bhpnevada.html

BHP Nevada Railroad Company

A brief history: 1996-1999

By 1991, Magma Copper Company had acquired all mining rights in the Robinson District and was building a new mill and concentrator on the former site of Riepetown, with the principal intent of resuming copper mining in the district. In anticipation of the renewed mining operations, the Northern Nevada Railroad Corporation had been formed to lease and operate the railroad operations. Magma was purchased by Australian based, multi-national Broken Hill Proprietary, Ltd. (BHP) in January 1996. In June of that year, BHP Nevada Railroad obtained all of the Northern Nevada Railroad Corp. assets. BHP Nevada Railroad operated ore trains between their concentrator at Riepetown and the interchange with the Union Pacific Railroad at Shafter in Elko County. The concentrate was then routed via the UP to their smelter in San Manuel, AZ. On 25 June 1999 BHP ceased their Robinson mining operations. The last ore shipment by railroad left the Riepetown facility on 9 July. In 2000, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum obtained the former BHP Nevada Railroad motive power, rolling stock, and assorted equipment as part of a settlement of their track lease contract.

In November 2000, the Colorado, Kansas, and Pacific RR purchased a portion of the former BHP Nevada Railroad motive power from the Museum. SD9's 202, 203, and 205 were moved to the Union Pacific Railroad interchange at Shafter, Nevada for shipment.

BHP Nevada Railroad Overview Headquarters Ruth, Nevada Reporting mark BHP Locale Northern Nevada Shafter - Ely Dates of operation January 1996-July 9, 1999

Technical

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, 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. Nevada Northern Railway Museum 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. Route Stations, listed from north to south: 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 Riepetown is a ghost town in White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Riepetown is located on former State Route 485, 3 miles southwest of its junction with U.S. Route 50; 5 miles northwest of Ely.