hand side of the road will guide you to the recreation and rockhound area. Interestingly, the Garnet Hill Recreation Area was once an active volcanic site, which erupted approximately 32-40 million years ago, with a cavity that was up to one mile in diameter. While the volcano was actively brewing and spewing, rhyolite—a volcanic form of granite—was being forged inside. This forms when magma erupts from the surface and, as the rock cools, the released gasses create little pockets that allow the garnets to grow. While prospectors uncovered garnets in their prospecting days in the 1870s, they were likely far more interested in the lucrative copper mecca just to the south.

They don't look like much until they are polished. I think most of the ones there turn red once polished.

"Those born in January are lucky to have the beautiful and diverse garnet as their birthstone. Garnets are commonly red but also come in an extraordinary range of beautiful colors, including orange, yellow, purple and vibrant green. There are even garnets that change color from blue to purple in different lighting."

We just took a few pictures at the top of the hill. Most impressive is the Robinson Mine across the highway where they are still mining copper and the odd bit of gold and silver.

History

The beginnings of the mine can be traced back to 1867, and the first mining operations focused mainly on gold and silver. However, in 1872, significant deposits of copper ore were discovered in the area of today's mine and a year later the exploitation of this red-coloured metal began. Since then, with some minor breaks, copper, gold and silver and recently molybdenum have been extracted. The current production was resumed in 2004 after mining operations ceased in 1999 due to low global metal prices.

Looking out from the top of Garnet Hill.

View west of Hwy 50, dubbed the lonliest highway

Looking back towards the outskirts north of Ely (the Smith Valley)

It's not winter yet down here. We came across this guy going across the road on our way down the hill. Definitely a rattlesnake! About 2 feet long.

Back home for 1:15 pm. After some tidy up and Ray washing bug stuff off the front of the MH, we relaxed playing with our pictures for the afternoon.

Ray took a few more pictures of the RV Park and of Wonky the Donkey lol This is a busy park, from 1:30 to 7 pm the rigs are coming in constantly.

1973 The Thing

That's us

Wonkey sure breys a lot.

Both of us are tuckered out after a busy day. Tomorrow is our last day here. 

Woke up Tuesday morning at 5 am with my foot killing me. It woke me up several times through the night, I just couldn't get comfortable. Hopefully it gets better as today progresses.

Our last thing on our list is the Renaissance Village. It is only open Friday's and Saturday's but you can walk through it anytime you like, just the houses are not open to view.

Ely Renaissance Society purchased a piece of property made up of 11 houses and a barn. These small houses have been made into a unique museum, the Ely Renaissance Village depicting Ely’s turn-of-the-century multicultural population.

Here is a Village Mural, it actually features the steam engine.

With Deb off her feet and her rocker, er chair, and on to the couch, it's time for me to explore on my own.  There were many things left to check off our list while in Ely. Really amazing number of attractions for such a small town. Where did I go first you ask? Well it's off to the brothel.  On the way to the village is an operating brothel, Historical Big 4 Ranch - Oldest Brothel & Bar in Nevada Since 1880.  One of the girls actually came outside and waved to the train yesterday. Of course I didn't actually go in dear, I had better things to do like.... oh oh digging myself in deeper aren't I.

Big Four Ranch (notice how the sign says FULL SERVICE, (ahem)

Well.... on with the tour. It's off to the Renaissance Village next for my favourite hour, photgraphy's golden hour after the sun first rises.  Part of the village is nine houses with interiors showing how the various immigrent groups would've furnished their houses. There's Basque, Italian, Asian, English, Spanish and Irish to name a few, plus I just forgot the last group.

The steps carry on to the tracks just above.

Deb noticed Ely features a walking tour of the many murals in town. Too far for this kid, so I drove around to look for some I liked.

This one's advertising for a long gone tenant.

Next it's off to two attractions kitty corner to each other, the White Pine County Library and the Ely Renaissance Sculpture Park.

In behind this is the Hotel Nevada RV parking lot.

OK, still tearing around while trying to capture the golden hour, the next stop is the Historic Richfield Gas Station. This is the first station to be built in Ely.

Lastly, off to the other end of town to find the WigWag railway crossing signs. These were rebuilt and featured on an episode of American Restoration.

The circle hanging by the pendulum swings back and forth, hence the term wigwag.

That's all the items checked off my list for downtown Ely. There's a nice sounding coffee and bakery shop, but Deb needs my wholesome cooking for breakfast.... how would you like a piece of toast and glass of milk dear?

Next on the list there's got to be some ghost towns around here. I waited until the Visitor Center opened at 9 to call and see if they have a brochure. Sure enough they do, so off I went.... charge! The brochure is called "Nevada Ghost Towns Eureka, Lincoln & White Pine Counties". It lists 53 ghost towns and mines. I watched a You Tube video on a Belmont Mill, but this particular one is 45 miles away. Nope, I'll pick the close one we saw from the train just a couple miles west of Ely called Lane City.

Now the story goes Lane City, first called Mineral City and renamed for a mill owner, sprung up in 1869.  Lane City actually predated Ely. Apparently, there were residents up to 2014 (looks like two more "recent" residents). The rest of the town looks like it disappeared in the early 1900's.

The area in the bottom side of Hwy 50 is the location of Lane City

One little anecdote to Lane City. It's plenty warm here, so when I left  the MH my apparel is a short sleeved shirt, shorts and sandals. Deb is always going on about rattlesnakes and wearing jeans and cowboy boots, but of course like a man I never listen. Gallavanting around the bush, I make sure to check for snakes. I went slowly (checking for snakes) up a road cleared to access a bluff overlooking Hwy 50 for this picture:

Those two vehicles, and one off screen, are cops with flishy flashy. Wonder what's going on?

Anyways... on my way back to the car still checking for snakes with my left foot on the ground and the right foot up and approaching the ground my eye catches a small coiled bundle of white with diamonds on the back slightly behind where my foot is landing. My mind thinks F';.* Rattler, as my foot lands six inches from it. Fortunately, it didn't like the size of me (I am trying to lose weight though) and slithered off into a bush.

There is another mine town at the base of the tailings a little further west along Hwy 50, called Ruth. So off I went. This town began in 1903 and named after the daughter of the original owner of the mining claim. Most of the town is row upon row of 800 sq ft ranchers. Most are still occupied, but the town look pretty run down.

One wouldn't want to get too drunk and try to find home among a 100 houses looking the same.

Now it's time to go back for lunch and show Deb more of my culinary skills. How many leftover pieces of pizza would you like heated up, dear. With lunch and the dishes done, yes I did them and now remember how this activity feels on my back! Lightrooming (is that really a verb?) my one hundred pictures from this morning and labelling them is next.

OK, Deb is a ball of excitement, NOT.... what else to do? Of course, back to the pamphlet. Ahha, the ghost mine of Taylor isn't far away..... charge! But first, change into my jeans and cowboy boots. Yes, I did get a bit of an earfull when I got back. I did contemplate not telling her this, but yes dear you're right...choke!

So Taylor looked a little bigger on Google than what I found. I got as far as the tiny little mine, but the townsite might have been a little further anlong the weathered road. The town began in the mid 1880's and the mine owners erected a ten-stamp mill.... whatever that is.

No the tower isn't tilted, it's just my wide angle lens doing funny things.

It's bloody hot in these jeans and cowboy boots, so back in the car with the air blasting. Time to go back to the MH and see if Deb's ready for her G&T. As you can see I Lightroomed (is that really a verb?) the last of the pics and set about doing the blog. Deb's got some Beef Stew thawing out for supper, guess she's unimpressed by my cooking!!

Ha ha Ray ... while incapacitated I did hobble and do 2 loads of laundry.

Tomorrow Great Basin National Park.