Returning from battle. In the middle of a high desert snowstorm, Nevada Northern's rotary plow train returns to Ely for fuel and water after battling the drifts up on the Keystone Branch.
The train you are looking at is headed up by Rotary B, Nevada Northern's one and only rotary snow plow, which was built by Alco in 1907 and as best anyone can remember, was likely last used on the line back in the late 1940s. She's been tucked away in the East Ely Engine House for more than half a century, and although she's inoperable today, you wouldn't think so by looking at this photo. For the 2013 Winter Photo Shoots, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum did some cosmetic restoration on Rotary B, basically replacing much of the wood siding on the cab and repainting her. She still has a few issues that prevent the museum from taking her out on the line, but with a mini blizzard underway in the yard, there was no need. She was coupled to the front of Alco Consolidation #93, and with Outfit Car #6 trailing behind, an authentic snow plow extra was assembled and run for the attending photographers. Prior to making some run-bys, Photographer Mike Shade and Museum Director Mark Bassett threw a little snow on the blades of the impeller, and presto.....Rotary B looked fresh from a battle out on the line!
