To go along with all of Earl's comments on the Nevada Northern. Don't just expect to go there for one day and see it all. I had the priviledge of spending 5 days in Ely last month while Earl was working there. With his directions on where to go and what to see, I got to see only part of what is there that is worth seeing. Actually wandering through the shops and taking in all that there is to see there, takes most of a day by itself. Going to down town Ely and taking in the ambiance of the old mining town and the White Pine County museum (where the 81 and 93 used to be) takes a good part of a day. Going up to the mine at Ruth and seeing the railroad up beyond Keystone, again worth the time. Catching the train going up to Keystone and especially the tunnel from US 50 is great photography. The company town of McGill (home of the smelter) is an experience in itself and the railroad has recently begun to restore the depot there as well as move some of their archives the engineering building for the smelter. Someday, the railroad will be rehabbed all the way to McGill which will be an entirely different ride than the one to Keystone.
Oh, and I forgot the most important part. Everyone, paid staff, management, and volunteers on the railroad are simply friendly, great to visit with (if you respect the fact that they are very busy) and extremely helpful.
You cannot wander in and out and around almost anywhere else like it was 1950, but it still is 1950 in East Ely.