NNRy Background

The rail route is commonly referred to as the "Nevada Northern." However, there have been several operators over this track in the 20th century including the: Nevada Northern Railway Company, Nevada Consolidated Copper Company, Nevada Consolidated Copper Corporation, the Kennecott Copper Corporation Nevada Mines Division, Nevada Northern Railway Museum, Northern Nevada Railroad Corporation and BHP Nevada Railroad Company.

For most of its history, the mining companies operated the ore trains between the Robinson mining district and the smelter at McGill. The Nevada Northern Railway operating between East Ely and the interchanges with the Western Pacific at Shafter, NV and the Southern Pacific at Cobre, NV performed common carrier operations.

The ended with the BHP Nevada Railroad which operated its ore trains between its mill at Riepetown and the interchange with the Union Pacific RR at Shafter. The crossing of the former WP mainline at Shafter has been removed although the interchange trackage remains. The line from Shafter to Cobre is abandoned.

The Nevada Northern Railway Museum operates tourist excursions between East Ely and both Keystone Junction and the Hiline Route to near Adverse Junction.