The Abandoned Tracks of the Nevada Northern - Mc Gill and Ely
62,965
Published 2020-02-16
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/
All Comments (21)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Amazing video! You guys really add a new perspective on these amazing little railroads!
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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.
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Love your videos! Makes me want to drag the family on a road trip to see all the railroads of yesterday
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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.
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The historic photos and abandoned tracks were very interesting to me. I would love to check out this area myself sometime.
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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.
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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.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this video 👌. Thank you for sharing it!
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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
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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.
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Always very pleasant and informative. Thank you
