Not many places like this anymore.... The cavernous Nevada Northern Engine House in East Ely sits open to the morning light, on a Friday morning in February, as the museum gets ready for the first of its two annual Photo Shoot weekends. The house looks a little empty today, because several key pieces of equipment are elsewhere. The museum's big Consolidation #93 normally occupies the stall in the immediate foreground, but it's currently in the machine shop getting some adjustments on the throttle valve. The SD9 #204 is out in the yard making up trains, and the inoperable Consolidation #81, which had been a fixture (it never moved) for many years, has been moved to the RIP Building with an eye toward a future restoration. Alco RS-2 #105 is also in the machine shop, getting some engine work done. That pretty much leaves the beautiful Baldwin 10-wheeler #40 as the only runner left in the house this morning. One of the museum volunteers can be seen oiling around, as others unseen in the cab prepare to light the match and steam her up. In the background, the orange RS-3 #109 slumbers away. Active for years on previous photo shoots, she's currently held in reserve and needs some heavy maintenance.
The NN Engine House is pretty unique. There are not many large, steam engine facilities like this left. Certainly not many that actually see steam operations. This house has 8 stalls on 4 tracks, with a big array of smoke jacks, and servicing pits at every stall. Next door, a full-service machine shop with a huge overhead crane stands ready to perform any heavy maintenance that may be needed.
