Scott -
Bravo on the photos - makes me nostalgic for my visit there in 2005.
I've been a fan/member/supporter of NN since doing the "Engine Rental" on that trip. With the regular engineer at your shoulder, you operate the loco over the whole line. It's a rare treat that all steam fans should partake. We did it in #40 at that time.
Speaking with Mark Bassett he said that, on balance, the remote Ely location is a blessing and a curse. If Ely where not way off the beaten path, the huge railroad plant may not have been so well preserved (i.e., left unchanged) for so long after shut down. There might have been pressure to dismantle a potential public safety hazard, or to use the land for something else. It's a curse now obviously because it's hard to attract riders and volunteers.
These folks are passionate about what they are doing, and seem to work miracles, so deserve our tangible support.
Bob of AZ