By Railfan & Railroad Staff

EAST ELY, Nev. — One Baldwin isn’t enough for the Nevada Northern Railway. A year after the museum restored Baldwin 2-8-0 81, NNRy is looking at putting Baldwin VO-1000 801 back into service. 

The diesel was built by the locomotive manufacturer in 1942 for Utah’s Bingham & Garfield Railway, which was controlled by NNRy’s parent company, Kennecott Copper. It was later transferred to operations in New Mexico and Nevada and worked until 1983. It was then donated to the museum. It has sat out-of-service in the shop ever since. 

The railroad’s management said they would like to have two examples of Baldwin locomotives, a steam engine and a diesel, to tell the complete story of the transition from steam to diesel. With 81 back in service, the emphasis to get 801 back on the road has grown. The railroad said that Kennecott took good care of the locomotive when it was donated and the exhaust stacks were capped, water drained and other steps taken to protect it from the elements. That has made the restoration relatively simple and thus far, crews have repaired the oil pump and tested the air systems. The next step is acquiring batteries to get the locomotive started. That should happen this year and once it does the railroad will be able to continue working on it. Eventually, they hope to repaint the locomotive as well. 

While NNRy is known for its fleet of steam locomotives, it’s starting to build a notable fleet of diesels as well. Last year, it moved RSD-4 201 from Washington State back to Nevada and it hopes to move SD7 401 from Utah this year. Locomotive 401 currently wears the railroad’s unique red and yellow scheme called “Desert Warbonnet.” RS-2 105, RS-3 109 and SD9 204 are all presently in service in East Ely. 

Visit the railroad’s website to learn how to donate to the effort or call (775) 289-2085.