|
|
"At
The Throttle"
|
|
Mark
Bassett is the Executive Director of the White Pine Historical Foundation,
operator of the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. He can be reached at the
museum (775) 289-2085 ext. 7 or e-mail: director@nnry.com
|
|
Steam
Sells — Part II
|
|
As part of my education about tourist railroading was the understanding of the concept, “Steam Sells”. This concept was reinforced by the break down of our passenger count last year. The three-quarters of our ridership rode behind Locomotive 93. Yet Locomotive 93 powered less than a quarter of our trains. I thought I would share an example of how the railroad is marketed to the outside world and impacts the community. One of our volunteers is Joel Jensen; he is a professional photographer and author who has been published in national publications. His photographs are displayed in prestigious art galleries. Samples of his work are on display at the new gallery in Ely, Desperation Arts, where he is part owner. He will tell you that he lives in California but his second home is Ely. Joel has been coming to Ely to photograph and help out on the Nevada Northern for over 10 years now. One of his projects is a winter photo shoot that this year will be held on February 1st and 2nd. Joel was in the office last week sending out invitations to photographers nation-wide. I thought you might be interested in how Joel will entice photographers to come to Ely in the middle of winter. Following then are excerpts from his invitation. |
An example of Joel Jensen's work is this photograph of Locomotives 40 and 93 in front of the coaling tower. Historic equipment in its original setting is the principle reason people come from around the country to Ely. The added plus of being able to photograph in the dead of winter with steam billowing is an added bonus. |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
If
you like steam, have we got it for you! Clouds and clouds of it. Once
again, our railroad will strut its stuff in sub-zero degree weather (or
close to it). Snow? We've had it on previous winter spectaculars, 6 inches
of it during the 1999 version. Sub-zero? We hit -5 in 2001, and you should
have seen the frost on the sagebrush. Sun? How about cobalt blue skies
during the shoot. Point being, we've offered up just about every type
of meteorological conditions that wintertime Ely experiences, including
shirtsleeve weather. |
| When: |
February
1 & 2 (Sat & Sun)
|
||||
| Where: |
Ely
(East Ely, Nevada)
|
||||
| Why: |
To
raise money for the most historically accurate intact railroad complex
in the U.S. (All proceeds go to the museum)
|
||||
| Cost: |
$365.00. Ticket includes: continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, night
photo shoot*, steam cab rides, and a one-year subscription to Ghost
Tracks (Nevada Northern Railway Museum Newsletter).
For an additional $15.00, participants are invited to attend the Saturday night Steak dinner at the East Ely Depot. Good food plus waiting room "ambience". Let me know if you wish to attend the dinner. |
||||
| Motive Power: |
1909,
Alco built, 2-8-0, #93
|
||||
| Train Consist: |
Ore
cars and wood sided caboose. All equipment is original NNRY
|
||||
| Photo Runbys: |
Approximately
40, featuring both the Keystone & Hiline Routes, plus numerous numerous
runbys in the East Ely rail yards.
|
||||
| Weather: |
Unpredictable.
At this time of year, over-Night lows are typically sub-zero. Daytime
Highs range from 0 to 50 degrees. Previous Winter photo shoots have featured
blizzards to clear skies, to heavy frost and to heavy Overcast. Such conditions
have consistently Yielded to outstanding photographs (NNRY Winter Photo
Shoot participants consistently Dominate the annual Winterail photo
contest.
|
||||
|
*Saturday
Night Photo Shoot: Provided the skies are clear, we will stage #93 at
a remote location outside of town. There will be no moon (dark) so the
plan is to do a long exposure (20 minute), which will create long star
trails behind a fill-flashed #93. If it is overcast, we’ll stage #93 in
front of the depot as well as outside of the engine house.
|
|
Quite the invitation don't you think? In years past twenty to thirty photographers took Joel up on his invitation to come to Ely in the middle of winter. And I can understand why, it will be a fascinating show we'll be putting on that is not available anywhere else in the country. This is only one example of how the Nevada Northern Railway attracts people to Ely. Steaming in the winter with an authentic backdrop, simply world class. |
|
Call Us 1-866-40STEAM or 1-866-407-8326 Copyright © 2003 Nevada Northern
Railway - Ely, Nevada |
