ABOVE: The diesel shop at Bailey Yard handles 700 locomotives each month. Everything from simple inspections to heavy repairs is performed here.
LEFT: The Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center provides a panoramic view of Bailey Yard. The eighth floor enclosed observation area is 95 feet high.
through (the building is known as the “crack house” among UP employees). Every unit coal train is cycled through the building at least once per dozen or so round trips.
Railfanning North Platte
One thing is for certain — you’ll see a lot of trains when you visit North
Platte. Obviously, the yard is off-limits to visitors, so you’ll have to confine your viewing to the Golden Spike Tower. The East Hump is readily viewable and shootable from West Front Street. Just follow Homestead Road south from the Golden Spike Tower, turn west on West Front and the road will curve right up to the hump.
While you might think that the Buffalo Bill Avenue bridge over the east throat of the yard might be a good photo location, it is hampered by fencing. The sidewalk is on the west side, though, and gives a good view of the “crack house.” The Willow Street bridge downtown also has a sidewalk on the west side, but once again there is fencing in the way. Poplar Street’s sidewalk is on the east side, but once again there is fencing. The most interesting view might be from the U.S. 83 bridge right in the middle of town, with the sidewalk on the east side facing the downtown grain silos. Fencing thwarts again here. Also, the railroad is well-fenced all the way through downtown. A small step ladder may be your friend in North Platte. However, we’re in the heart of Lincoln Highway country here, the second most famous highway in the country. And U.S. Route 30 (as it’s officially numbered) provides one of the best
37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74