RVers find gold at Nevada Northern Railway
All Aboard! An RVers visit to the Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, Nevada
The Nevada Northern Railway museum is a great place to visit for rail fans and RVers alike. With a broad collection of railroad equipment along with a working shop plus a museum, this is a fun visit.
They also have a few RV-friendly spots with power for those who want to extend their visit as we did recently.
Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, this railway isn’t just beautifully preserved—it’s gloriously alive with original rails, locomotives, shops, and over 70 historic buildings.
A Living Museum with Real, Rolling History
Vintage Steam & Diesel Locomotives
The railway boasts working steam engines like Nos. 40, 93, and 81, alongside restored diesels. Locomotive 93, built in 1909, still hauls passengers—over a century later! While none of the steam locomotives were operational while we visited we did ride behind two historic diesel engines, a vintage Alco and a truly rare vintage Baldwin road switcher.
They had also recently acquired a doodlebug or rail busAuthentic Yard & Shops
One of my favorite parts of the visit is the working shop. This large enclosed building takes you right back to the glory days of steam power with a good number of volunteers and paid employees diligently working to keep the vintage motive power in good working order. Since the companies that built all of Nevada Northern’s locomotives have long since become relics of history the shop has to deal with making the parts themselves and often even making the tools to work on these beasts.
Experiences at Nevada Northern
Hands-On History
While we didn’t do this, there are programs where you can sit in the engineer’s chair and operate a locomotive. For any rail fan, this would be a delight.Scenic Excursions
Choose from 90‑minute rides to historic destinations: go through mountain tunnels, conquer steep grades, and soak up endless desert views .Themed Train Events
This place embraces whimsy and celebration:Spooky Haunted Ghost Train every October
Festive Santa’s Reindeer Flyer in December
Unique events like geology, wine‑and‑stars, and 1920s‑themed rides. We did ride the wine-and-stars train with a speaker from Cal Tech aboard describing the stars in the sky as we rumbled along the tracks and sipped champagne (okay I drank beer).
What Makes It Special
Time Capsule Town
With unmodernized yards and an endearing sense of authenticity, it’s like stepping into a living portrait of 1900s industrial life.Warm Community Vibe
We found ever individual at the railroad was engaged in making the guest experience better. The entire crew on the train and in the shop were very, very friendly and knowledgeable. They clearly had a passion for making the experience better.Immersive Adventure
It’s more than sightseeing—you can linger in shops, walk the rails, climb aboard, and capture stunning photos in this atmospheric setting.
Planning Your Visit
Location & Hours
1100 Ave A, East Ely, NV. Open Mon–Sat 8 AM–5 PM, Sun 8 AM–4 PM2laneamerica.com+9nnry.com+9savingplaces.org+9.Tickets & Rides
Options include regular excursions, immersive programs, and special events.Membership Perks
Members enjoy discounted rides, exclusive access to restoration & hands‑on programs, and invitations to special member‑only events. We signed-up to be members of the railroad.
Why You’ll Fall in Love
It’s nostalgic without being stuffy. It’s educational and has a very authentic feel. And in the quiet vastness of Nevada, the sight and sound of a living, steaming locomotive rolling past old depots and shops feels like pure magic.
RVing at Nevada Northern Railway
The railway has what appears to be a newly-built parking area right along the tracks. The spaces are wide and the lot is in great shape. There is plenty of parking all over the place but there are two spaces down at the far end of the lot that are specifically designated for RVs. When you buy a ticket to ride, which you should, you can spend the night there. There are 20, 30 and 50 amp hook-ups in these two spaces.
There is also a KOA nearby and several of the people we spoke with were staying there.
White Pine Public Museum
We stayed three days in Ely and also paid a visit to the White Pine Public Museum. This eclectic collection has everything from an old railroad station house that’s pretty close to how it was originally to rail cars, vintage farm equipment, an American LaFrance fire truck, tons of stuff relevant to the mining history of the area and even a nod to being on the Pony Express.
The railroad vacuum restored by American Restoration.jpg
TV Stars
I first heard about the Nevada Northern by being a fan of the TV show American Restoration. I loved watching things come back to life on that show but there were two specific items that caught my attention. One of those was a vintage vacuum used by the railroads to clean passenger cars between journeys and the other was a vintage railroad crossing signal.
Okay, the third appearance was by Mark Bassett, the Executive Director of the museum. This colorful railroad man plays an active part in the operation and I had the good fortune to meet him and get a photo with him.
Volunteering at the Nevada Northern Railway
Like all historical sites and tourist trains, the Nevada Northern is always on the hunt for volunteers. There are plenty of ways to participate as a volunteer, either on a short-term basis or even seasonally.
While we were there there were a number of participants who were participating in a week-long railroad training program. The program lets them get their hands on all sorts of aspects of railroad life for a week including maintenance and operating of trains. All of the participants really seemed to enjoy the experience.
Nevada Northern Railway President Mark Bassett
Next summer we are hoping to spend a month or so at Nevada Northern as volunteers.
Something else - many of these tourist trains and other museums are looking for paid staff either seasonally or longer-term. I would love to spend a summer working on the railroad - to my mind this would be much more fun than being a camp host but I do love trains.
History of the Nevada Northern Railway
Like many old trains, the Nevada Northern came about because there was gold in them thar hills. Well, actually, it was copper. Many old railroads were built to haul heavy materials from mines and this one is no exception. In this case a series of business changes lead to the current state of the railroad which was part of the mining operation until the closure of the mine in 1983.
In a series of donations beginning in 1986, Kennecott transferred the entire Ore Line, as well as the railroad's yard and shop facilities in East Ely, to the White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation, a non-profit organization that today operates the property as the Nevada Northern Railway Museum which operates a heritage railroad.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a history lover, photographer, train enthusiast—or just craving a scenic, off‑beat adventure—the Nevada Northern Railway delivers. Ride a steam train, explore hidden engine houses, experience themed events, and maybe even engineer your own locomotive for a day. If you find yourself on Nevada’s Loneliest Road, this slice of living history in Ely is well worth the detour.
All aboard? 🚂
