July 4 - Afternoon Excursion

After the parade we relaxed back at the Steptoe Valley Inn for a while. Before long, I heard the train returning from the afternoon excursion to the mines at Ruth, so I headed back to the yard for a couple more pix. Here's the train drifting downgrade to the switch.

As the train pushes back into the station, the cannoneer recharges his weapon. The flatcar with the "cake" and the cannon signify and celebrate the 100th birthday (January 17, 2009) of Alco steam locomotive #93. Read more about the restoration and rededication of the locomotive at the Museum Web Site.

The conductor keeps an eagle eye on the track from the steps of the wide-vision caboose.

Four 36-foot wood-sheathed boxcars are parked next to the restored freight depot.

By the time our excursion was ready to board the train, it had started to rain.

I made a bunch of pictures on our excursion to Ruth, but because of the roughness of the ride and the fading daylight, they didn't come out well. After the trip to Ruth, our train was pushed down the mainline to the golf course, where we enjoyed a fireworks display before returning to the depot. We learned later that it had rained hard, with some hail, at Ely while we rode to Ruth.

July 4 - Ely Parade

We found ourselves a place on the shady side of the street, across from the JailhouseMotel Casino. Not quite as grand as some on Las Vegas, but with all the basic features ;-)

Lots of people brought pets to the parade. This guy is known as "Little Bear."

A float in honor of the unknown Soldier, guarded by a proud Marine. Semper Fi!

Many fire and rescue vehicles in the parade. This antique hauls a load of future firefighters.

Pretty little horsewoman proudly proclaims, "My Mom's in the Navy!"

July 4 - Ely Parade Preparation

The Fourth of July is a big day for celebratory patriotic parades across this great country, and Ely, Nevada is no exception. Since our train ride wouldn't start until much later, we took the opportunity to check out parade preparations and make some pix of some very nice old cars. Here's a 1946 Chevrolet pickup truck.

A luxurious ride in 1951 was this Oldsmobile 88 2-door hardtop coupe.

How about this 1955 Pontiac convertible?

These two sweeties are the grandchildren of some folks who are staying at the same B&B as Anita and I. They'll be participating in the parade today.

Remember the movie, "American Grafitti"? How do you like this 1958 Chevrolet Bel Aire Coupe?

July 3/4 - Steptoe Valley Inn and BBQ

Our landlord at the Steptoe Valley Inn has a BBQ next door. He had his smoker custom built by Buzzard BBQ up in Seattle and it holds a ton of very tasty vittles.

Buzzard BBQ has a very catchy logo.

July fourth is one of their busiest days. "Old Smokey" is loaded and fired up.

The locomotive design is well adapted to his BBQ business. The pork butts go in the upper cab area, and the beef is in the smokebox. Wood and a gas burner go in the lower cab area, just like the fuel in a steam lokie. And the tie-in to the nearby Railway Museum no doubt helps, too.

Out in the yard, #93 is backing down to the coal chute.

July 3 - Ely, Nevada

We got to Ely mid-afternoon, and checked into our B&B which was only a block from the East Ely depot of the Nevada Northern Railway.

I hustled down to the depot to find that the local high school was holding a reunion for all the folks who graduated in a year ending in nine. I met folks from the classes of 1949, 1959, and more. Hearing the rumble of an old Alco, I walked back of the depot to find this RS-3 shunting cars in and out of the shop across the tracks.

Pretty soon Alco steamer #93 pulled up to the station with her train (two coaches, an open car, a wide-vision caboose, and a short flatcar holding a replica of a birthday cake and a two-inch cannon! #93 is a hundred years old this year (as of January 17, I've been informed).

The train crew held a meeting before loading the train for this evenings excursion.

The passengers are loaded onto the train, the conductor has given the high sign, and the engineer clears the cylinders before shoving the train back out onto the mainline.

The Nevada Northern Railway is run by a dedicated group of volunteers. We're looking forward to our excursion tomorrow.

July 3 - Las Vegas to Ely, Nevada

We slept in a bit, and were ready to go by 11:00 AM. We met Jeff at a gas station along the way to say goodby, then drove north-east on I-15 to the intersection with highway 93 where we would turn north toward Ely. We passed a train on I-15 and caught him here at the junction.

The train had several of the ARMN reefers in the consist.

A GE pulling and an EMD pushing. It's quite a climb out of the basin that Las Vegas lives in.

When we got to Caliente, we found a string of lokies playing with a short work train. This SD70ACe was the cleanest of the six units.

There is a very nice depot here, now used by the city as a museum. My 1948 railroad atlas tells me this is the Union Pacific line from Barstow, California through Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, Utah.

We took the long way to Ely, and enjoyed the beauty of the western desert scenery.

July 2 - Las Vegas

We spent the day with Jeff again, and when Amy got off work we met at the Bellagio to enjoy one of their famous Buffet dinners. It took a long wait but we all felt it was time well spent. This shot was made while we stood in line with many other folks.

I made a couple of shots from the roof of the parking garage before we got in line. Here's the Eiffel tower from across the street.

And Caesar's Palace...

And more of the Las Vegas construction, behind the Jockey Club.

After Dinner we wandered around the Bellagio. Here's a shot of the glass artwork on one ceiling.

Later we watched the water show in front of the Casino.

They have quite a crowd, and run the show every fifteen minutes.

Our last night in Las Vegas, so we make an early evening of it.