Nevada Northern Railway

Date Placed: September 30, 2010
Letterbox: Traditional
Carver: GreenJello
Planters: GreenJello and Teancum
Location: 11th Street and Avenue A, East Ely, White Pine, Nevada
Status: Active

In East Ely, Nevada, you will find a National Historic Landmark. The Nevada Northern Railway was a railroad built primarily to provide rail access to a major copper producing area in White Pine County, Nevada. The railway, constructed in 1905-06, extended northward approximately 140 miles from Ely to a connection with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Cobre.

Faced with declining ore reserves and low copper prices, the railroad eventually shut down operation in 1983. Today, the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation administers the property as the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, which operates a heritage railroad on a section of the former railway. Passenger excursion train service is offered between Ely, Ruth, and McGill using period equipment pulled by historic steam and diesel locomotives.

Directions: Head southeast on East Aultman. Take a left on 11th Street East (toward the mountains) and drive until you reach the Railway.

Between the restrooms and the track is a railroad switch stand. As you practice switching it back and forth, reach underneath for the box hidden under the flat rock and gravel. PLEASE rehide very carefully to look as natural as possible, as it would be easy to make this an "obvious" hide.