Nevada Northern Railway
National Historic Landmark      Ely, NV


YUM! You can cook a meal on the fireman's shovel of a steam locomotive
Try one of traditional favorites of road crews - Fireman's Hash
Correct, this is your oven! Otherwise known as the firebox of a real, working, coal-fired steam locomotive

Iron Horse Cookery

Cook a meal on the Fireman's Shovel of a steam locomotive

It's true that our mission is about preservation. We have been acclaimed as the "Most authentic and best preserved historic railroad facility in America But it isn't just about preserving the equipment. That's an important part of it, but we also are all about preserving the stories of the people, mostly first-generation immigrants, who worked here.

We did not invent cooking in the firebox of a steam locomotive here.  That was the ingenuity of early train crews.  "During the day" train crews worked long days - sometimes 16 or 18 hours in a single day.  They could not take a break and go get breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The lived on the locomotive during their shift. They improvised food as they could, and often cooked on the locomotive.

We created the Iron Horse Cookery Cookbook to remember and honor these hard-as-steal railroad people who helped build America.   You can purchase our cookbook here in our online General Store.

In the mean time, take a look at a few of the videos to "wet your appetite" for more.  Like what you see?  We would love to have you "like" and subscribe to our YouTube channel.  There's more to come!

Seasoning Your Shovel

Frist things first.  Let's start with your shovel.  Just like your trustworthy cast iron frying pan at home, seasoning a new shovel is a critical first step.

Cooking Bacon on Locomotive 40

Bacon. Yum! This is a great place to begin. Not only do we get instant gratification, but it will also help to further season the shovel for all that is ahead on this adventure.

Eggs ala Shovél on Locomotive 40

Eggs can be tricky. Let's see how it is done right! 

Our Firebox Chefs have upped the ante on this one, rivaling the best Egg service this side of Paris.

Brakeman's Breakfast

This Dutch Oven delight is stove-top breakfast that combines all of the important food groups - Sausage, Hash Browns, Eggs, and of course, CHEESE.  Just wait until you take the lid off the finished meal.  Come hungry and leave satisfied.   

Switchman's Tacos

In this episode, we make Switchman's Tacos. Tacos? Hot and fresh out of the Firebox? For sure!!

These are the favorite of the switchman because they are warm and hits the spot after climbing up and down the locomotive all day to throw the switches. Do you think there will even be one left when the switchman returns?
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