Following a breakfast at the hotel, we all went to the East Ely station to check in for this unique railroading event. Here I was back in Ely, stone cold sober and waiting to ride and photograph the Nevada Northern again and felt as though I was one of the most lucky people alive. We took the time to buy tickets for the 4:00 PM Polar Express later this afternoon; there was both a 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM excursion today but we chose the one after dark to ride and the one in daylight to photograph.
Each participant in this weekend's steam event received a name badge and a schedule of events and had the choice of riding the caboose or driving to get more pictures, but the four of us chose to ride.
As I walked out to the caboose, I recorded the consist and boarded our freight train, with us taking the cupola. Nevada Northern 2-8-0 93 would pull ore cars 1005, 089, 1082, 1219, 400, 402 and 403, tank car W5 and caboose 22.
The 1907 East Ely station from the cupola.
Nevada Northern 93 reversed our freight train out of the station.
Approaching the first road crossing.
Crossing the road.
Curving above Ely on the way to Robinson Canyon and the tunnel.
The view looking across the tank car.
Curving towards Keystone. Our Saturday morning photo freight not only went to Keystone, but travelled over the new trackage built by the Northern Nevada Railway to serve the new ore concentrator. The train crew said this was the first photo special to cover this trackage. Above Keystone, the three percent grade gave our steam engine a really good workout.
Crossing the road to Ruth.
This is what I live for!
Climbing higher and higher.
Nearing the mine as we paralleled the road leading to the front gate.
We arrived at the main gate of the former Robinson Mine, now being operated as Quadra Mine, where the copper is shipped to China. We all climbed off the caboose to start the first photo runby.
The reverse move.
Photo runby one.
Photo runby two.
Nevada Northern 2-8-0 93 built by American Locomotive Company in 1909 for the American Smelters Securities Company, to haul ore trains on the Nevada Northern Railway. It was sold to Nevada Consolidated Copper in May 1920 when the company took over operation of the ore line. The trackage remained the property of the Nevada Northern Railway who provided management for operations by Nevada Consolidated train crews. In 1952, three of the original four locomotives supplied by Alco in 1909 were scrapped, but 93 was kept as back up motive power.
In 1961, Kennecott Copper donated the locomotive to the White Pine Public Museum, where it went on open air display. In 1990, after twenty-nine years on display at the White Pine Public Museum, 93 was traded by the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation, along with all of the museum's railroad equipment, to the Northern Nevada Railway Museum in exchange for the Cherry Creek Depot. The depot building was moved fifty miles south to become part of the White Pine Public Museum complex in Ely.
Photo runby three.
Photo runby four. We all reboarded the caboose and reversed down the line to our next photo spot.
Photo runby five.
Photo runby six. Back aboard, Nevada Northern 93 reversed us to the cut above where the last time I was here, the tracks went to Copper Flats.
Photo runby seven. I had to change film and tried to do it as I was walking, then switched locations for the next runby and finished the film change there.
Photo runby eight. As I packed up, the film was missing. Carl and I had a quick look but could not find it and had to get back on the train. All of the photo runbys, except this last one, was on that roll of film and naturally, I was not in a good mood as we rolled back to East Ely.
Back in town, SD9 204 was switching cars around then we went for lunch at the Silver State. Don D. suggested that after we chase the Polar Express to Keystone, we should ook for the film and I walked back to the hotel and prayed to God that He help me find it, which returned me to a good mood. Maybe I might be lucky and find that film later today.
The Polar Express ChaseWe left the hotel and found the first grade crossing and waited for the train.
The Polar Express started the climb as it departed the yard.
Exiting the tunnel in Robinson Canyon.
An "S" curve provided these views.
Approaching and leaving the Ghost Train of East Ely sign.
Switching on the Keystone wye before the passengers met Santa Claus. Don drove us back near the hill where I had lost the film and I led the way along the fence to the top of the hill. Something led me to the spot where I had taken the last runby pictures and I looked down in this patch of dirt in the middle of all the snow and there was the roll of film! I picked it up and raised my hands up over my head and yelled, "I found it!"
We returned to Keystone where we waited for the Polar Express to leave.
We drove to the east tunnel portal to wait for the Polar Express then returned to the hotel, where I watched a bit of the University of Southern California-University of California at Los Angeles football game.
Riding the Polar Express
The train was boarding as arrived.
Our train before we boarded coach 7; the consist was Nevada Northern 93 pulling coaches 07 "Ely" and 08 "Nevada", open car 23 (closed due to the weather) and caboose 6. The inside of the cars were decorated with garland, bells and bows hanging from the ceiling and Christmas music was played over the train's public address system. We departed for Keystone, otherwise known as the North Pole, by reversing up to East Ely Junction before proceeding forward.
A beautiful sunset as we climbed above Ely. Hot chocolate and cookies were distributed to all passengers. As the train neared the tunnels, it was announced that this tunnel, as well as the the highway bridge (tunnel) would magically transport our train thousands of miles to the north and closer to the North Pole. As we entered the first tunnel, the children were getting really excited and once we exited the tunnel, darkness took hold, making this trip more magical. The book "Polar Express" was read over the public address system system then afterwards, the Grinch was not in his cave so it was thought there might be trouble before we arrived at the North Pole.
As the train made the turn to Keystone, the children spotted the lit North Pole and we took the wye, reversing around it until coming to a sudden stop as the Grinch had placed a tree across the tracks. After the wyeing was complete, Santa Claus was spotted and to encourage him to board, everyone had to sing "Here Comes Santa Claus." He then boarded and passed out a bell to each passenger. After Santa visited both coaches, everyone waved and said goodbye and Christmas carols were sung as we returned to East Ely. Next all the children were gathered together to form the Polar Express children's choir. Following that, more carols were sung and our train passed through the tunnels, returning all to Ely, ending an exciting ride on this very unique train.
Night Photo Session
With a Christmas parade about to take place, we returned via back streets to the hotel to get some items and parked around the corner. Don Roe decided to stay at the hotel while the three of us went back to the depot for the night photo session. One word describes this evening: freezing! With this event moving along at a snail's pace, Carl walked back to the hotel, stopping for dinner on the way and Don Drummer lasted until after the first flash and returned to the warmth of his vehicle. I stayed out about ten more minutes before the freezing temperatures did me in. Don and I went to Arby's to pick up dinner before returning to the warmth of the hotel for the night and we learned from Don Roe that the Christmas Parade lasted a mere twelve minutes. I called it a night a short time later.
