Nevada Northern No. 81 fired … again

Locomotive successfully fired after it was sidelined for more than two years

ELY, Nev. — On the night of Feb. 3, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum successfully fired No. 81, a 1917 Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-8-0. The locomotive had not been fired for more than two years due to ongoing repairs.

For the firing, 1,000 pounds of coal was placed in the 5-foot-by-9-foot firebox, which had been layered with wood. The addition of a flaming diesel-soaked rag brought the fire to life. The railroad’s shop crew monitored the boiler for 12 hours as it came up to pressure, then conducted a series of tests. All of the boiler tests were successful, which moves the locomotive to final assembly and then back to service.

In 2021, No. 81 returned to operation after a 63-year hiatus. The locomotive originally hauled iron ore on the Nevada Northern Railway from 1917 to 1958, when it was retired. No. 81 was donated to the White Pine Public Museum and placed on static display until the 1990s. Then it was returned to the museum’s yard and restoration began.

While operating No. 81 in 2023, the museum discovered that the 2¾-inch Bissel post nut, which helps secure the front truck, had been sheared off, putting the locomotive out of service.

Large bolt on front of a steam locomotive. Nevada Northern No. 81 fired … again. — The large Bissel post bolt at the center front of No. 81 was sheared off, necessitating the current round of repairs. NNRM

“Calls to the warranty department of the Baldwin Locomotive Works have gone unanswered and Auto Zone did not have one either,” joked Mark Basset, museum executive director, in a Facebook post. “So now we have to create a new one in our blacksmith shop. We are very fortunate that our shop complex includes a blacksmith shop. When the railroad closed down, they left all of the tools behind.”

Front truck of a steam locomotive with workers adjusting it. Nevada Northern No. 81 fired … again. — On Sunday, Feb. 1, the new pilot truck for No. 81 was installed and adjusted by museum volunteers. NNRM

As the museum shop crew began work on rebuilding the pilot truck a number of additional issues were discovered. No. 81’s boiler knuckle showed signs of thinning. It has been replaced. A number of loose boiler rivets were discovered. Those have been replaced. New safety valves have also been installed. Additionally, dozens of other smaller repairs have been completed.

For additional information on the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, or how to support No. 81’s repairs, please visit its website.