“ Railroad Reality Week is just that , you ’ re railroading . You
rotate through train crew , track and in the shops .
Time stopped at the Nevada Northern Railway . It ’ s as if the workers went to lunch and never came back . They left behind a complete railroad . It ’ s the last of its kind , the sole survivor from a grand era in the American West .
Now a National Historic Landmark , the Nevada Northern Railway is considered the best preserved historic railroad left in the country . The grounds include over 70 buildings , structures and 30 miles of track . The collection consists of operating historic steam and diesel locomotives with over 70 pieces of rolling stock . The oldest railroad car dates to 1872 , when President Grant was in the White House and not on the $ 50 bill .
Here you can put your Hands On History . Instead of relics in glass cases or repainted old equipment on static display , here you witness a working 19 th century steam railroad . It ’ s gritty . It ’ s dirty . It smells of coal smoke , creosote and sweat . The railroad excites all of your senses .
Here you can Be the Engineer of the Iron Horse . That ’ s right , your hand on the throttle of 100 tons of steam locomotive , heading up the hill , on a 14 mile round trip . Or attend Railroad Reality Week , essentially a dude ranch for train enthusiasts . Find out , up close and personal , what it takes to keep a 19 th century railroad operating because you ’ re part of the team that does it . Or spend the night in in the middle of the museum in a working railroad caboose . The creature comforts are a little thin , but that ’ s how it was during the day .
Railroad Reality Week is just that , you ’ re railroading . You rotate through train crew , track and in the shops . This is an intense , hands on experience .
There is no other place like the Nevada Northern Railway . It ’ s not prettified , it ’ s the Real McCoy . See for yourself . Visit the railroad , and when you arrive , set your watch back 100 years .
You ’ re in the cab , your hand on the throttle of a century old steam locomotive , it just doesn ’ t get better than this .
“ Railroad Reality Week is just that , you ’ re railroading . You
rotate through train crew , track and in the shops .
This is an intense , hands on experience .”
34 | Spring 2017 | Adventure Outdoors