The Abandoned Tracks of the Nevada Northern - Mc Gill and Ely

The Nevada Northern was abandoned in 1978 but the 100 plus miles of track were never torn up. In 1986 the shops and a small bit of track became a museum.
But most of the track is still there, unused. We start by heading north to Mc Gill to see what's left there.
Wikipedia:
The Nevada Northern owes its beginnings to the discovery and development of large porphyry copper deposits near Ely early in the 20th century. Two of the region's largest mines (including the Robinson Mine) were purchased in 1902 by Mark Requa, president of the Eureka and Palisade Railroad in central Nevada.
Requa then organized the White Pine Copper Company to develop his new properties, and it soon became evident that rail access to the isolated region would be essential to fully exploit the potential of the mines. Subsequent surveys indicated that the most practical route for such a railroad was northward from Ely, connecting with the Southern Pacific somewhere in the vicinity of Wells.
The Ely-area copper properties were further merged in 1904, forming the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company, and the Nevada Northern Railway was incorporated on June 1, 1905, to build a line connecting the Nevada Consolidated mines and smelter to the national rail network] The task of building the new railroad was contracted to the Utah Construction Company, which began work on September 11, 1905. Construction began at Cobre, where the Nevada Northern connected with the Southern Pacific, and proceeded southward. The line was finished a year later, its completion marked by a two-day celebration in Ely. The railroad's symbolic final spike-made of local copper-was driven by Requa in Ely on September 29, 1906, which was designated as Railroad Day. To celebrate the new railway, a ball was held inside the Northern building, which was still under construction at the time.
Additional Ely-area trackage was constructed in 1907-1908 to serve the local mining industry. This trackage, known as the "Ore Line," included a route bypassing Ely to the north and continuing west up Robinson Canyon to the copper mines at Ruth. East of Ely, the Ore Line project saw the construction of the "Hiline," a branch leading to Nevada Consolidated's new copper smelter and concentrator at McGill. The Ore Line immediately became the busiest segment of the Nevada Northern by far, hosting dozens of loaded and empty ore trains daily.
As a subsidiary of Nevada Consolidated, the primary purpose of the Nevada Northern throughout its history was the haulage of copper ores and products. Other freight traffic was also carried, and the railroad operated a daily passenger train between East Ely and Cobre until 1941. Local trains were also operated from Ely to Ruth and McGill for the benefit of mine employees and others until the 1930s, and special school trains carried students to White Pine High School in central Ely.
nnry.com/

[@shadowcrimsonflare]

Very good show. The towns of Ely and McGill are living history museums. Going to these towns is like stepping back in time 40 or 50 years.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Especially Ely. Stay at the Nevada Hotel. And it’s 1950 again.

[@shadowcrimsonflare]

been there. done that.

[@richardsmith9609]

BHP Copper did indeed open the tracks from the mine in Ruth up to the main line at Wells from 1995 to 1999. They shipped copper concentrate from the mill at the Robinson mine to the smelter in San Manuel Arizona. The cars were shipped west in to California and then south and eventually back in to Arizona and the smelter at San Manuel. I worked the mines in Ruth and in Arizona for over 26 years and remember this well. I worked in the mining industry for over 35 years and am now retired. I have many wonderful memories of working the mines out west.

[@helicopterpilot08]

I love nevada. The vast emptiness and seeing for miles, the dry lake beds and beautiful mountains. When you're way out there by yourself and it's dead silent, it has a haunting feeling to it. There's nothing like it anywhere else.

[@ToyManTelevision]

If you haven’t yet visit the Ruby Mountains. Like going to the Tetons but with not a soul anywhere. Green valley at Deeth and Star Vally. (Deeth Star!) You can get off I-80 at Deeth. Then enjoy.

[@robertrude3573]

Midbar. A place where God is present.

[@auburn.JoaoDuarte]

God bless, love usa

[@ComplexGamesYT]

You get used to the emptiness.

[@TheBarry1m]

I love it when you do shows like this, it is special to see the history of our country and of the railroads that built it.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks! More coming soon too.

[@utahcoasterenthusiasts]

I agree. These episodes are my favorite.

[@stantonwyman581]

Love your video. it reminds me of watching "On The Road with Charles Kuralt". Showing these places in America just warms my heart and brings faith in people that love history. Bless the two of you.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!! We get quite a kick out of it. As soon as it stops snowing back in the road again!

[@jbo073044]

I wonder! Has anybody ever used these abandoned tracks for railriding? For those not familiar with railriders, they are small man powered vehicles 2 to 4 people usually. Some railriders have small gasoline engines and are quite enjoyable to ride on abandoned tracks. This northern Nevada area seems to be such a pretty and interesting place to explore. Thank you.

[@PlaneBoy2520]

Amazing video! You guys really add a new perspective on these amazing little railroads!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!! And thanks for watching!!

[@c.e.ardanaz1234]

Muchísimas gracias por compartir este video, me emociona muy mucho, ver que las simples vidas que llevaban nuestros mayores, era tan bella, con toda esa infraestructura que se fué abandonando . Mi abuelo materno fué foguista desde 1010 hasta que se retiró en 1940, en el Molino Fenix, del pueblo de Villa Mercerdes, en San Luis Argentina, y mis tíos cuandoniños, trabajaban en verano limpiando las chimeneas del molino. Luego aprenhendieron mecánica y para 1928 ya tenían taller automotriz. Gracias por hacenos recordar nuestros ancestros, abuelos, padres, tíos y tías, y la vida a principios del siglo XX, hasta mi juventud. Gracias por permitir los subtítulos, ya que así pude enterder vuestro hermoso vídeo. Saludos desde San Luis , Argentina, ya tenéis otro seguidor nostágico a vuestros viajes !!!

[@edwardmounsey9208]

Interesting video. I grew up in a small mining town in BC. It had a mill (concentrator) similar to the one here. Gravity fed, the tailings were flumed to the ocean and the concentrates shipped to Tacoma for smelting. Had a narrow gauge RR, 3 ft with small electric locomotives, used an overhead wire with poles for the power to the locomotives. All gone now, only mill remains as a museum. Thank you for posting brings back memories.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I loved watching the electric locomotives changing from yard voltage to mainline voltage. Sparks!! Better than the forth of July! Er... dominion day?

[@H.pylori]

Was in Ely one week ago to ride the train. Went up to McGill to see the old drugstore. Had no idea that the main business in McGill was the smelter, and not mining. Your video added so much more to what I saw there. And, yes, the NNR folks got a grant to refurbish the tracks to McGill and the station there. So, in the future, there will be trains going to Ruth and McGill. This is a great educational video. Love the small talk. Thank you so much.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Not right away. Get it? Right of way? Anyway soon.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

The Nevada Northern was always a great railroad. I kinda hope to see the trains running on that abandoned railroad line that goes to Mc Gill from Ely. Along with rebuilding the train station too.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Indeed!!!! WOW!!!

[@jostaiii]

Looks like your wish just came true; they just received a $10M grant to rebuild the McGill line, and to finish restoring the depot there.

[@lugnut1976a]

Love your videos! Makes me want to drag the family on a road trip to see all the railroads of yesterday

[@ToyManTelevision]

Do!!! One close to everyone

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Absolutely love rail road history

[@3sierra15]

Been to Ely twice, but never thought of going to McGill. Now it's on my bucket list. Thanks for the great video, and the story.

[@JamesMcGillis]

On November 23, 1969, our family had stopped for the night at McGill, Nevada. The next morning, we turned on the TV and watched the Apollo 12 Moon landing. How did we get live TV of that historic event? I have no idea. There was also supposed to be live video from the moon, but the astronaut inadvertently pointed the lens at the sun. It burned out immediately. "God damn thing", he said as the video feed halted. We packed up and moved on, never to see McGill again... until your video. Thank you.

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s cool. They had and have repeaters there. From salt lake and Las Vegas

[@frederickmoller]

I loved it and subscribed, I'm a 64 yo Canadian who always loved railway and mine history in North America, btw, I'm a retired underground miner with 43 years in the mines, thankyou!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi and welcome aboard!! What were you mining? kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2G1mmVsbtKiprc kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ_Qc2V8otmGfc0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHyUnHaJopKpaNU

[@frederickmoller]

@@ToyManTelevision Copper for ten years and gold for 33 years, all in the same northern Ontario Canada mining community.

[@jm0lesky]

I had a friend of mine that used to work for the NN. He used to talk about it fondly. It's a shame that it's shut down.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup. Good railroad in its day. And I’ll bet they find a way to reopen it. Hope so anyway

[@garyswinthorpe7684]

Its has not shut down yet they are still up and running

[@JerkRice]

The historic photos and abandoned tracks were very interesting to me. I would love to check out this area myself sometime.

[@ToyManTelevision]

It’s so worth it

[@gretchenmueller6143]

Wonderful segment. I saw several people made remarks about railroad on the east coast. Strasburg Railroad located in Strasburg Pa is a steam railroad. Which brings me to a small error you have made in this segment about the Lincoln Hwy. The Lincoln Hwy never went to DC it terminates in Times Square in New York City. The Lincoln hwy is US-30 in Pennsylvania and ironically runs very close to Strasburg Pa.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup. I was thinking it was 50 but it changed to 30 in the East. Ps. That are opening the East Broad Top again!! In the fall.

[@stevemellin5806]

Very nice looking forward to seeing the rest of the line . thank you have a great weekend.

[@ToyManTelevision]

You too!! Snowing here. Flakes that could kill a small cat. Still, we are heading out to screw around!

[@ATSFVentaSpurNscaler]

Hi Dale and Karyn! You both have made an art out of screwing around while tracking down abandoned rails across desolate deserts. Now say that 3 times really fast without tripping over your tongues. Anyway, you brought us all a fascinating history of the Lincoln Highway, the old Nevada Northern Railroad, the "school train," the towns of Ely & McGill, the once-booming mining industry, and Rick's Restorations. Thanks for this amazing video journey back in time. -from Tom Pilling

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi Tom!! Ran into you on another channel. They had a great video on Big Boy 4004. Anyway hi!! Back to NN next Sunday and then two shows on Al Badham and his 98 scratch built cars. Including the one he finished just days before he died. Sigh.

[@peterwy874]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video 👌. Thank you for sharing it!

[@ToyManTelevision]

We are planning to get back to the north end of the line soon. With all the strangeness going on or never quite sure where we can go because we’re never quite sure where we can stay! But it is our goal to explore the northern part of the line.

[@allancron1936]

Abandoned tracks ideal for rail carting , all could be part of a well managed, well marketed tourist venture, just need the right type of people to become involved and this could be a thriving enterprise for the area. Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Bet they do!! Soon!! They GOT THE TRACK!! They are going to be repaired soon. But the question is: what are the going to do with it? The diesels can get up there if they put the crossings back in. If the highway department let’s them or build an overpass. But carts and bikes and speeders car cross!

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

I love Nevada I grew up in Tonopah

[@garygosselin4918]

This was a excellent show, and you both make a great team. Enjoy listening to the history of railroad America. Thank you

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thank you for watching! And thanks for the kind words

[@chrisconley8105]

Always very pleasant and informative. Thank you

[@ComplexGamesYT]

I actually live here in italy, and I've been going to McGill every other day, and you folks have a better understanding of this places history than I do. Would love to see a video like this around Lane City.

[@PanzerDave]

Your estimate of a 1,000 population was fairly close. Per Wikipedia the population was 1,148 at the 2010 Census. This was a great video and it is very encouraging to see that some of the equipment was saved.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Let’s hope they save the line north.

[@greguzar8233]

These adventures are among your best work. Love a good ghost rail trip. Greg and Jeanne.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi!!!!! Hope you are well! We have mostly recovered from our “problems”. Hope you have some relief from issues. Anyway we are looking forward to exploring again. This time with less pain. We hope. Back here next Sunday. Well still here really. Then back to looking at some of Als trains.

[@josephtatham800]

Dialing Back Time! You brought us a great look at the history of this period. Your narration of this video was excellent. A bit of history brought into our homes. As with everything built by man, there is an end. Thankfully there are people dedicated to preserve some of this history for future generations to learn about. Very interesting scenes to see. Very educational as well. Job well done.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. And thanks!!! Did you see this week’s show following up on this?

[@PatrickDoran2319]

It’s been a very interesting way to start 2020 with a video on the Nevada Northern Railway history and the announcement last month that Union Pacific Challenger 3985 retired after almost 30 years in excursion service.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Top secret was that 4014 was always the replacement for 3985. But they didn’t want to talk about it until 4014 was running.

[@galaxy7176]

Great narrating during this video; really held my interest.Keep up the good work!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I’ve just visited a abandoned train line and tunnel today. It’s in Cloverdale, California. The tunnel was the main part we did. It’s also were there was accident, that happened there. Back in September of 1987, a fire had came to the tunnel. And it burned both ends of the tunnel, then a Southern Pacific train with 6 cars had came around the bend and the engineer saw the tunnel on fire and realized that he would not be able to stop in time. So instead he hit the throttle and drove on through the burning tunnel, and managed to made it through unscathed. As did 2 fully loaded propane tank cars on the back of the train. Today the tunnel and the tracks still exist today.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Love to see it. Cloverdale. Hum...

[@trainzguy2472]

Well, there's the chance that SMART will run up through there in the future. They've said that they will build a rail-with-trail up to Willits, and then a trail-only through the old NWP eel river canyon. Hope to see NWP run to Willits again!

[@nathancorcoran5347]

Also my grandparents live in Cloverdale, California.

[@bonniecurrie4906]

Thank you for doing a video on Northern Nevada! I live in Lovelock, NV and NO ONE even knows our northern mining towns still exist! ❤❤❤❤

[@ToyManTelevision]

We just made some significant discoveries about the old railroad battle Mountain. And we are planning an expedition to search for the grade of the Nevada Central! And some very interesting interesting history about how some of that equipment survives in Sacramento to this day!

[@edweeks6423]

Great video! I have to mention there was a grade school in McGill and one in Ruth and then a grade school and the high school were in Ely. My mom and my aunt rode the railroad from Ruth (where they and I grew up) to Ely to go to high school in the 1930's. Also, when Magma was running the copper mine in the 1990's they were shipping out concentrate by rail. Also, the mines at Ruth are currently going and they are moving more dirt now than before using 200 ton haul trucks in the mine and then trucking the concentrate out to be shipped to a smelter overseas.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. I wondered as the high school is still in Ely. But it’s a bit newer. As in 1920? No matter. Engine 40 and car 5 were the school “bus” and was saved in large part, at first, because they needed one passenger train for school even after the other trains were discontinued. Then later still, WWII it was hidden.

[@edweeks6423]

@@ToyManTelevision - I remember the steam locomotives pulling cars up through Ruth for special events in the 1960's (4th of July etc.) and there were some movies made using one of them made between Ely and McGill in the 1970's. (They had to use old sidings for the most part because the ore trains were still on a regular schedule then.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’ve seen the film.. can’t recall the name. Also filmed at Cherry Creek.

[@daviddryden8088]

I lived not even a stones throw from US 50 in West Virginia for 6 years. Used it to and from work everyday. The old B&O line that followed much of the highway where I lived is now a hiking trail. Sad. Lived about 3 miles from the old Flinderation Tunnel which was quite the fascinating place to walk through. That NN 93 is a pretty little engine. Another fine video Toy People!! :)

[@ToyManTelevision]

Interesting history that the Lincoln Highway and that private highway system was condemned and taken by the government when they decided privately owned interstate highways were not in the National interest. At the time a huge controversy. Now mostly unknown history

[@cowboygeologist7772]

Great video! Thanks so much for posting this.

[@ToyManTelevision]

The tracks to McGill are being rebuilt! Trains will be back soon!!!

[@roberthope7787]

Great video. I live in England but drove the length of the NN in 2005 following the line as closely as possible as far as Shafter where it crossed the Western Pacific on a diamond, although the diamond had been removed. There were a number of wrecked freight cars lying around which I photographed. The rails at Shafter all dated from the opening of the NN and were made Colorado Iron & Steel in Pueblo. Very interesting and memorable.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We are heading up there next. Soon. From Shaffer tracks in to Cobre then a branch to a mine to the north. Many more miles of track to the north! We were told 30 more miles!

[@jonathanjarvis2645]

great context for that area cherrs.

[@deathvalley1592]

WELL PUT TOGETHER VIDIO. PLEASEMKEEP THEM COMING.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Will do! Please share and watch and above all ENJOY!!

[@adamwalker3071]

I did not find it boring. can't wait for next week. thanks fir the history.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks fir that!! And thanks for watching. Back here next Sunday to look at the depots.

[@gunnyusmc4957]

Hey that was a really cool show! Its wild to look at the buildings and to see how massive it was, then only thing that's still basically is the tracks my compliments sir yall take care

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi gunny! What a place. 200 miles from nowhere. The only reason it survived. Takes us three hours to get there. 10 if we screw around. (We always screw around)

[@gunnyusmc4957]

@@ToyManTelevision 😎 man that's awesome,, screwing around at its finest 😎 y'all be safe

[@CapitalVideo]

Thanks for showing all this interesting history. I have been through Wendover on the way to Denver many years ago and discovering the story of copper mining and the role the railway played in this area is very fascinating.

[@ToyManTelevision]

You passed right over these tracks on an overpass about 10 miles west of Wendover

[@CapitalVideo]

@@ToyManTelevision I'm not at all surprised however it was in 1979 and I have no recollection of this sort of detail. The only thing I do remember was taking our rental car on to the Bonneville Salt Flats just past Wendover. As a New Zealander who drives on the right side of the road, this was also the only time driving around the US when I made a wrong turn getting back on to the highway. Fortunately there was no opposing traffic before my friends made me aware of my mistake.

[@VegasTech702]

My great grandparents lived just west of the us 93 in McGill on 6th St well into the 90s and my great Grandma Audrey after my great Grandpa Frank passed away. I spent a lot of time up there with my family. Even ended up breaking my left elbow from a fall in the yard. Learned how to ride a dirt bike in the copper tailings just behind their house. I always remember the sight of the giant smoke stacks coming into McGill before they imploded them when I was a young child. I have vivid and fun memories of camping at timber creek just north of McGill, seems like those days are so close but yet so far away. My Grandpa worked for Kennecott just out of high school as a carpenter's apprentice. My family has a rich mining heritage on my mother's side from there dating back to before the great depression.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Great history thank you. There truly is some beautiful camping in the mountains there. Just a bit north of there is a deep creek mountains. It’s a private ranch but if you can get in up there it’s just one of the most beautiful places on earth

[@VegasTech702]

@@ToyManTelevision I believe it. We took many a trip with us kids riding in the back of my Grandpa's 91' GMC truck bed when it was almost brand new up and over the success summit loop and used to count the deer. Most of the time, too many to count! Is the water pipeline still there? Last I heard, McGill wasn't getting their water from there anymore for some bureaucratic reason. That water was the best tap I'd ever drank. Crack open the sink and fill a glass, cold mountain spring water. Couldn't have gotten better than that. I remember there was this older lady that lived 4 of so houses down from my great grandparents, she was Greek as were almost all the original occupants of 6th, they used to call it Greektown as that little town was kind of separated into nationality. Her name was Josie Zakula (sp?) One of the nicest ladies you'd ever meet. She owned several houses on the street and used to pay me to mow the lawn which I loved to do when I was up there for extra money to go to the Frost Top or the Bradley's market. She'd always invite me in and give me an ice cream. I remember she drove all the way down from McGill to Cedar City, ut to pay her respects when my great Grandma Audrey passed away after a battle with Alzheimer's. That always stuck in my mind and meant so much to me that even in her own advanced age and undoubtedly difficult health conditions, that she'd come down to be with us because that's just the way people of her generation were. Truly the greatest generation. That was what McGill represented. It was just a real shame how Kennecott handled it at the end. But they were good to the employees in allowing them to buy their company owned homes at a steal of deal. Although, my grandparent's home wasn't even on a foundation, which was scary. It's funny how just a video like yours takes straight back to those times like they were yesterday. Thank you for taking the time to preserve the history and share it with the generations that will never know how great things were at the best of times when these little towns were booming and the great people that inhabited them. Thanks for the reply as well.

[@jirky015]

What an excellent video. Very interesting, informative and engaging.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks! We are heading back after the snow melts to check out the northern tracks!

[@malcolmmarzo2461]

For a rail fan there is nothing better than to be in Ely in the summer spending days at the East Ely shops, watching steam engines moving about the yard. It transports you back in time in a way that no other museum does. Because everything was left intact, like a time capsule. Downtown you can get a 1920's room at the Nevada Hotel where you look out the window and see a steam engine crossing the road a couple blocks away. Summer is nice because Ely at 6,000 feet is 10-20 degrees cooler than surrounding locations.

[@ToyManTelevision]

You can stand in the freight depot and watch the locomotives switch and there is nothing, NOTHING in your vision to inform you it’s not 1930. Where else can you do that? Chama I guess. That’s about it.

[@rrelectric5159]

Nice video. I got to see some of the abandoned track on my way back from seeing Big Boy last spring. Made a side trip north of I-80. Compared to most track we have here in Northern California that has been out of use only 20 years the Nevada Northern is in very good shape. Keep up the good work.

[@ToyManTelevision]

How far north did you explore?

[@rrelectric5159]

I went up Hwy 233 to where the railroad used to cross. All the ties and rails look to be in fair condition. Just lots of sagebrush and tumbleweeds. On my way going east I went up that road to go around the north side of lake to Ogden. Did some ghost tracking on the old transcontinental line and saw some parts of the country that were new to me. @@ToyManTelevision

[@ToyManTelevision]

R&R Electric That’s a great and rather obscure drive! Lotta people don’t know you can go around the lake on that side. Little too far off the freeway I guess.

[@richardsmith9609]

The mine in Ruth has been back in operation since 2004. It is a very profitable enterprise and currently employs 600 plus people. It is a huge operation and one of the largest open pit mines in the world.

[@99iwaena]

Awesome!...I enjoyed the history of those towns, thanks!

[@ToyManTelevision]

We will be visiting the north part soon.

[@marinegunny826]

My wife and I took Route 50 from Virginia to Sacramento back in 2015. Checked out the shops in Ely. An incredible trip! No wonder it's called the loneliest road. Shout out to the folks who run the KOA in Ely! Great people, great time! I highly recommend anyone to carve out some time in their busy life, slow down and take this road trip

[@ToyManTelevision]

Did you see a UFO? We see them all the time out there on 50. No, not spaceships 🚀. Better! Saw the Aurora once! The plane that “doesn’t exist”. And the stealth. And the B2. Oh and a B52 on the deck at speed! One night flares from some unseen fighter jets. No sound. No lights. Just flares. Cool! Anyway the stuff you see out there!

[@marinegunny826]

@@ToyManTelevision That's cool!!!! I love aviation, however, the only planes we saw were of the common commercial variety. Ely was special because I also love railroading. Have an old "O" gauge Lionel running around our house

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Thanks again for another one of your adventure I Wish I be there if there with you

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup you sorta are!!

[@robertemmons2260]

This episode was another great way of ad showing America (and the world) another great piece of western history. At the beginning of the video at the 1:05 mark there's fresh pavement on the road, so something must still be going on there for the community. Perhaps with your video someone will get that railway back into operation as a steam excursion to draw tourists into the community. Thank you again for another great video.

[@ToyManTelevision]

They are trying to get it back. The state is helping so who knows!! As long as people keep stuffing quarters in slots...

[@chichi41]

Great video!! Thanks!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!!

[@Tom-xe9iq]

In Butte MT, the copper mines were closed for a long time... but, the price of copper has gone back up. And, the mine is open again. Maybe in McGill someday!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Well with no mill… but the mines are open even though they need to truck the raw ore 300 miles…

[@realmagicjon]

Thanks team.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks for watching!! And thanks fir the kind words

[@patrickoguinn4553]

My uncle worked as a welder and I visited him and my aunt back in the late 60s. They lived in Ely. I wish I had checked out the railroad more closely. I'm kicking myself now.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Still there! Road trip!!!

[@robertmartinez1228]

Hello there,Robert here, You guys remind me of Paul&Jan Crouch. amen.

[@ToyManTelevision]

You’re gonna have to tell me more I don’t know those people! Do tell.

[@robertmartinez1228]

@@ToyManTelevision Paul&Jan Crouch from TBN. the Christian Channel. besides that,like your videos.train buff here. thanx,robert.

[@barrymeyer2805]

Totally love your videos thank you for producing them

[@ToyManTelevision]

You are so welcome 🙏. And thanks for watching and sharing

[@pmichael73]

In Kent, in the UK, thousands of school children still take the train to school every day. Sometimes they have trips of 20 - 30 miles.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Love that! We have been working on learning the language so we can visit.

[@victorvaida4272]

@@ToyManTelevision HAHA THAT'S A GOOD ONE RONALD!!!!

[@microbusss]

I hope the NN rebuilds the tracks someday! I would totally ride those tracks on a handacr or Speeder!

[@ToyManTelevision]

The also have the "High Line" to MCGill And have run trains. But it runs along the foothills to where they once dumped the ore into the no missing mill. A line to nowhere. Still fun! But the hope is to connect to the old main.

[@iworkout6912]

Having spent a lot of time in Ely, I love it there, summer or snow in the winter. About 10 years ago, there was a proposal to build a coal powered power plant and open the whole distance of the line to bring in the coal. Of course modern resistance of environments, ended that idea. When I last rode the Nevada Northern, they ran trains up the line to almost Mc Gill. One very cold day, but loved every minute it of. I have ridden the line going the other way out of Ely many times..along Route 50. Which runs from Ocean City, Maryland thru Lake Tahoe to Sacramento, Ca.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup. They sold the track to LA power and Water. They planned a coal plant at Cherry Creek. But what killed it really isn’t environmentalists. What killed coal is fracking. Natural gas is now much cheaper especially when you figure shipping. Pipe vs railroad. No matter. Never happened. Never will. Tracks were given to Ely. Museum belongs now to the state. So crossed odds a bit. But the bigger problem is the highway department. Don’t want any crossings put back. At least on US93. 2 crossings. But the city is now repairing the tracks with no idea how they can be used. “If you build it they will come”.

[@bobcourtier4674]

I worked at Newmont Gold with guys from McGill. Larry Ingles, Dale Deming and many more. Saw the stacks fall on tv, they were like a lighthouse when driving at night.

[@ToyManTelevision]

The new one was 1200 feet! The other 2 about 460. Quite a show!

[@Shadowfax-1980]

Great use of music in this episode!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!! I love putting that together. Perhaps the funniest part

[@jonheller2307]

Really well done! A great living museum.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. That it is. Always fun to get out there too.

[@maryfetters3719]

My aunt Iris Brooks fed the men that worked on the Nevada Northern when they went to Cobre. Ely is where I was born and raised living in Ely Ruth and McGill. Lots of memories.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We are heading to Shafter, Cobre and the branch north in the spring. Need some dry roads!

[@maryfetters3719]

@@ToyManTelevision I hope you have a safe journey!

[@jabru41]

Beautiful! What great video!

[@ToyManTelevision]

As it turns out the truck rebuilding equipment has been brought in and is currently parked in Curry! It’s happening they’re rebuilding this track. !

[@tomy6917]

Very nice video, I love old U.S. railroad history & became a new subscriber for your channel :)

[@ToyManTelevision]

Welcome aboard! Do you keep your hands and legs inside the road at all times but be sure to have fun. We will do our best to try to give you something to have fun with.

[@allancron1936]

Good management, proper marketing a very good tourist potential future , great asset

[@ToyManTelevision]

It’s been doing great. At first a loosing cause. But the new people really know how to make it work.

[@tomas5376]

Love all this history!👍✌️😊🙏🏼🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@ToyManTelevision]

Us too. And what stark beauty

[@kevinkitts178]

Love history thx for what you do

[@ToyManTelevision]

Gee thanks!! And thanks for watching

[@OpenRoader]

Still love this channel

[@ToyManTelevision]

Us too!!

[@bonniecurrie4906]

Lovelock, NV restored the original train depot. It's beautiful.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We drove by it last time we were there. Really need to stop and check it out. I’ve had a few interesting evenings in Lovelock. Just riding the train with my friend who’s a locomotive engineer. And he stays there as it’s the division point.

[@bjnorton8029]

The mine is still in operation, nowadays they truck the raw ore up US 93/93A to Wendover where it gets loaded onto train cars and sent out for processing The ore in the Ruth pit is a low grade, but the great innovation was using trains to haul the very large amounts of ore needed to get a worthwhile amount of copper out to be processed. If you look at old pictures inside the pit you can see they are pushing steam shovels mounted on rail cars to extract the ore It’s interesting that you mentioned the Eureka palisades RR, originally the plan was to extend that railroad to Ruth-there would never have been an Ely, but Nevada’s mountainous topography made that plan unworkable. Instead of crossing several mountain ranges to extend into Ruth, it was decided to build an entirely new RR and follow one of the very long north/south valleys and make a new connection with the southern Pacific at Cobre (Spanish for copper) The mainline is co-owned by the city of Ely, and the railroad museum. At one point the tracks were owned by the Los Angeles Water & power Co, and then given to the city. A plan was put in place to rehab the line, but it became mired in litigation, that I believe is still ongoing. You can see some of the equipment the company contracted to rework the rails parked on the line next to US-93 in Currie

[@ToyManTelevision]

Cool!!!! Thanks. I knew LA Water and Power had it and were planning a pores plant at Cherry Creek. Never happened. Glad the city got the track!!! The ore there is low grade but still better than Bingham Canyon. Yet that mine is doing fine! Why? Transportation. The cost to get the ore out. Back in the 70s they decided to not modernize Mc Gill. But did modernize Garfield. They cut the workforce by 90%!! On trains. Trucks only in the mine. Ore moves to the concentrator on a conveyer belt then to the smelter in a slurry pipe. Not a person anywhere. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ_Qc2V8otmGfc0

[@stephensaasen8589]

I sure hope they open it up again. The arid climate probably has helped preserve things and keep the track in alignment. Maybe it wouldn't take too awful much to restore it.

[@ToyManTelevision]

They have started work!!!! Not sure how they solve the road crossings. Most of the roads they can put the at grade crossings back in. About 6 of those. But the 2 crossings over US 91 are a problem. We will see!!

[@raymondleggs5508]

@@ToyManTelevision They'll probably install the old school wooden railroad crossings. The ones that make your car bounce when you fly across the tracks too fast.

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

My Grandpa Taylor was a miner for most of his life. He worked in many of the mines in Nevada. He worked at Castle Gate and the Mine near Lark, here in Utah. He talked about living in McGill, when my friend in elementary school moved to McGill. He would talk about the smelters, and the men working there. We were learning about smelters in elementary school, and took field trips to Geneva Steel, and Kennecott Copper Mine. Being only in 3rd grade, and without much in the way of life experience at such a young age. I had concluded that the reason that the name “smelter” had been given to the process of extracting the metal from the ore, was because the whole process smelt! P.U!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Isn’t that exactly what it meant? I know the people working there all said it was brown steam. But they were also people who would piss on your head and tell you it was raining. Brown steam? Yeah it smells like something brown but it isn’t steam.

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Toy Man Television Brimstone???

[@joellekarma]

WOW! U.S. 50 runs right through my home town of Garden City Ks. I so need to go and see this amazing railroad.

[@ToyManTelevision]

When we were at the studebaker museum in South Bend Indiana the Lincoln Highway US 50 ran right bast the museum. Hard to underestimate the importance of US 50. Much follows the original Union Pacific “Overland” route which followed the original overland trail. The wagon road west. Called overland because the other route was by sea around South America

[@joellekarma]

@@ToyManTelevision model train club is having a model train show next month on March 14th & 15th. we have are narrow gauge layouts and many other layouts and venders. I so enjoy your shows.

[@SaintCoemgen]

I love NV. I love the basin and range region, Worked in NV. For the USFS, But it really does not have a sustainable large business potential. Sad. Because it really is a lovely region.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Its just sooooo far out there. 200 miles to anything. Reno about 200. Vegas ditto. Salt Lake 250. LA almost 600. Paris 5000. And so on,,,

[@SaintCoemgen]

@@ToyManTelevision I understand. I once spent a summer living in Paradise Valley NV. Definitely off the beaten track. But still a lovely area. Near Winnemucca. Which is even mentioned in Hank Snow's song "I've Been Everywhere".

[@trainzguy2472]

8:46 Ouch... Some poor freight car rolled over and was abandoned right there!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Side dump car? Taking a dump? Oops!

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

Toy man!!! great video, I've been waiting for another one of these

[@ToyManTelevision]

And another next week.

[@hamiltonsullivan6563]

Fun hay when ever u are in oregon you should visit columbia gorge model railroad club open on every Tuesday because of work night on layout

[@darrellborland119]

Thank you, subscribed..and visited the museum last Nov.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Welcome aboard. Stay safe and keep watching!!

[@Sano_Kiyoshiro]

I wish I could ride the train to and from school, the small town in Pennsylvania I am from, my hometown has a station! You also just earned yourself another subscriber

[@ToyManTelevision]

Welcome aboard the school train!! The steam locomotive 40 and chair car 5 were only kept running during ww2 and after to use as a school train!

[@bernadettegarbers9552]

Historical and I love seeing vintage locomotives and freat cars I do like the very old taint cars with the walkway all the way around them the single come the double dumb and the triple dome ..the twin dome tank car is my favorite car and I think it is very rare so I think I used to call them twin Dawn tank cars......

[@TheDaf95xf]

Very interesting 👍🏻

[@ToyManTelevision]

Really great place. We will be back. SOON.

[@sanjeevpereira6765]

Great vindia i love railroads. Sad to see them gone. Am sure if like people join as a team and start reopening the lines as tourist and connect to the main lines will soon develop interest and be open forever. Brgds fm mumbai india

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks and glad you liked the video! Good news is they are saving this railroad. Still not sure how to cross the roads but they are working on it.

[@marzsit9833]

my mother's family was from mcgill, all of the men worked at the smelter and all of the women worked in the restaurants and shops in the town. when the smelter shut down in 1982 more than half of the town's residents left, and most of the businesses shut down. the ruth mine was shut down for a long time but is now open again on a small scale, with no local concentrator or smelter the ore is hauled by rail to the west coast and sent to china for processing now. there are also mining companies going through the old tailing mounds and processing for gold and silver, something that was not done in the early days.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup! I remember just after the shut down it still looked great. Street lighting. Nice yards. Mostly! Really sad to see it blowing away now. I think the tailings are making good money. The mine not so much.

[@newwomyn]

The Northern Nevada Railway from Ruth and Ely comes in onto the Union Pacific Shafter Subdivision just west of Mile Post 766.. There are two FRA registered crossings, one on the Northern Nevada Line and the other on the Shafter Subdivision. The Nevada Line crossing near the junction is 855858G. The crossing on the Shafter Sub is 833529W. There seems to be an abandoned Wye on the southeast side of the Shafter Sub, just east of the NN Line. The abandoned portion of the Northern Nevada seems to continue north for approximately 19 miles to a triple point on the Lakeside Subdivision near Mile Post 645. There is a FRA registered crossing on what appears to be Cobre Rd. The crossing number is 740887W. It appears to be in an unincorporated area called Cobre Nevada. Just a side note, the California Zephyr runs the Shafter Subdivision out of Salt Lake City from the Provo and Lynndyl Subdivisions to the east and the Nevada Subdivision from Winnemucca Nevada into Reno Nevada to the west. The California Zephyr is a Chicago to Emeryville California Amtrak. The 5 train will be westbound, the 6 train will be eastbound. The Zephyr serves the states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California respectively. From Chicago to Denver it is in BNSF territory. From Denver to Emeryville it is in Union Pacific territory. The Shafter Sub is on what is known as the Overland Route from Chicago to the Ports of Richmond/Oakland. On the Overland Route in the city of North Platte Nebraska lies one of the worlds largest rail yards called Bailey Yard. It is so large that it has its own subdivision on the Union Pacific system. It is called the North Platte Terminal Subdivision, with the Kearney Sub to the east, and the Sidney Sub to the west. Well that is all I have, enjoy the read.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We have ridden the California Zephyr several times. We have a couple of shows up where we are riding it but they’re not really about it they’re about other things we’re just riding it. There’s a couple of fellows have been on the show here Mike and Adam. Adam Pinallas showed us his really need N scale rail Road which is no more he tore it up and he’s replacing it with HON3! It any rate he’s one of the conductors on the California Zephyr and Mike is one of the engineers. They make two trips a week one E. out of Salt Lake and one W. out of Salt Lake to Lovelock. When they go east they go as far as Grand Junction. I have written that line many many times going back to win it was the Rio Grande Zephyr. Now I wish we were riding it again! We need to plan a trip really soon!

[@kevins1114]

I wonder if the NNRR is going to do anything with the stretch of once-abandoned track which runs up to intersect with the UP tracks northwest of Montello?

[@ToyManTelevision]

I’ve heard some of the rail out there has been stolen. But who can say. Even running north to Shafter seems a stretch. But even if they reopen freight service would they have any need to run north of Shafter? And for scenic railroad why even Shafter? Or would they build a wye at cherry creek or perhaps Curie?

[@kevins1114]

@@ToyManTelevision On Google Earth, you can see the missing track pieces where the line runs alongside the Toano Mountains. I mentioned it because I own some land in Pilot Valley, and plan to move there in the near future, and had kicked around the idea of building a rail speeder for recreational rail-riding on that abandoned track.

[@josebraden1]

I got sad just thinking of how many old tracks that were still there and not being used

[@ToyManTelevision]

They are around. Some really impassable.

[@AndrewBwilki]

I would love to see you do a video on the Carson and Colorado Railroad!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Indeed!!!!!! My old stomping ground too. Used to drive the 395 twice a week. So HECK YA!! And off to Durango to see the 18.

[@AndrewBwilki]

Toy Man Television I live locally! No. 18 is back now however. It’s at the museum in Independence.

[@bobbybaldeagle702]

That track would be fun to take a motorized hand cart on... It be a fun hundred miles....

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Bobby Baldeagle I agree!

[@jesseblanquel9233]

Thank you so much for your great videos. I have a question ? Can anyone ride the rails at Ely or Mc Gill legally if you build your own speeder ? Thank you again

[@sd90mac61]

That was very interesting 👍😊 Id sure like to see them faces of the engineers coming out of the tunnel with their train, LOL, thanks for sharing this with me 😃👍

[@ToyManTelevision]

Only one tunnel on the line, the one we show. Oddly the track plan shows two tunnels!! WTH? Well one is really an overpass. The road was built over the road an later filled and reshaped and it ends up being sort of a tunnel. But it ain’t. Not by my definition.

[@phoneone1371]

Live in fernley now ,worked in Empire ,we had our own train to haul cars out of Gerlach

[@ToyManTelevision]

We were in Fernley last summer. Got off the Freeway grabbed a burger then drive around a bit.

[@Buck1954]

Where is the pit at 9:53 located. Couldn't find anything like it around McGill. I drove through on US 50 in 86. Spent the night in Ely. Had no idea that history was just up the road.

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s copper flat at Ruth. It’s been mostly filled in by other smaller newer pits overburden.

[@brianfalzon6739]

Heard they’re planning on adding more tracks there!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup!! Back to the McGill depot at least.

[@acsmith70325]

Zoink!!! Love it!

[@ToyManTelevision]

HI!! Fun fer ya I hope! I used to make wargame figures. Hum... long time ago.

[@danielradcliff7081]

The same highway That runs in West Virginia US 50 I live in Clarksburg I travel on part of that high way every day

[@ToyManTelevision]

Long road. Long history too!

[@georgedupes9498]

Ever hear of the Tonopah Tidewater Railroad. Tonopah Nevada to Kelso California? I know it was still being used into late 1930's. Met up with the Union Pacific at Kelso California. As to when it came into being, don't know. The track is gone now but the foundation is obvious in many spots off California RTE 127 from Baker, north through Tecopa and Shoshone California. Then again up around Beatty Nevada right off US RTE 95. Word has it that the track was taken up for the use of the iron during World War Two. Again, not sure of that. Some mighty interesting places along the old road bed. A part of it is used to support California RTE 127 to keep it from washing out during the Monsoon season.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Don’t know the railroad but really know the area! Used to drive through there twice a week. Need to check it out!

[@carlsorensennb7c750]

Enjoyed. hanks

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. And thanks!!!!

[@justingilmore5813]

Could you all do a video on the east broad top railroad, they now have a new owner. They have Strasburg railroad owner and manager as advisors, they have three managers, one from Norfolk southern, Amtrak, and Conrail

[@ToyManTelevision]

It’s a plan. But it sounds like at first, this fall, just some test runs and no steam. At this time.

[@quasimoto7662]

I’m assuming you’re certainly making a trip to central Pennsylvania later this year for, well, certain positive things happening in that area.

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s the plan!!! WOW!!!!!!!!! Thanks

[@micahmcgraw4987]

What's happening there?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Micah McGraw hi. They are re opening the East Broad Top! No steam this year? No schedule yet other than trains will run in the fall!

[@2themoon863]

At 2:50-the railroad crossbuck sign has a light on a white circular sign, with black stripe at 12 o'clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock. Is that some form of “wigwag” signal light on top of the crossbuck sign and does it work?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi! The restored wig wag is exactly as it was built. I think. I thought the bell in top sat parallel to the street. That’s how I have mine. Anyway the one on the highway is really messed up. They added a cross buck at some point. Would have been required. And as the wig wag is broken the quick fix must have been to add the rotating warring light at the top. Weird! But heck I guess it works in a pinch.

[@zuutlmna]

Reminds me of the rail line that ceased operation back in the mid-1960's which ran east, from Klamath Falls to the mill. I think the mill owned that railroad, so when operation ceased, the entire line was sold and shipped to India.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Cool. We love that area. Have you seen our shows on Portland and the area?