Reviews of Nevada Northern Railway Museum (Museum)

Morgan Fetters

Polar Express is so fun for the little ones!

Scott.baier Scott

Now who can say no to trains.. this museum and train ride is for everyone in the family from all ages. I arrived early for the first departure.. allowing me amble enough time tp walk around and see the other locomotives and cars on display.. now they also have a wonderful model train car collection..

shannon ward

Our favorite get away,, ely nv. Abd riding the train! We did tour of machine shop, was so worth it! Got to meet Dirt, hes very cool indeed!

Diana Mendez

Loved it .Knowledgeable rangers, great stargazing

Kaylee Dautrich

This place is great, I highly recommend it if you have a day or two to spare. You can pay for a tour and ride their up and running train and they take you through their shops with all their trains under maintenance. The tour guide are nice and funny along with the people in the shops and the conductors.

Denise MacKinnon

This is a wonderful Train Museum. The train ride in the open cattle car was very scenic. All taken care by volunteers with loving hands.

michelle bacon

i remember that train, it where my brother and sister in law's wedding near that place

Bob McCafferty

Great historical place to visit. We enjoyed the train ride. Really nice people.

Daniel Duarte

AMAZING EXPERIENCE, TRAVELING TO THE PAST

Frederick Hammel

I am not a train buff by any means, but the museum is worth visiting. I have been there many times over the years. It is worth getting tickets for a train ride, you get to see some nice scenery and it is fun. The museum of the train offices is very well taken care of and the walk through tour reading about each room is very informative of how the mines and the train station were operated. The offices were left the way they were the day they closed because they thought it would be opened again. Also a really neat part of the tour is they allow you to tour the shop where the trains are worked on. You get to see the locomotives, and all of the tools required to keep trains maintained. They also have a Frontier Town that is a lot of fun to walk through. It is just a short drive from the station. They have houses set up from the different groups of people that moved here, like the Greek house, the Chinese house, etc.... All in all a fun way to spend the day.

HG Welsh

I highly recommend visiting and riding the train. It is a blast.

Heidi Still

This place matters to all it is a huge part of history and one of few places left we're you can ride and feel a piece of history. Amazing people work here most are volunteers. Great experience glad to have left my mark being part of history. Spent 40 hours cleaning part of the old electric shop so they can repair and paint it

Dave Alex

We arrived in the off season and had the wonderful treat of having 'Bill' as our personal, one on one tour guide of the complete yard and buildings. What an incredible wealth of knowledge and story teller. We had planned on spending an hour or so but ended up spending most of the day. Our only regret is that we were not there when the remaining operational steam train was taking people for a ride. This is a 'Must Do' in Nevada.

John B. Fraser

The ride is not long and the scenery not as interesting as Durango-Silverton or Toltec y Cumbres, but the staff and tour guide were excellent, friendly, and very well informed, and the locomotive shop tour fascinating and very informative.

Henry Burt

Get stories if you like trains and history

Ben Pehrson

Very cool. This place is a step back in time with old buildings and trains. The star train ride was fun!

Kerry Holland

Step into yesterday, seeing and touching history. No ropes to stay behind. The most athletic untouched railroad machnic shop l have ever seen 5 stars

VLOPEZ728

Drove the Alco RS2 road switcher. It was an awesome experience!

Agi S

Fabulous place to get a sense of history. Well kept up. Beautiful restoration of trains and an opportunity to ride an authentic steam train. People who take care of this place are fabulous . Highly recommend a visit

Jeanette Rodgers

Epitome of the perfect railway museum. "...mission is to maintain and operate what has been acclaimed as the best preserved railroad facility in the United States... train rides...the Engine House and yard..." The intact station. The museum. The working steam engine. The guys restoring the engines. Make this a priority!

Denise Rader

Very interesting!

David Walker

Great Collection and Information. ..

Emily Herrmann

I got to meet the internet famous Dirt! He is the coolest railroad cat ever. Make sure you stop by the gift shop because they even have Dirt magnets, Dirt coffee cups, t shirts, and more.

Cheryl Christensen

LOVED my visit to Nevada Northern Railway! I signed up to "be the Engineer" and made the trip to Ely, Nevada. What an amazing opportunity. All the people at the museum were so nice and took great care of my husband and I. Thank you! To the crew at Nevada Northern for sharing Engine 40 with us. She is such an amazing piece of history. Thank you for your efforts to preserve such a neat piece of rail road history. I'm star struck by her! We also did the "Star Train" so fun! And the ride up to Keystone with a history narrative. Enjoyed all of it! Planning to go back in October to experience the Haunted Train with my nieces & nephews. I would highly suggest you plan this into your calendar. What a great experience!!!

RG AZ

If you are into railroading you'll love this museum. Multiple operating steam and diesel locomotives. They let you walk all around the engine repair building and much of the yard. You can walk through the whole machine shop and see how they create parts that are no longer made for their equipment. Outstanding little museum.

Manuel Quiñones Ph. D.

Excellent place to be and understand the american history!

Tremel Lambrecht

Had a eye opening time looking at the history of this active working museum. When I’m in the shop I can almost put myself back 50 years and feel the work going on. The smells, the sights. The elusive cat Dirt. Take the time here and stop in and feel it for yourself.

S Bo

Very nice museum. It is several different buildings. Directional signs would be awesome.

C. Hutney

Definitely worth doing! Friendly, knowledgeable staff and both the ride and museum were great. Our guide through the working shops was only 15 years old and impressed us all with his extensive knowledge of each train, the process of maintaining the trains, etc. We all learned a lot. A special shout out to Dirt for the nice, warm welcome.

Ned

Staff is very knowledgeable, and visitor friendly. Train ride was pleasant, will do it again. This community has really rallied around this very worthwhile project.

John Ames

Took all four of my sons to tour the rail yard and ride the old steam locomotive for Father's day four years ago and it is the best memory of father's day I believe I will ever have. The staff were all top notch and treated us as though we were all rich and famous. Incredible how well maintained everything there is. Like a step back in time!

Geoff Fisher

Kids loved it. Even the wife enjoyed it. You'd never get to walk thru a workshop like that in Australia. Keep up the good work

Bob Rose

Great little train ride, with an old steam locomotive.

Chillis Lives

Check train schedule. Stepping back in time.

Karen Wineland

The work shop was amazing.

Cindy Freeman

So much fun and learning too.

Vance Johnson

Absolutely a wonderful train ride on a 1910 Steam locomotive with an open air rail car or enclosed rail car. Amazing piece of American history.

Tami wall

We love the ghost train and my granddaughter was smitten with dirt. She pet that cat for about 35 min

Matthew Dickinson

Great Polar Express experience!! The only downside was the really rude people who sat behind us. The Polar Express is for young kids that are very excited to see the train and Santa Claus which means they are going to be very loud and singing the whole time, so if you are old and dont like being around kids having a good time dont ride the Polar Express.

Steve Elliott

Train ride was a lot of fun. Would ride the train again. The tour after the train ride was very interesting.

SD9 Hogger

It's a step back in time.

Kathy Birrenkott

Awesome train ride on Locomotive 93. 90 minutes 15 miles. Be sure to check out the Museums. We toured the Engine Room very interesting. We were lucky enough to meet Dirt (the cat) famous resident of the Engine House.

Bruce Trattler

Great visit

Kenneth Lloyd

Amazing! The repair shop for trains is incredible. You never think of the size and mass of the tools to repair a locomotive. The men that buile, ran and repaired the NNR were off the chart. Not sure if we had some great ladies jump in during WW2?

Richard Ferris

If you are into Railroads this place is an absolute must. From riding in the cab of the locomotive to open wandering through their shops and grounds it cannot be beat! It is way out of the way, but worth the effort if you like trains or are interested in the copper mining that the original railroad was all about. Like stepping back 70 years or more in time. Highly reccomended

G C

Stopped here while road tripping to National Parks...had tix to astronomy night on train where you go out on train and set up telescopes to view night sky. Unfortunately, the skies were overcast that night so I just donated the cost for the tix to the railroad..worth checking out and conveniently located near intersection of U.S. rte50 and U.S. rte 93 in Ely, Nevada

Eugene Kaufman

Great place. Make sure to take the guided tour.

Robert Herron

Excellent stop. Loved the guided part of the tour. Sean did an excellent job educating us about the copper mining history and we especially enjoyed the machine shop and engine house.

Philip Baba

A step back in time,see & touch what your grandfather saw

John Garretson

Truly awesome, the most fun I've had in years.I will defiantly return. Thank you so much.

Mike MichaelO

Love the old locomotives and the nevada history. Everyone is so friendly. Can't wait to come back

Tasha Rogers

We arrived after hours. Google did not have the times right. The young gentleman was kind enough to give us advice, tell us about upcoming train specials for mother's day and stamp passports. Very kind, so 5 stars!!! Call for hours first!

Von Fletcher

I spent 5 hr here and that wasn't enough nice informed pepole doing a great job saving hisory

Bridget Brooks

I was given the most awesome and educating tour of steam and diesel trains in my whole life, thank you

Brigitte Dubin

What an outstanding Nevada Northern Railroad Museum. The steam train was beautifully restored. The tour was very informative. They have photo opportunity weekends and you can even run the engine and get a certificate. Take a ride through the nuclear fallout tunnel. Lots of history in the many buildings that you can explore. I included a bunch of pictures. If you love trains, this is a bucket list museum. The town of Ely is very friendly, but the weather is on the cooler side, most of the year.

anthony odell

Such a awesome historical place. Yet to see dirt. One day hopefully.

Simon Han

Really grateful to see this part of history being preserved. Being able to walk in a train shop and see all the tools that are used to maintain these historical but still functioning engines was super eye opening to me as a millennial. So glad I stopped by this museum. I would highly recommend this place to those who are into the history of the old west and the mining culture.

Chanthy Leang

Wonderful short historical trip.

Debra Robinson

So worth finding. This isn't some pristine, staged place with a lot of signs to read, this is grit and grime and the scent of machine and labor. We wandered at will with no interference. Dirt endured our cooing with regal detachment and allowed a soft petting. Take your time and soak it all in. Probably more than a little challenging for walkers and wheelchairs if you don't have someone with you helping to navigate over and around things. Not sure if you could get down into the museum among the trains, but there could be an alternative way to come in.

Gavin Green

Riding a 110 year old steam engine. Wonderful experience.

Alex Crane

Love it so much. Nice place, nice people, big piece of history.

Mark Hodges

This is a fascinating piece of history, mostly preserved as it was the day the railroad shut down. Even if you're not a railroad buff (I'm not), the history is interesting.

Carlos Escobar

If you appreciate trains and the history behind them, then you will enjoy the tranquility of the town and the train cars available to tour.

Randy Burris

Lots to see. Enjoyed it all. Nice ride on train and Loved Dirt the

Ellen Finney

Wonderful history lesson as well as a delightful train ride

Gray Squirrel

Nice place to visit. If you go there look for Dirt King the railroad cat. I did not see him on my visit. Ride the train.. It's a must. I was in town for the #silverstateclassic

Adam Otten

Best RR museum I've been to. Incredible number if working steam and diesel locomotives.

Thomas Hertter

Not the normal museum. It's an old rail yard with engine house. If the door is unlocked you can go inside. Including the engine house.

Kyler Curtis

The ride was a bit slow at times but the experience was pretty cool. I was able to see old mineshafts and all the hauling trucks that are moving soil. The people who live in the town are all quite nice and friendly. You might see Dave there too! Dave is a well known citizen of Ely, he's quite friendly too.

Susan Musser

So disappointing only one train today, no more until Friday. Hopefully will be able to get back.

Tommie Birdon III

I recently had the chance to experience the Polar Express for my daughters birthday and I have to say... It was a great experience and she had a ball!!!!

Bill Wilderman

Great display of history! The freedom to actually touch the engines was awesome. If you are a railroad person you will enjoy it .

Joseph Kasal

Great museum. Really enjoyed walking around the workshop

Alma Halsey

Quite the experience 6 yrs old son loved it.

Dustin Wax

Fantastic experience of Ely and the surrounding copper-mining district. Ride a restored old train through ghost towns and mining country, with a great, personable tour.

Scott Henderson

Great place you can explore the whole place.

Steve Seibert

So awesome. Take the train!

David Kirby

Awesome museum, very helpful docents, it is amazing to walk around the locomotives and train cars and see what travel was like 100-150 years ago.

Kari Hertter

Came from WA state. Saw a lot of things you don't get to normally see in a museum! Loved it!

Kurtis Toycen

Always fun to ride the train and meet Dirt the cat.

Kelli Myers

Very awesome!!! Was able to tour the whole establishment. Thank you. .

7 & 1 Adventures

Fascinating. Numerous vintage engines that are regularly run; functional machine/service shop. Worth going out of your way to see and experience.

Dave. Fly

A real jeerl! Great history Fun train ride. All the volunteers are great. A must see and do I'm Nevada

Rose Deighan

Self guided tour is nice! Being free to explore the trains and shops was an awesome experience! I really enjoyed a chat with Dirt, the resident cat

Zack Byman

Awesome place to see old trains. Old steam engines, work shops, and the museum.

Shawn Cunningham

I had great time. I got to meet Dirt the cat. Eric was our tour guide. Eric was very knowledgeable and helpful! I plan on visiting again!

Chadrick Collins

It was like a step back in history. The ride was great and the tour through the shop was great and the guide was very knowledgeable and informative and answers all my questions. Definitely glad went.

Ely Smith

Great place to visit. A lot of history. Open daily but train rides only on the weekends. Cute souvenir shop.

Glenn Tourville

This place is a train lovers paradise!

David H Steinbrugge

Very interesting and large old historical Railroad station and maintenance yard. Lots of very cool old engines and train cars to look at. The maintenance building is particularly interesting although if you touch anything you're sure to get grease all over yourself. where the very interesting conversation with a couple of young volunteers who worked on the engines. The Station House is fascinating, left just like it was I think in the 1970s when the employees were told to go home and not come back. Including Stacks and stacks of paperwork and office equipment from earlier eras. Definitely worth a visit.

Denise Weikel

The train ride was great. If your a history buff the guided tour at the end will keep you ent entertained as well. Hata off ro NNRR for keeping this active.

sam morgan

Fun place to visit if you like old trains. We drove out from salt lake to take some of the kids and grandkids for a ride up to the old mine. Make sure you take time to visit the shops while you're there.

Ivesters tree

Great place for everyone to visit. Highly recommend the polar express

Paul Uhrich

The people that run the place are friendly and knowledgeable. It is a great family experience.

Arnold Hinden

Definitely worth it don't miss it

Dana Ely

I absolutely love this place. It's also part of my family history.

Carl Nielsen

Great place to go and enjoy the old town feel and enjoyed the the train ride

Andie

We love this place! Great for a fun and educational day with the family!!!

Jaimie Woodworth

We spent $200 on Polar Express tickets and we were pretty disappointed with the experience. My kids who were beyond excited were pretty bummed as well. We had all been excited for the train/railway experience and they definitely fell short. Although the staff were all friendly and nice, this just wasn't something we'd do again. Our family couldn't even sit together on the crowded and hot train cars and ended up having to be in separate cars due to lack of space. It's advertised as you get out at the 'North Pole' and meet Santa but you are stuck on the hot train the whole time, Santa comes on and gives everyone a silver bell then you head on back to the train station backwards. Was for sure lacking Christmas Magic. We won't be doing this again.

Stan Sitzman

AWESOME place!!! Abundantly welcoming people! If you like trains I HIGHLY recommend !

Sharon Siverts

Well worth the visit, although small and limited. A real trip in history of the railroad.

Suzanne Abbott

So much fun! Great Halloween train!

Carol Shanks

It was awesome. The country besutiful and the train very comfortable. Our narrator was filled with Ely and East Ely information. It was well worth the cost of the tickets and the time went by so quickly

Elizabeth Carpenter

We had such a great time visiting the rail museum. If you plan to go, make sure you book a train ride, as that's certainly the highlight of the museum. You are generally free to wander around the train yards to see what's there. The small museum exhibits are also well worth seeing. I would recommend this place to almost anyone.

Nikki G

We took the 90 min steam train and it was really fun. The staff was great and helpful, i felt like it was worth it. They have a playground there which is nice because there isnt a huge amount of stuff for kids to do. It is more geared toward the adult train enthusiast than the Thomas the train kinda thing. But that being said we had a great timewith a 8 year old and almost 2 year old .

Wyman Lee

Fun 1 1/2 hour train ride in a old steam train. Well worth the $31.00 price.

Kathleen Babcock

Excellent love the trains, museum and engine shop with sweet Dirt

Deltafallout1

Very cool museum. Less of a museum and more a working railyard you can tour. It's like taking a time machine. Highly recommended.

Michael Muncie

Train house was great, give yourself a couple hours and enjoy the tour.

Max Hatfield

If you are an old time steam locomotive buff or just an old west romantic this is the place to visit. Come early visit the machine shop. Get right up to the steam locomotives and old diesel electric engines. The people bend over backwards to answer questions and make your day special. When you are riding in the old Pullman car, close your eyes, and use your imagination. The feel of your seat, the smell of the burning coal, and the steam engine, the cresote ties, the click of the rails, and most of all the lonsome whistle. Imagination the long hours and days crossing the country for what would be a very expensive venture. Go and enjoy for yourself and have your own story to tell.

Scott Younggren

Really a fun time enjoying this vintage train ride!

Admiral Atrox

The Train Ride Was Amazing! Lots Of History.

Bob Schoppman

Great train ride. Shop tour is excellent. A lot of photo opportunities.

Cindy M

I really wanted to like this since we drove 400 miles to do it BUT the train never goes out of the valley. We could see the cities of Ely and McGill from the train the entire time so it wasn’t even dark. Oh and it rained (which couldn’t be helped) It’s a great idea but very poorly executed.

Wendy Bendickson

So much history and Beautiful scenery!

Ralph Parks

The museum has an interesting history. You can walk all over and see some interesting railroad cars and equipment. I loved seeing and riding behind the steam locomotives.

Tami Wall

Amazing just really cool

Francisca Robinson

Amazing experience!

George Kuh

Lot of history great food good entertainment

AZboyinWI

on one day we visited the museum (above the ticket office) and walked around the yard. The next morning we came back to ride the steam train and take the guided tour. All were fun and interesting. All staff were very pleasant and knowledgeable. I highly recommend!

Les Robison

You can't find many historical sites as well preserved, and authentic as this one. Take the steam engine train ride, it's incredible.

Anthony Garmont

What an excellent place this is. If you go be sure to go to where they keep all the locomotives in the garage by far the best place in the entire exhibit in my opinion. so many cool things in there and it's so authentic and the smell just smells like what you would think a locomotive mechanic shop would smell like just iron. Make sure to stop and see the little kitty cat I think his name is Dusty or dirt can't remember.everyone was extremely friendly though even though we didn't get to take a train ride it was still very much worth the detour.

Anthony Baroni

A great experience for train enthusiasts, families, travelers!

James Keck

Stopped in Ely as a break from driving and we stumbled upon this museum and glad that we did! We booked tickets for the Pony Express trip and it was like stepping back in time. The ride was scenic, the staff were great, and the locomotive was thrilling! Would do this again in an instant!

Debbie Colbert

Was there for a wedding. It was awesome!

Terry Perkins

Nice train ride on steam train.

Zach W

Its okay. If you go here, just make sure there ia a train ride available becuase you can see everything else really quick.

Glenn Haynes

Never go there sorry

Serena Schmidt

Perfect setting for a wedding reception

Marcia Margrave

My husband loves steam trains and he/we were not disappointed with our visit here! I highly recommend paying the fee to see all that comes with the self guided tour. You will go back in time as you visit the three buildings that are part of the tour. The museum above the gift shop involves going up some very steep stairs, but what you will see up there is well worth the trek. The curator will greet you and explain what you are about to see. We ended our tour in the bldg where the engines are located. We enjoyed our visit very much and I took a lot of pictures.

Ken Goetsch

Great info, awesome displays

Mike Houston

Fun place to learn about the history of rail and look at a huge steam engine up close. The train ride if awesome.

Philp Gilman

Had a great time seeing how the old time rolling stock is kept in running condition.

Richard E

Easily in the top 3 of places seen during a 3500 Mile road trip! No fancy graphics or kiosks, just a real rail yard, shop, and barn - working by real railroaders - just as back in the day. Do not miss!

Cindy Reynolds

This place was good. Nice and had a good narrative ( had a hard time hearing him). The work shops that they take you to, was really interesting. The museum was nice. Definitely want to take the family.

Lacey Johnson

It was an amazing place! Would 100% recommend coming here and checking it out!

Kris Rice

This is a wonderful museum. I've been twice already and cannot wait to go back and see how much more I can learn! The knowledgeable staff can tell you the rich history of not only the depot/railroad itself but of the local area as well! There is something for every age at this museum. The workshop tour is also amazing. Getting to see "behind the scenes" goings on as they work on living history is out of this world! One of my many favorite parts of this museum tour is the world famous Dirt the cat! I definitely recommend this for anyone interested in railroads, history or anyone in the general area.

David Wheeler

Tour of engine house with Mark was great. Really cool watching these historic machines running the rails! Meeting Dirt (the cat) was cool too

Peter Umina

Really neat experience with beautiful scenery. Dirt the cat was a terrific and worth the trip himself

Steve Hanson

Fun holiday rides at Halloween and Christmas.

Sue St.Jean

Saw it on Sunday morning .it wad a nice weekend.

Nancy Kae

Took my grandkids for an outing,,,they loved the museum

Jay Braden

A must for steam train enthusiasts Great experience

Rick Constien

got there in time to see the train return from last run ok of the day.. nice people

Emy Madzelan

Very interesting ride thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Charles Burrier

Enjoyed our time here

Dean Willoughby

Great railroad experience. Dirt the Cat is a great mascot.

Linda Rawson

What a fun museum especially the working engine house. Take a fun ride on the steam engine. The hospitality is fantastic and the museum is quaint.

Roland Rau

Well worth the stop, to see everything and train ride, 4 hrs, closed toe shoes, ball cap to protect your eyes from hundreds of falling coal soot bits almost the size of BB's or go in the enclosed car. It's not bad, part of the experience of a steam locomotive. Was partly cloudy so sun was not too hot but you can walk anywhere except caboose is extra. Make sure you call if the steam locomotive is running. You will have fun. Excellent souvenir shop. Everyone gets to pet Dirt the 11 year old shop cat, nice.

Hal H

Fully maintained excursion railroad. Out of the way trip but worth it

Kaaren Arndt

We love going to Ely and riding the train. We try to go several times a year. We are active members and enjoy seeing the improvements being made. It's a nice drive from Vegas and a fun weekend trip.

Andrew Hooper

Such a great stop! The outdoor, open-top train car was the best! My wife had to drag me kicking and screaming back to the car because I wanted to go on the train ride again ;) A word of advice: make sure you go on the STEAM-powered locomotive (as opposed to the diesel engine locomotive). I guess the steam engine only runs on certain days.

Ryan Percival

Fun and informative. I am not a railroad buff but I do enjoy trains and history. Nice place to visit Staff is friendly and informative. Just do It already and go visit!

Evan McKenzie

Great place, you can go pretty much anywhere, and the staff is friendly!

Jessica Cox

Such a great museum! The rooms and artifacts in the station house were fascinating, and my kids loved donning the gloves to look at old documents. The engine house with its huge engines and works in progress was incredible. Definitely a good stop!

Jodi Gardner Bremer

We just love this place! The trains, the ride, the museum, are all amazing!

Joni Zander

What a great museum! I learned about it by hearing the train whistle from the park in Ely. Since a steam engine whistle is so distinctive I did a quick Google search. I went on the self-guided tour, the guided tour of the shop, and rode the excursion train. It was all fabulous. The train ride was so fun with the owner dressed in a suit from back in the day telling us the history of the area and the major roll the train had. Highly recommended.

Benny Moore

Very nice and informative