The Nevada Northern Museum will run two steam photo freights the weekend of December 6-7, in addition to the thre steam powered "Polar Express" passenger trains that weekend. Rides on the photo freights will cost only $25 (first come first served until the caboose is filled), and motorcading is free. Saturday evening there will be a night photo shoot. The combination of two photo freights and three passenger trains should provide a lot of opportunities for watching and photographing steam. And the cool weather will ensure dramatic steam effects.

The freights will depart East Ely at 8 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The plan is for one freight to operate to Keystone, the other up the High Line to Adverse, but specifics will depend on the weather to maximize the best photo opportunities. Polar Expresses will depart at 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Engine 93 will pull all trains. The night photo shoot will begin at 6 p.m. at the roundhouse.

Mark Bassett, the museum's Executive Director, characterizes the weekend as an effort to attract more railfans to the museum. He said the annual winter photo shoots organized by Joel Jensen each February have been very successful. Those weekends have regularly produced prize winning photography, but can accomodate only a limited number of people. The December weekend is intended to make a similar opportunity available to more people and at low cost.

And the Polar Expresses provide an opportunity to make it a family outing. More information about accomodations, the Nevada Northern Museum, and the Polar Expresses can be found at http://nevadanorthernrailway.net/index.htm . Additional information about the Railfan Weekend may also be posted there.



jbwest@att.net