Carrying On Our Roots: Nevada Northern Railway Museum
A Historic Landmark Showing Guests How Railroads Were Used In The Early 20th Century By Reliving The Experience
Grenville Dodge was trying to find a way to get the transcontinental railroad over the Rocky Mountains in the mid-1800s. It was frustrating and nothing seemed to be coming to him. This was, of course, before GPS, satellites, and Google. Dodge and his helpers were out surveying and they had the unfortunate luck to come upon a Cheyenne war party. Dodge was being chased, riding for his life, all the while staring at the ground. It was in that moment, inspiration came - he realized it would be the South Pass. Abraham Lincoln approved it and the railroad trekked its way through the mountains, through Salt Lake City, through the little of Ely, all they way to San Francisco.
The preservation of that kind of history lives in a place that still does things like they did 100 years ago. “We still use the same tools they used in 1907,” says Mark Bassett, President of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum in that little town of Ely. Bassett says that they are perhaps, “the most unusual museum in the country.” It has a total of “70 buildings on 56 acres.” And unlike a lot of railway museums, “these are active trains that loop around a 14 mile track in a series of programs we offer at the museum.” Bassett, who cares passionately about the historical significance of locomotives, says, “Once you light a match to a steam engine, it comes to life. It has a persona.” And that is what they do at the Museum- in a variety of ways. Tourists can experience life as it was 100 years ago, first hand.
“We are extremely hands-on,” Bassett explains, “if you are in the machine shop we tell you to not touch anything or you’ll come away with 100 year old grease as a souvenir.” Trains fascinate Bassett and it shows in his conversations, especially in their relationship to American identity. “The steam engine was the first self-propelled invention without wind or animal. We don’t think grand like that anymore. Trains literally changed time.” Bassett is referring to the time zones, which became standardized due to the popularity and necessity of trains keeping a schedule across the country.
The programs the museum heads are varied and interesting. Bassett says the most popular is the “Be The Engineer” program. In this program, people sign up to be the engineer of a steam locomotive. They take a training course, help fire up the engine (which takes 4-6 hours to get enough pressure), and go on a 14-mile track ride with their hand on the throttle. Another program, which Bassett says is inspired by Mark Twain, is where people pay to work in the rail yards for a week and “experience what it was like in the Golden Age of Railroading.”
Great Basin National Park is close to Ely (about the only thing close), so Nevada Northern Railway Museum has teamed with the Rangers to have a Night Sky ride. “The dark rangers take visitors out on a train at night,” Bassett explains and, “ explain interesting things up in the heavens.”
There are many more programs done at the Museum and perhaps the most fascinating is the velocipede and rail bikes programs. Bassett is a firm supporter of hands-on education and was once approached by a 15 year old named Mason. “He said he built a one person railcar and asked if he could ride it on the rails.” Bassett enthusiastically agreed and explained, “it was beautiful. The boy has tremendous talent.” Since then, Mason has built 4 cars with seats that Bassett has purchased for the museum. “It is something I want to encourage, “ Bassett explains, “kids should learn how to do these things – work with their hands…there will always be a need for someone to know how to use a wrench.”
The town of Ely is out there. “We are 240 miles from Sinners or Saints,” Bassett chuckles. He means Las Vegas or Salt Lake City respectively. But Bassett loves it. He has met and interacted with every governor since become the president of the Nevada Northern Railroad Museum and enjoys the friendliness of small town life. He shares a story of the old governor of Nevada, Kenny Guinn, coming out to ride the trains and talk Illinois Commuter Lines. “This was on our Ghost Rider train,” Bassett recalls. The Ghost Rider train has people who play train robbers. “The Ghost Riders come in and yell ‘where’s the governor!?’ Without missing a beat, Mr. Guinn says ‘he’s in the other car!’ And the riders run off and we share a great laugh.”
Due to Dodge’s inspiration while being chased by Indians, Ely, Nevada was put on the map. Though there is not much there, there is a beautiful National Park and a Railroad Museum run by a man that wants people to appreciate the ingeniousness of American invention and innovation. And with all the programs the museum has to offer, he does it part to make sure people do.
Andrew Malo
Make Sure To Stay At:
Ely KOA, proving there's more to Nevada than casinos and neon. It's where high desert meets the mountains of Great Basin National Park. Recreation includes hiking and ATV trails, garnet hunting, fishing, boating and swimming on Cave Lake. Fishing supplies are available at campgrounds.