Nevada Northern Railway Museum
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-24- TypeOperating National Historic Landmark railroad and museum in East Ely, Nevada
- LocationEly, NV
- Rating4.7 ★1,649 Google reviews
- UpcomingFri, Sep 25
- AccessibilityThe excursion page publishes wheelchair accessibility; call about the specific consist, boarding method, companion seating, and campus route
About Nevada Northern Railway Museum
Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a living railroad campus at the original East Ely yard, depot, shops, engine house, tracks, and right-of-way. The National Historic Landmark operation pairs a walk-through museum with 90-minute public excursions, special themed trains, guided tours, handcars, and supervised hands-on programs. Its 2026 ticket calendar remains active from late August through December, with diesel and steam-labeled excursions, astronomy rides, anniversary and seasonal trains, and a large Santa schedule. Motive power and routes vary, so the live ticket listing controls each departure.
Plan a Nevada Northern Railway Day
Choose the visit that fits your groupFirst-time visitors, families, and railfans
Choose a 90-minute public excursion
Compare diesel, steam-labeled, Robinson Canyon, and Valley Vista listings by exact date; seating and motive power depend on the published product.
Repeat riders and visitors planning around a specific theme
Book a special themed train
Star Train, sunset, anniversary, Halloween, pumpkin, and Santa products add astronomy, entertainment, food, or seasonal programming with distinct terms.
Industrial-history travelers and equipment-focused visitors
Explore the original East Ely campus
Add depot, yard, shop, engine-house, and museum time around the train instead of treating the site as only a boarding platform.
Families and travelers building a full Ely history day
Pair the free White Pine Public Museum
Drive about 0.9 mile for cave-bear, mining, community, and Cherry Creek depot exhibits; selected Ping-Pong Train dates link the museums by rail speeder.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- Remaining 2026 ride calendarSeventy-eight dates and 122 published public-train sessions from August 24 through December 26; live availability controls
- Typical excursion lengthAbout 90 minutes
- BoardingEast Ely Depot campus, 1100 Avenue A, Ely, Nevada
- Excursion seatingCoach and open-air seating are published, with movement between the two when operations permit
- Museum admission$10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children ages 4-12, and free ages 0-4; confirm the overlapping age-four boundary
- Ride pricingVaries by product; published examples start at $15 for Doodlebug, $45 for many themed rides, $58 Sunset/Stars/Champagne, and $65 Star Train
- Museum hoursMonday-Wednesday 8-5, Thursday and Saturday 8-7:30, Sunday and federal holidays 8-4; Friday is omitted on the official page, so confirm
- AccessibilityThe excursion page publishes wheelchair accessibility; call about the specific consist, boarding method, companion seating, and campus route
- OnboardRestroom plus snacks and beverages for purchase on regular excursions
- Weather and elevationThe campus and routes sit around 6,500 feet; bring sun protection, water, and layers for high-desert temperature changes
- PetsPets are not allowed on the industrial campus or trains; trained service animals are welcome with owner responsibility for industrial hazards
- PhotographyPersonal still photography is welcomed within safety rules; commercial use, drones, and some tripods require restrictions or licensing
Find the Depot
The Trains
The preserved fleet includes original Nevada Northern steam locomotives and historic diesels alongside later acquisitions. No. 93 is an ALCO 2-8-0 built in 1909; No. 40 is a Baldwin 4-6-0 built in 1910 and is currently described by the railway as undergoing its mandatory boiler rebuild and complete overhaul. Baldwin 2-8-0 No. 81 returned from a long restoration in 2021, though later shop imagery underscores that mechanical status is time-sensitive. The 2026 calendar explicitly sells both steam- and diesel-labeled excursions, but visitors should use the exact ticket listing rather than infer a locomotive from a general fleet page or photograph.
History
Nevada Northern Railway reached Ely to serve the region's copper industry.
The Mission Revival East Ely passenger depot opened.
American Locomotive Company built freight locomotive No. 93.
Baldwin built passenger locomotive No. 40.
Baldwin built 2-8-0 No. 81, the last steam locomotive ordered by the Nevada Northern.
The core East Ely railroad property entered its nonprofit preservation chapter after the industrial railroad era.
The Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops became a National Historic Landmark.
The museum scheduled a 120th Anniversary Express and a full year of public ride products.
See full history
Nevada Northern Railway was built to connect White Pine County copper mines and smelters with national rail connections, reaching Ely in 1906. The East Ely passenger depot dates to 1907, and the surviving yard, shops, records, locomotives, cars, and original operating landscape form an unusually complete industrial complex. Kennecott ended the railroad's industrial era and transferred the core property for preservation in the 1980s. The East Ely complex became a National Historic Landmark in 2006; the museum's 120th Anniversary Express in 2026 marks the first railway arrival in Ely rather than claiming uninterrupted passenger service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Nevada Northern trains depart?
Public trains and museum visits use the East Ely campus at 1100 Avenue A, Ely, Nevada 89301. Use the exact ticket confirmation for check-in details.
How long is a regular excursion?
The railway publishes about 90 minutes for regular public excursions. Star, dinner, Santa, hands-on, and other special products can differ.
Will my train be steam-powered?
Book a date explicitly labeled Steam Excursion or another product that promises steam. Generic excursions do not guarantee motive power, and mechanical substitutions remain possible.
Is locomotive 40 operating?
The railway currently says No. 40 is undergoing its mandatory boiler rebuild and a complete overhaul. Do not use older pages or photographs as evidence that it will lead a 2026 train.
How much does the museum cost?
Published museum admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children ages 4-12, and free for infants ages 0-4. Because age four appears in both bands, confirm that boundary directly.
When is the museum open?
The official site lists Monday-Wednesday 8-5, Thursday and Saturday 8-7:30, Sunday and federal holidays 8-4. It omits Friday from the current hours display, so call before a Friday visit.
Is the excursion wheelchair accessible?
The railway publishes wheelchair accessibility for its trains. Call 775-289-2085 before an access-dependent booking to confirm the specific consist, boarding method, companion seating, restroom, and campus route.
Are there restrooms and food aboard?
Regular excursion guidance lists an onboard restroom and snacks and beverages for purchase. Special-event service differs by product.
Can I bring my dog?
No pets are allowed on the industrial grounds or trains. Trained service animals are welcome, with owners responsible for protecting them from industrial-site hazards.
What should I wear?
The railway is around 6,500 feet in the high desert. Bring water, sun protection, closed-toe footwear where requested, and layers for rapid evening cooling.
Can I take photographs?
Personal still photography is encouraged within the safety policy. Selfie sticks are prohibited, drones require a license, tripods are restricted on trains, and commercial use requires permission.
What is nearby?
White Pine Public Museum is about 0.9 driving mile away, open daily 11-4 with free admission. Its Cherry Creek depot and county-history exhibits complement the operating railroad.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 24, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official train-rides page for 2026 products, museum address, admission, hours, trip duration, seating, access, onboard services, and published prices
- Official live ticket calendar and VBO calendar feed for 78 remaining dates and 122 public-train sessions
- Official contact page for address, phone, department routing, hours, and Ely travel context
- Official sponsorship page for current No. 40 boiler rebuild and locomotive-preservation status
- Official No. 81 collection record for build history and September 2021 restoration completion
- Official pet policy for industrial-campus risks, no-pet rule, and service-animal boundary
- Official photography policy for personal use, tripods, selfie sticks, drones, cab authority, and commercial licensing
- National Park Service National Historic Landmark nomination for East Ely complex significance and physical history
- Nevada Northern media page for the current United States 250th-birthday locomotive repaint
- Wikimedia Commons exact-property files and license records for the six operator images
