[Accrs] FW: Update #2 - Locomotive 40 Rebuild and the Model T

Thu May 12 08:20:22 PDT 2022

FYI.

Updates on the 4-6-0 project.

From: Nevada Northern Railway<mailto:info at nnry.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 3:03 PM
To: Tony Long<mailto:tony.long at outlook.com>
Subject: Update #2 - Locomotive 40 Rebuild and the Model T

Preservation Month 2022 – People Saving Places
[http://nnry.com/email/images/header5.jpg]<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303333397L34323537323736>

Preservation Month 2022

Update #2,
Locomotive 40 Rebuild and the Model T

[Locomotive 40 celebrating her 50th Birthday]

As I mentioned last time, when Locomotive 40 was purchased in 1910, change was already in the air. Henry Ford had started producing the Model T, more than 15,000,000 Model Ts were built; some of which were purchased by the workers in the Ely area.

The combination of automobiles and paved roads caused the railroad to lose money on its passenger trains starting in the mid-1920s. With the railroad losing money, management would only spend what was absolutely necessary to keep Locomotive 40 legal and running.

[SAT Matching Grant]The situation was exasperated by the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression. The passenger trains became a huge financial drain on the railroad’s bottom line, forcing management to end rail passenger service on July 31, 1941. The termination of the rail passenger service was a blessing in disguise. The termination order included a stipulation that required a passenger train needed to be saved by the railroad; so Locomotive 40, Baggage/RPO 20, and Coach 5 were saved and not scrapped.

>From 1941, Locomotive 40 sat quietly in the engine house, somewhat forgotten. In 1956, on the 50th Anniversary of the arrival of the railroad to Ely, the railroad ran special anniversary trains to celebrate. In 1964, she was brought out again to celebrate Nevada’s Centennial. Both times, Locomotive 40 received minimal maintenance, so she could operate. Her rods clanked, but she ran. After the celebrations, she was once again stored in the engine house, her fate uncertain.

During the 1970s, the railroad received letters wondering if Locomotive 40 was for sale. One letter was from an English Lord, who wanted to purchase Locomotive 40 and take her to England. Fortunately for us, he was turned down, as were all of the requests.

Then in 1983, the copper company announced it was closing; the Nevada Northern Railway was no longer needed. The railroad’s future was a big question mark; would it be saved or scrapped? Fortunately, the decision was made to save it and give it to the City of Ely and a non-profit Foundation for the creation of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. Yea!

Unfortunately, no financial support came with the transfer of the railroad to the community. Luckily, money was found to do Locomotive 40’s boiler work. On May 23, 1987, Locomotive 40 was steamed up, and once more hauled passengers from the East Ely Depot. The running gear clanked, but the locomotive ran, and the tourists were coming to Ely.

In the early years of the railroad, as a tourist railroad, the schedule was light, and the route was short. The demands on the Foundation’s funds were increasing to maintain the buildings, locomotives, railroad cars and track. Also, during this time, Locomotives 81 and 93 were returned to the East Ely engine house with Locomotive 93 being restored to operation in 1993.

In 2004, Locomotive 40 needed a 1472-day boiler inspection. The Foundation’s finances were stronger but not strong enough to undertake the boiler inspection and her running gear restoration. The running gear clanked, but the locomotive operated, so the running gear work was kicked further down the road.
[Locomotive 40's axle]
That brings us to today. Locomotive 40 once again needs her 1472-day boiler inspection. This time, we have to do her running gear and address those issues that started 98 years ago. How do I know it’s been 98 years? Simple, axles 1 and 3 are stamped 4-12-24, axle 2 does not have a date. Furthermore, axle 3 is at its condemning limit, not too much of a surprise after 98 years. That means, if the axle is not replaced, Locomotive 40 will be condemned, and she won’t be able to operate. Frankly that is not an option, we must raise the funds to not only do her boiler inspection but also her running gear. That’s why the overall cost of the project is estimated at $1,292,265. And that’s why our members are so important.

To prevent Locomotive 40 from being condemned and not operating, we are counting on you! Your membership<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334307L34323537323736>, your membership renewal<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334307L34323537323736>, your donation<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334317L34323537323736> or your willingness to Sponsor a Part<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334317L34323537323736>. Your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar by our Save America’s Treasures grant!  It is your financial contributions that make the difference, it is your financial contribution that keeps the big wheels rolling here. And better yet, your financial contribution will get rid of that annoying clanking in Locomotive 40’s running gear!!! I know, I can count on you!!!

Thank you, Mark S. Bassett President, Member and Donor
[From Mark Bassett, President]
P.S. The Nevada Northern Railway Foundation is proud to have been[2022 Gold Seal of Transparency] awarded the 2021 GuideStar Gold Seal for Transparency from Candid! This rating indicates that we have exceed nonprofit industry standards. This exceptional designation sets us apart and demonstrates our trustworthiness to the public.

P.P.S. Next time, I’ll explain the bigger challenge we have to keep Locomotive 40 running, It puts the 98-year-old axles in perspective.  You can also follow us on Facebook or on our website.

Initiate / Renew Membership (Matching) <http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334327L34323537323736>
Contribute to the Restoration (Matching)<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334337L34323537323736>
Pick a Part to Sponsor (Matching) <http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334337L34323537323736>

About Us

The Nevada Northern Railway is a non-profit 501(c) historical foundation whose mission is to maintain and operate what has been acclaimed as the best preserved railroad facility on the continent.

Come, enjoy history with us!

Quick Links

Website <http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303333397L34323537323736>
Contact <http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334347L34323537323736>
Forward to a Friend <http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334357L34323537323736>
[Nevada Northern Railway Logo]<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303333397L34323537323736>

Contact Info

1100 Avenue A
(at the end of East 11 Street,
off US Route 93)
Ely, NV  89315

EE: info at nnry.com <mailto:info at nnry.com?subject=From%20your%20last%20email%20newsletter....>
T: (775) 289-2085

[icon1]<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334367L34323537323736>
[icon2]<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334377L34323537323736>

[icon5]<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334387L34323537323736>
[icon6]<http://app.doubleknot.com/openrosters/showpage.aspx?3839303334397L34323537323736>
Copyright ©2022 - Nevada Northern Railway Foundation

Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe<http://app.doubleknot.com/app/unsubscribe/46S6M792M6L6S6M67406S75746L6S6S6G2M636S6J7L333638307L3239373632397>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mail.accrs.org/archives/accrs/attachments/20220512/6602b1f3/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: BD384E99134245CA84978C201C51B7B2.png
Type: image/png
Size: 140 bytes
Desc: BD384E99134245CA84978C201C51B7B2.png
URL: <https://mail.accrs.org/archives/accrs/attachments/20220512/6602b1f3/attachment-0001.png>