Memorial service for Dirt
ELY, Nev. – The Nevada Northern Railway’s beloved shop cat and mascot, Dirt, died January 10 at age 15. The railroad is planning to give him a big send off Memorial Day weekend. May 28 will see a full day of events to honor Dirt, including special tours and excursion trains. There will also be a eulogy at Dirt’s final resting place – a short walk from the East Ely Depot where he will be able to look out over the yard.
“In Dirt’s passing, he has transformed from being our Boss Shop Cat to becoming an ambassador for Heritage Railroading across the country and around the world,” NNRY President Mark Bassett told Fox 11 News in Reno. “We consider Dirt following in the paw prints of Smoky Bear. Smokey was a real bear cub that survived a forest fire. Since 1944 he has been a symbol of forest fire prevention, and we see Dirt, Boss Shop Cat, doing the same thing. Dirt will help us reach new people to explain why the preservation of our steam railroading heritage is so important and he will also be instrumental in helping us teach railroad safety to children.”
The railroad said there has been a worldwide outpouring of support and appreciation for the cat who was born in the main locomotive repair shop, under one of the steam locomotives. NNRY has hired a sculptor to create two life-size bronzes of Dirt. The statues will be made with some of the bronze from locomotive No. 93’s crown brass. One statue and a gravestone will sit at his burial place, near the East Ely Depot. The second will be displayed in the engine house where he was born.
Nevada Northern has set up a special account “Dollars for Dirt” to help preserve his legacy and care for his protege, DJ (Dirt Junior). To contribute click here.
For more on Dirt, see “The legacy of Dirt the railroad cat continues.”
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