Story and Photos by Justin Franz
In the sleepy community of Ely, Nev., about halfway between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, the steam locomotives get all the attention.
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum, situated in one of the most remote communities in the continental U.S., is a steam-era time warp. The shops, coaling tower, and other facilities spread across the 56-acre campus look like they’re straight out of the age of steam because they are. It’s as if one day in the 1940s, the laborers and train crews put everything away, locked the doors, and tossed the key so that future historians and railroad enthusiasts could discover it — so they could see, smell, and feel what steam railroading was really like back in the day.
Despite the three original steam locomotives that call Nevada Northern home, the fact remains that for more than half the railroad’s existence, diesels have been the dominant motive power on this short line-turned-living museum. Today, while steam continues to star, the railroad maintains an eclectic fleet of diesels, with locomotives from four different builders, including six American Locomotive Company products.
Read more about the Nevada Northern’s fleet of Alco diesel locomotives — including an all-time roster — in the October 2025 edition of Railfan & Railroad.
The Backshop
The midday sun illuminates the smoke-filled East Ely shop on February 25, 2022. Inside the shop, RS-2 105 sits between assignments. Next to the Alco switcher is the tender from 4-6-0 21, which is now paired with Rotary B, both of which were built by Alco. Locomotive 21 was scrapped in 1952.
Born in Schenectady
Kennecott RS-2 105 wears its original builder’s plate inside the East Ely shop in February 2022. The engine was built in December 1949 and today still runs at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum.
Tunnel 1
Engineer Ben Lytle looks ahead as he guides RS-3 109 through Tunnel 1 on February 27, 2022, during the railroad’s annual winter photography event.
Smoking
RS-3 109 smokes it up for photographers during the Nevada Northern Railway’s annual winter photography weekend in 2002. The RS-3 is the only one to have operated on the Nevada Northern in the pre-preservation era.
Keystone Line
Alco RS-3 109 leads an excursion on the Keystone Line on February 27, 2022, approaching Tunnel 1. The RS-3 is one of the regular locomotives to lead excursions on the Nevada Northern.
