The Final Runs of Nevada Northern #40 Before the 15 year rebuild.

Nevada Northern #40 also known as the "Ghost Train" will be down for 2 years for its required 15-year boiler rebuild and a few other needed items. October marks the final runs until the spring of 2022.
We traveled to Ely to see the final runs of #40, as well as the hydro and first fire of #81 which will step in for #40 for the next 2 years,
The Legend of “The Ghost Train of Old Ely”
Did you know Locomotive 40 is the official locomotive of Nevada? She is also know as the “Ghost Train of Old Ely”. Not only because she is steam locomotive operating like a ghost from the past in a modern world, but she has a legend behind her that is unlike any other locomotive.
Built in 1910, Locomotive 40 was the passenger engine of the railway. Passenger service stopped in July of 1941, right before Pearl Harbor was bombed. With America entering World War II and war demand at full force, there was high demand for scrap metal. Crews here loved locomotive 40 so much the last thing they want to see was her scrapped. So when Kennecott officials came down to inspect the railroad, rumor has it locomotive 40 would disappear like a ghost. Where did she go? What did the crew do with her?
Legend says 40 would run up to the mine in the middle of the night. At the time, the mine had 18 miles of railroad track inside the pit, plenty of sidings to hide a locomotive on. No one ever saw her go up there, no one claimed to know she was there. That whistle heard all over the valley, different than the rest of the ore trains, just must have been “The Ghost Train of Old Ely” traveling in the night!
www.nnry.com/p...