Re: NNG: Police Report filed after Ely City officials break into Nevada Northern RR offices

Hi,

I traveled through Ely in 1972 0r 1973 with my folks. I enjoyed the place but Mom was anxious to get to "The Biggest Little City".

I also am like Mom, we enjoy not only the wooded mountains but also the desserts.

However, I do acknowledge that most people do not see anything in the desserts or small towns.

I think these problems show that many people think "if you build it they will come" and that is not always true. As with the EBT, C&TS, and NN, these are out of the way places. The Silverton/Durango (D&RGW/D&S) was lucky enough to already have a draw nearby (Mesa Verde) and advertising has been going on a long time.

It can be overcome but it is not easy. To Draw Easterners interest, I recommended that the C&TS try to have something like "Wild West Days". Black Bart (I think) tried this for two years and it failed. But that is too short a time, I think, for Back East to get the word.

EBT might be able to set up an adjoining refactory museum for iron (I think) like was there was around 1900. A weekend of demonstration of moving simulated iron and coal from Broad Top Mountain to Orbisonia and demonstrations of how it became steel then it being shipped to Mt Union might be a good approach. It just depands on getting clear title of the property and buy in from the surrounding area.

If there are enough different thinks to see (like cleaning and sorting coal - EBT) then it might become a destination for many things including the EBT. Sort of like the Georgetown loop and its mine tour.

I recall riding the Sierra RR in 1970 and many passengers were very excited when they saw a working saw mill and the debarking machine that made logs look like a piece of corn on the cob.

For what its worth.

Doug vV