I'd like to tell you all some info about the upcoming NNRy/Heber Creeper joint operation as reported in the briefs last week.

I was at the NNRy East Ely shops last April, taking photographs for a article was doing. NN has alot of work to on #90. All the flues were out and were the new ones were being steam-washed for instalation in to the engine. While I was there, the main fucous of the shop crews was getting #40 ready for the summer season. This involved de-winteriztion and getting it ready for a hydro test, which it passed later that month.

Other projects going on in the yard complex and shop were installing new windows in the old coach shop and RIP Track building.

NNRy coach #A-2 (St. Louis 1908) was sitting on jacks w/o trucks, getting repair from the accident it had in 1995. This was an unexpected suprise, since the initial evaluations on both coaches found that they may have been unrepairable. A-2 was the least damage of the two and is now being repaired for service as I said, but sadly, it appears that coach #5's (Pullman 1897) wooden frame and vestibles are too damaged to be repaired and it is likely that it will be cometically restore to serve as a stactic display.

Work is progressing on steam wreaking crane #A. The absestes (sp?) abatement has been completed from people who I talked to, there seems to be little work to do to put her back in operation since it last operated in 1983 and has been under cover ever since.

After I went to Ely in April, I stopped by the shops while I was passing through town in late May. I talked to Mr. Hunt (CMO) and he told me about the proposal to send #93 to the Heber Creeper.

This deal with the Heber Creeper is very important to the museum. Money earned from this operation will able the NNRy to re-tube the #40 this winter to keep her in operation alongside #93.

Hard times has fallen on the NNRy since BHP Copper pulled thier mining operations out of Ely. Ely, which is a very isolated community, has fallen into an economic depression of sorts with the loss of its major employer in town. The NNRy also lost about $200,000 a year of income from BHP Nevada Railraod leasing 32 miles of its track.

But I'd like to say good luck and appload both the Heber Creeper and the NNRy for showing a true spirit of cooparation and resourcefulness in this new venture. Hopefully, more cooperation such as this will take place between museums in the west. I know cooperation like this has taken place with museums and big steam operaters on the east, but it hasn't been in the west (outside of California).

Technical know-how and parts has been shared, but often sparse and unfriendly Class 1 railroad connections and distances have prohibited joint operation such as in this case. Lets hope this trend continues!