Hauling hoppers up the Hiline. The Nevada Northern Railway made its living hauling raw copper ore from mine locations southwest of Ely to refining and smelting operations located in small towns to the north, in the vast Steptoe Valley. Beefy Consolidation-type steam locomotives did most of the heavy lifting from the early 1900s until the late 1940s, when diesel-electrics began to replace them. Just two examples of NN Consoldidations survive at the railway's museum in Ely. Locomotive 93, which is seen here on the Hiline near Adverse, is in fine working shape and operates regularly on tourist trains and charters. Locomotive 81, the largest surviving NN Locomotive, has not operated in decades and is currently the engine house queen back in Ely.
Landscape photography is difficult due to the challenge of combining good light and good scenery. Good railroad photography enters another level of complexity since it requires the first two while there is a train in view.
