BHP Nevada Railroad
{{Short description|Defunct railroad in Nevada, United States}}{{Infobox rail | gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}|
railroad_name=BHP Nevada Railroad|
logo_filename=|
logo_size=|
old_gauge=|
marks=BHP|
locale=Northern Nevada Shafter – Ely|start_year=January 1996|end_year=July 9, 1999|hq_city=Ruth, Nevada|}}
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,{{cite web |title=National Register of Historic Places: Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/64f0709e-29f5-49bb-b774-80a6f49bdcef |publisher=United States Department of the Interior National Park Service |access-date=26 July 2021 |page=4 |date=29 July 1993}} 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.
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
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.{{cite book |last1=Bassett |first1=Mark S. |last2=Bassett |first2=J. Joan |title=Nevada Northern Railway |date=2011 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |location=Charleston, SC |isbn=9780738574752 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rghpVbIBhhcC&pg=PA27 |access-date=10 June 2019}}
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.
Former BHP Nevada #204 was part of a contest by the Nevada Northern Railway Museum to design a locomotive to celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial.{{cite web |url=https://railfan.com/nevada-northern-holding-contest-to-design-semiquincentennial-paint-scheme/ |title=Nevada Northern Holding Contest to Design Semiquincentennial Scheme |last=Franz |first=Justin |date=March 28, 2024 |website=railfan.com |publisher=White River Productions |access-date=September 26, 2024}} BHP Nevada #204 will be renumbered as #250 and repainted in the winning design for the 2026 celebrations.
Route
Stations, listed from north to south:
{{div col}}
- 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
{{div col end}}
See also
- List of defunct Nevada railroads
- White Knob Copper Electric Railway: a copper ore railway in Idaho
- Mansfeld Mining Railway: a copper ore railway in Germany
- Otavi Mining and Railway Company: a copper ore railway in Namibia
References
{{reflist}}
Other sources
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book | author=Robertson, Donald B.| title=Encyclopedia of Western Railroad History – The Desert States| location=Caldwell, ID | publisher=The Caxton Printers, Ltd. | year=1986| isbn=0-87004-305-6}}
- {{cite book | author=Walker, Mike| title=Steam Powered Video's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America - California and Nevada - Post Merger Ed.| location=Kent, United Kingdom | publisher=Steam Powered Publishing| year=1997| isbn=1-874745-08-0}}
- {{cite web|title=Nevada Northern & Railroads of White Pine County |work=BHP Nevada Railroad History |url=http://nn.railfan.net/bhphist/bhphist.htm |access-date=November 24, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050313170223/http://nn.railfan.net/bhphist/bhphist.htm |archive-date=March 13, 2005 }}
- {{cite web|title=Nevada Northern & Railroads of White Pine County |work=BHP Nevada Railroad Locomotive Roster |url=http://nn.railfan.net/bhproster/bhproster.html |access-date=November 24, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050411113620/http://nn.railfan.net/bhproster/bhproster.html |archive-date=April 11, 2005 }}
{{refend}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhp Nevada Railroad}}
Category:Defunct Nevada railroads
Category:Mining railways in the United States
Category:1996 establishments in Nevada
Category:1999 disestablishments in Nevada
Category:Railway companies established in 1996