Although trains have become an outmoded form of public transportation in much of the United States, riding the rails remains near the top of our to-do list.

Thus, a recent drive across central Nevada included a mandatory visit to Ely’s Nevada Northern Railway Museum.

Ely was one of numerous mining towns that in the early 1900s benefited from short-line railroads.

Here the line served as a cost-effective method for transporting copper ore. In 1907-08, track was laid from East Ely to the Robinson Copper Mine and a smelter in nearby McGill, Nevada.

The line connected with the Western Pacific at Shafter, Nevada, and the Southern Pacific at Cobre, Nevada.

When the Robinson Mine closed in 1978, Kennecott Copper closed its doors and walked away from the mine’s facilities and the railroad’s rolling stock.

Within a decade, the 56-acre train yard, nearly 70 buildings incorporating the depot and complex of machine shops, plus about 70 units of rolling stock, were donated to an Ely non-profit foundation.

The foundation operates as the Nevada Northern Railway Museum that in 2006 gained status as a National Historic Landmark. Train rides and yard tours are offered in a facility that is little changed from the days of copper mining.

Many train buffs consider it the best preserved and most original example of an American railroad facility.

The railway utilizes both steam and diesel locomotives to pull regular excursion and special trains. The latter include a dinner train; the Fireworks Express in July and December; the Haunted Ghost Train (costumes encouraged) in October; and the popular Polar Express. Private charters are also available.

The museum partners with Great Basin National Park to take advantage of the region’s dark skies and to offer Star Train excursions. During these trips, rangers set up telescopes at a stop along the track and present a program about the night sky.

Two individuals can opt to ride in the locomotive — at extra cost —during excursions.

Wannabe engineers are warned steam locomotive cabs are hot, dusty, noisy, and lack seats, while diesel cabs are enclosed, relatively quiet and have seats. Hard-core train buffs have an opportunity to become an engineer and drive a diesel locomotive. Before putting their hand on the throttle, potential train drivers must pass an exam covering safety training material.

Train excursions conclude with a guided tour of the machine shop, engine house and yard. Visitors not wishing to ride the train can choose a lower-priced ticket for the rail yard tour only.

Following our own 90-minute train ride from the depot to the old Ruth Mining District and back, museum employee Eric Mencis guided us through the rail yard buildings as he described the history and use of various pieces of equipment.

In the Engine House, he stood beside 1910 steam engine #40, while relating the story of the locomotive nicknamed “Ghost Train of Ely.”

During World War II, Ely’s residents were concerned #40 would be scrapped to help satisfy the government’s need for steel. To avoid this fate, the locomotive was hidden until the war’s end.

Mencis discussed the difficulty and expense of operating steam engines that can require up to eight hours to reach sufficient steam pressure. In comparison, diesel locomotives can be ready to go in 10 minutes.

The engine house was full of rolling stock including diesel locomotives, an old caboose, a huge crane used to assist in train derailments and a 1907 rotary snow plow.

Our biggest thrill occurred when the steam locomotive that had pulled our excursion train slowly entered the building in which we were standing.

Visitors have an opportunity to stay overnight in either a caboose (no bathroom) or a bunkhouse (shared bathroom). An advertisement for the rooms states, “Creature comforts are rather thin, after all this ain’t the Ritz.”

At most vintage railroads, the ride is the reward.

We have ridden the Durango – Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Chama and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Each offered a considerably better (and more expensive) ride than the Northern Nevada train.

However, as our guide Eric Mencis commented at the end of our tour, “There are certainly better train rides but here it’s not just the train ride, it’s the whole experience.”

He hit the spike right on the head.

David and Kay Scott are authors of “Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges” (Globe Pequot). Visit them at mypages.valdosta.edu/dlscott/Scott.html. View their past columns at www.facebook.com/DavidKayScott. The Scotts live in Valdosta, Georgia.

If You Go

Getting there: Ely is on U.S. Highway 50 in eastern Nevada. ‘ The nearest major airports are at Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Each is about 250 miles distant.

Hours: The railway is open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. Except for July and August, it is closed on Tuesday. For train schedules, check the railway website at http://nnry.com/pages/calendarall.php.

Lodging: The railway offers overnight accommodations in a caboose and bunkhouse. A variety of options including a historic hotel are available in Ely.