The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is often hailed as the best-preserved standard-gauge railroad in the country. The operating railway museum is headquartered on a 56-acre complex with 66 historic buildings, set amid the vastness of the Great Basin. The railroad was completed in 1906 to haul copper, and most cars and locomotives have been on the railroad since the first day of their service lives.
Choices
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum offers something for everyone. Its 90-minute excursion goes through two tunnels and up mountain grades on the way to Ruth. Steam locomotives usually run on weekends and vintage diesels on weekdays. The railroad also operates a variety of special and seasonal trains, including Wild West trains, geology trains, and a Halloween ghost train that features stories from the region’s colorful past.
When to go
Regular excursions run from March through October. The railway is open daily except for Tuesdays, Labor Day through Memorial Day, and several holidays. Summer is busy, with trains running daily. Ely is a mile in elevation, so the weather can be unpredictable.
Good to know
The museum offers guided tours of the shops and grounds after excursions. If you are lucky, you may get an audience with DJ the cat, who lives in the shop. For an even more up-close look, stay overnight in a caboose or a bunkhouse.
Worth doing
Visit Great Basin National Park, which is 60 miles East of Ely. In this diverse environment, you can see 13,000-foot mountains and 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines and explore Lehman Caves.
Don’t miss
At the railway, you can view steam locomotives, wooden passenger cars, and a steam-powered rotary plow. Structures include the original depot, engine house, freight shed, coaling tower, and water tower. Diesels include everything from an SD9 to a Baldwin VO1000 and a trio of Alco RS-model road switchers.
Getting there
Ely is in east-central Nevada at the junction of Highways 6, 50, and 93. It’s easily accessed from Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, or Reno.
Location: 1100 Avenue A, Ely, NV
Phone: 775-289-2085
Website: nnry.com
E-mail: Form on website
