BHP Nevada Railroad
Encyclopedia
The BHP Nevada Railroad was a shortline railroad
that operated in Nevada
from 1996 to 1999. BHP acquired the line from the Nevada Northern Railway
. 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
. The railroad was owned by Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP), an Australian based company that purchased the Robinson copper
mining district in Ely
from Magma Copper. The line ran south from a connection with the Union Pacific at Shafter to Ely.
Recent plans by Sierra Pacific Resources
for the construction of the "Ely Energy Center", a 2,500 megawatt coal-fired generating plant near Ely
, are raising the possibility that the railroad may see yet another revival, this time carrying inbound loads of coal to White Pine County.. Also, since it will be serving the same general area as the newly reopened copper mines, the copper companies may take advantage of the line being rebuilt too by once again hauling by train, if the line is ever reopened.
locomotive
s built between 1954 - 1956 to operate over the line. They were numbered #201 - 205. For switching and local operations the railroad used two GE 70-ton
switcher
s from the Santa Maria Valley Railroad
. The BHP also had one ALCO RS-3
. The switchers were also built in the 1950s and BHP numbered them #12 and #13.
The railroad 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.
A small portion of the BHP 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, new copper mines were reopened, and this time hauled copper by truck. The disused line between Ely and Cobre was acquired by the city of Ely
in 2006.
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
that operated in Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
from 1996 to 1999. BHP acquired the line from the Nevada Northern Railway
Nevada Northern Railway
The Nevada Northern Railway was a railroad in the U.S. state of Nevada, built primarily to provide rail access to a major copper producing area in White Pine County, Nevada...
. The railroad hauled copper ore concentrate
Copper extraction
Copper extraction techniques refers to the methods for obtaining copper from its ores. This conversion consists of a series of chemical, physical, and electrochemical processes. Methods have evolved and vary with country depending on the ore source, local environmental regulations, and other...
from BHP's concentrator at Riepetown to Shafter, Nevada. At Shafter the railroad interchanged
Interchange (freight rail)
In freight rail transport, interchange is the practice of railroads conveying freight cars from other companies over their lines...
with the Union Pacific and the ore continued to BHP's smelter at San Manuel, Arizona
San Manuel, Arizona
San Manuel is a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. The population was 4,375 at the 2000 census.San Manuel was built in 1953 as a company town to serve the then-new San Manuel copper mine, mill and smelter complex. The mine and smelter were permanently closed in...
. The railroad was owned by Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP), an Australian based company that purchased the Robinson copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mining district in Ely
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
from Magma Copper. The line ran south from a connection with the Union Pacific at Shafter to Ely.
Recent plans by Sierra Pacific Resources
Sierra Pacific Resources
NV Energy is an investor-owned holding company based in Las Vegas, Nevada.The company is a public utility which generates, transmits and distributes electric service in northern and southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas metropolitan area, and provides natural gas service in the Reno–Sparks...
for the construction of the "Ely Energy Center", a 2,500 megawatt coal-fired generating plant near Ely
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
, are raising the possibility that the railroad may see yet another revival, this time carrying inbound loads of coal to White Pine County.. Also, since it will be serving the same general area as the newly reopened copper mines, the copper companies may take advantage of the line being rebuilt too by once again hauling by train, if the line is ever reopened.
Locomotives
For road use the BHP used five former Southern Pacific Railroad EMD SD9EMD SD9
An EMD SD9 is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between January 1954 and June 1959. Power was provided by an EMD 567C 16-cylinder engine which generated . This model is, externally, similar to its predecessor, the SD7. The principal spotting feature are the...
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s built between 1954 - 1956 to operate over the line. They were numbered #201 - 205. For switching and local operations the railroad used two GE 70-ton
GE 70-ton switcher
The GE 70-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Electric between about 1942 and 1955. It is classified as a B-B type locomotive. The first series of "70 tonners" were a group of seven center cab locomotives built for the New York Central Railroad in November, 1942. These...
switcher
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
s from the Santa Maria Valley Railroad
Santa Maria Valley Railroad
The Santa Maria Valley Railroad is a 14.8 mile shortline railroad that interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad's Coast Line at Guadalupe, California. It is owned by the Coast Belle Rail Corporation.-Traffic:...
. The BHP also had one ALCO RS-3
ALCO RS-3
The ALCO RS-3 is a 1,600 hp , B-B road switcher railroad locomotive. It was manufactured by American Locomotive Company and Montreal Locomotive Works from May 1950 to August 1956, and 1,418 were produced — 1,265 for American railroads, 98 for Canadian railroads, 48 for Brazilian and 7...
. The switchers were also built in the 1950s and BHP numbered them #12 and #13.
Nevada Northern Railway Museum
Nevada Northern Railway Museum
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicate to the preservation of the railroad....
as part of a settlement over their track lease agreement.
A small portion of the BHP was operated over the Nevada Northern Railway Museum tracks with trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
between East Ely and Ruth. The line was abandoned in 1999 when copper mining was discontinued, however, in 2004, new copper mines were reopened, and this time hauled copper by truck. The disused line between Ely and Cobre was acquired by the city of Ely
Ely, Nevada
Ely is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
in 2006.
Route
Stations, listed from north to south:- Shafter, Nevada (connection with the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, former Western PacificWestern Pacific RailroadThe Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
) - 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 ElyEly, NevadaEly is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
- Ore Yard
- Calumet
- Tunnel 1
- Lane
- Keystone
- Lone Tree Road
- RuthRuth, NevadaRuth is a small town in White Pine County, Nevada, that was founded in 1903. It is a census-designated place, with a population in 2010 of 440.- History :Ruth began as a settlement for workers of the White Pine Copper Company in 1903...
- Sunshine
- Tripp Pit
- Riepetown