A Nevada Northern Express Freight brings a little color to the winter desertscape, as it races north toward the yards at East Ely, some 7 miles distant. The power this day is Baldwin #40, a 1910-vintage 10-wheeler with 69" drivers that was built as a dual-role locomotive. She was primarily intended for passenger service, but was equally capable of hauling express freights, like the one seen here. After 30 years of racing back and forth betweeen Ely and Cobre, she was pretty much retired when passenger service died on the line in the early 1940s. Fortunately, she was preserved in the engine house at Ely by railroad officials and survived until the Nevada Northern ceased operation and became a museum. Today, she is maintained in operating condition and runs on special occasions, such as the annual February Photo Shoots.
