BHP Nevada Railroad

The BHP Nevada Railroad (reporting mark BHP) was a shortline railroad that operated in Nevada from 1996 to 1999. BHP acquired the line from Nevada Northern Railway. Constructed by Utah Construction Company in 1908,[1] the railroad hauled copper ore concentrate from BHP's concentrator at Riepetown to Shafter, Nevada. At Shafter the railroad interchanged with the Union Pacific and the ore continued to BHP's smelter at San Manuel, Arizona. BHP is an Australian-based company that took over Magma Copper, the owner of the Robinson Mine at Ruth, Nevada, in January 1996. The line ran south from a connection with the Union Pacific at Shafter to Ely.

BHP Nevada Railroad
Overview
HeadquartersRuth, Nevada
Reporting markBHP
LocaleNorthern Nevada Shafter – Ely
Dates of operationJanuary 1996–July 9, 1999
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Locomotives

The BHP Nevada Railroad used five former Southern Pacific Railroad EMD SD9 locomotives built between 1954 and 1956 to operate over the line. They were numbered #201 – 205. For switching and local operations the railroad used two GE 70-ton switchers from the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. BHP also had one ALCO RS-3. The switchers were also built in the 1950s and numbered #12 and #13.

Nevada Northern Railway Museum
Passenger train at the East Ely depot (September 29, 2007).

BHP ended up turning over its locomotives and rolling stock to the Nevada Northern Railway Museum as part of a settlement over their track lease agreement.[2]

A small portion of the BHP Nevada Railroad was operated over the Nevada Northern Railway Museum tracks with trackage rights between East Ely and Ruth. The line was abandoned in 1999 when copper mining was discontinued, however in 2004 the mines were reopened, and the copper concentrate was hauled by road. The disused line between Ely and Cobre was acquired by the city of Ely in 2006.

Route

Stations, listed from north to south:

  • Shafter, Nevada (connection with the Union Pacific Railroad, former Western Pacific)
  • Decoy
  • Dolly Varden
  • Mizpah
  • Currie
  • Goshute
  • Greens
  • Cherry Creek
  • Schellbourne (Ray)
  • Requa (Raiff)
  • Warm Springs
  • Steptoe
  • Glenn
  • McGill Junction
  • J&M Spur
  • Hiline Junction (Hi Line Junction)
  • Mosier
  • East Ely
  • Ore Yard
  • Calumet
  • Tunnel 1
  • Lane
  • Keystone
  • Lone Tree Road
  • Ruth
  • Sunshine
  • Tripp Pit
  • Riepetown

See also

References
  1. "National Register of Historic Places: Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops". United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. 29 July 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  2. Bassett, Mark S.; Bassett, J. Joan (2011). Nevada Northern Railway. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738574752. Retrieved 10 June 2019.

Other sources
  • Robertson, Donald B. (1986). Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History – The Desert States. Caldwell, ID: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. ISBN 0-87004-305-6.
  • Walker, Mike (1997). Steam Powered Video's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America - California and Nevada - Post Merger Ed. Kent, United Kingdom: Steam Powered Publishing. ISBN 1-874745-08-0.
  • "Nevada Northern & Railroads of White Pine County". BHP Nevada Railroad History. Archived from the original on March 13, 2005. Retrieved November 24, 2005.
  • "Nevada Northern & Railroads of White Pine County". BHP Nevada Railroad Locomotive Roster. Archived from the original on April 11, 2005. Retrieved November 24, 2005.
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