Run a Locomotive – Hands-On History
This is something you are going to remember forever
Volunteers Needed – see website or call for information. Even one weekend a year would help with maintenance and repair projects.
Sign on as a Nevada Northern Railway engineer for your own trip “Up the hill” through Robinson Canyon, up toward the old Ruth Mining District. You (and a friend, if you like) will climb on board and experience what railroading was like in the last century – at the throttle of one of the original Nevada Northern STEAM locomotives. Diesel experiences are also available.
What to Expect
Begin your engineer experience by studying the safety training materials that our regular and volunteer crews learn from (download here). There will be a test on the basics, but we are there to help you all the way through. It is then time to head down to the century-old Enginehouse and help prepare your locomotive for the day. Climb into the cab, and learn how to operate the iron horse. Your mentor engineer will show you the ropes as we move the locomotive out of the engine house, through the yard, and onto the original NNRY mainline.
It’s then your turn! Climb up into the engineer’s seat and receive personal instructions from your mentor engineer on controlling the throttle and brake. Once the basics are under your belt, the moment comes for you to sound the whistle, have your hand on the throttle, and head up the mainline toward the mines. You will be going through two tunnels and climb over 2.5% grades. Up toward the end of the line there is a wye. We will turn the locomotive they head back down to Ely, gaining hands-on experience with controlling a locomotive on a mountain grade. This is real standard-gauge main-line mountain railroading on America’s best-preserved railroad. You are at the throttle. You are the engineer. You are running a steam locomotive.
Options
There are several options available. You can take control of one of the vintage steam locomotives, or one of the vintage diesel locomotives, or operate both. Most people come and take the locomotive out without a train attached. It is an easier way to start, and requires less training. Taking the locomotive out with a complete train adds the additional skill of controlling a train on our mountain grades. You may find that it is easier to get the train up a grade than to bring it safely back down. Early in your trip you will begin to appreciate the genius of the Westinghouse Air Brake system, its complexities and limitations for mountain grades – especially on steam locomotives since they do not have dynamic brakes. You will also learn the “technical” term for using up all of your braking capacity by applying and releasing your train brakes too often coming down the mountain grade.
See website for current prices.
The trains are a popular photography subject but there are also special trains that are scheduled each year with photographers in mind. See website for information or contact a volunteer.
The Editor of this website has personally ‘Been the Engineer’ of Number 93!!
Pictures below are provided by contributors or supporters of this website. If you are interested in sharing your pictures of Nevada, please drop us a note.
Courtesy S. Ward – Road signs for wildlife traffic control