Hands-On-History Adventures

Yes, you can actually spend the night in the middle of a National Historic Landmark Railroad. You have two choices.  You can sleep in a real, working caboose that was delivered here band-new for freight service in 1955, or in your own room in the Bunkhouse. In either case, don’t be surprised to hear whistles and chuffing of steam engines early in the morning as your alarm clock.

You will be "front and center" for a journey to the past. This is your ticket to a locomotive ride along with the engineer and the fireman, up in the cab of one of our steam locomotives or vintage diesel engines as we head up toward the Old Ruth Mining District from the East Ely yard. You will see the railroad as very few visitors ever have the chance to see it.

The invention of the steam locomotive changed everything! Humans were no longer dependent on either wind power or animal power. The steam locomotive opened up continents! History doesn’t get any closer than this. You’re in control of one of the original Nevada Northern Railway STEAM locomotives, running it on the original mainline, with your hand on the throttle and brake. This is  the same track that these locomotives have been operating on for over a century. Can you tame the Iron Horse?

Looking for more of a challenge? There is the option of adding a complete train to your trip!

Every day throughout the country DIESEL locomotives are hauling trains. Here’s your chance to see the world from the cab of a Diesel locomotive. You’ll be operating one of our original, vintage Diesel locomotives with your hand on the throttle. We also will be running it on the original mainline, with your hand on the throttle and brake. Road crossing coming up, get ready to blow the horn.

Looking for more of a challenge? There is the option of adding a complete train to your trip!

Join photographers and railfans from around the world as they descend on Ely to witness history being remade. You will join the photo line as we pull out the best and finest locomotives and rolling stock, most of which was delivered here over a century ago.

Our photography workshops are an intensive three and a half day experience. You will be able to hone your photography skills under the tutelage of two of the best known rail photographers in the western United States, Steve Crise and Mike Massee.

This workshop offers an in-depth, hands-on photographic instruction in a time capsule that is essentially unchanged since it was built a century ago. The workshop will incorporate talks, edit-and-critique sessions, and photo assignments in each day's schedule.

You’ve heard the stories, read about it, or you’ve seen television programs like Hell on Wheels. But what was it really like to work on the railroad? Here’s your chance to spend a week and find out for yourself what Workin' on the Railroad really means. It’s Hands On.

We start the week with the same safety training class that our own staff and volunteers have to attend annually. Yes, there really will be a test on the material when class is over. Why? Because you will be part of the team that gets trains over the hill.  During the week you will experience all aspects of the operations here.  Fast forward to Graduation – Operating a diesel locomotive and switching in the yard.

Are you up to the challenge?