Wild West 2017 - 5: Sun & Steam in Steptoe Valley (50 p.)

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ronik24

Proud Earthling
Hi,


To the previous part of the series:
Wild West 2017 - 4: 350-Year-Old Passenger Train (50 p.)
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum...t-2017-4-350-Year-Old-Passenger-Train-(50-p-)


The video for this series (please set to 1080p quality / full-screen mode):

General information about the Nevada Northern Railway:

Official page, including equipment roster:
http://www.nnry.com

Historical archive, including maps etc.:
http://nnry.com/history/httpdocs/index.html

Wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_Northern_Railway

Line map:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_Northern_Railway#/media/File:Nevada_Northern_Map.png

Wikipedia page of the museum:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_Northern_Railway_Museum

Book including historic photographs (Google Books preview, not all pages shown):
https://books.google.com/books?id=rghpVbIBhhcC&printsec=frontcover



February 18 2017

During lunch break, the loco had reversed and was coupled to a train of boxcars 1021 and 1023-1025, which all had been built in 1912 by American Car & Foundry, mostly originally for the NNRY.
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In front of East Ely depot.
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Subsequently, we were pushed onto the former mainline through Steptoe Valley. A large railroad grade crossing with Highway 93 - which we had taken to Ely - was being guarded by staff from the station. Afterwards, we passed this ranch and typical row of mailboxes.
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The mainline north past McGill is not passable nowadays. For example, a few grade crossings have to be newly constructed. The railroad director told us about experiences with the highway authority. Due to regulations, the costs of 300000 $ for a crossing have tripled now.
So, we rather took the "Hiline" uphill towards Adverse, once serving the McGill copper mill. On a map from 1940 the line is titled "mill branch".

Informative track plans can be gathered at the informative historical archive (general link see above).
Ely - Hiline - McGill: http://nnry.com/history/httpdocs/trackplans/Hiline8.gif
Former McGill plants: http://nnry.com/history/httpdocs/trackplans/mcgillB.gif

We had reached our spot a few feet above the valley, several photo run-pasts followed.
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A fascinating mood, we were close to the clouds at this altitude. The sun always slightly shone through the cloud cover, resulting in camera settings closer to a sunny day.
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Once more my favorite was the vegetation structure, almost like a colorful shaggy carpet.
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During a static photo session, I walked downhill to capture the vastness of Steptoe Valley.
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Then, we climbed...
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... to the cutting, where an uncomfortable wind was blowing.
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I hid in a hollow, allowing for this alternative perspective of the rock face.
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Even if the sun was showing - time to return home for the day, the weather would be much better next morning.
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February 19 2017

Little snow fell overnight melting right away, but the mood developed nicely after sunrise. On the short walk from the accommodation to the station I passed a collection of old cars, in the background the county school bus depot.
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Time for the engine to arrive!
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Briefing before switching.
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The group of photographers yearned for the sun to show.
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The snowfall only showed as white sprinkles on the cooler dug-in ties.
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Combine #6 - dating from 1872 in its original form - was once more serving as coach for us.
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Finally, steam action!
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A slight delay while switching...
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... but then, everything was in place...
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... and we arrived here. I would suggest to imagine the fragrance of a pine forest next to these images on the valley floor, even those low plants gave off a very fresh and intensive scent - relief for my blocked nose.
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The outfit car was left behind - just as in regular service - and the first steam run in fine morning sunlight followed.
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Panoramic shots at the "creek" - or whatever passes for it in this dry area. However, wet mud rich of clay was sticking to the boots along the roads near this spot.
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Together with a handful of other photographers, I ducked through to the other side.
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You were rewarded by lovely silhouette shots - 3-image-panorama.
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Monumental atmosphere above the mountains.
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I walked further away from the railroad, a few still shots followed.
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It took a few tries, but then my distant shouts requesting another run-past were heard. This was used to couple the outfit car again - and the sun came out nicely.
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Next, the train stopped, and we walked ahead to the edge of the valley after making sure we had not left anyone behind. I did not find my microphone on the ground at once, but using all my Wild-West-tracking skills I was lucky and did not leave it behind in the vast Nevada landscape.
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We waited fifteen minutes for the full sun to appear...
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... and it paid off. ;-)
To the left the Steptoe Valley south, where we were about to leave later that afternoon, to the right north, where we had arrived from Wendover.
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One more run-past in the sun.
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The train was safely stopped, and we were free to access the tracks. We will steam on next time! :)
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