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Company
Union Pacific Railroad?s Bailey Yard
1249 North Homestead Rd, North Platte, NE 69101
Map Location Latitude: 41.1173406 Longitude: -100.8297073
Union Pacific Railroad?s Bailey Yard
1249 North Homestead Rd, North Platte, NE 69101
Map Location Latitude: 41.1173406 Longitude: -100.8297073
Description
The new Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center will allow you to see the massive Union Pacific Railroad?s Bailey Yard which is the largest railroad classification yard in the world! This massive space covers 2,850 acres, reaching a total length of eight miles.
Just imagine how you would handle 10,000 railroad cars every 24 hours. That is the job that is done by the Bailey Yard. 3,000 of these cars are sorted daily in the yard?s eastward and westwards yards, nicknamed "hump" yards. How do they possibly do that?? Well, using a mound cresting 35 feet for eastbound trains and 20/1 feet for those heading west, these two hump yards allow four cars a minute to roll gently into any of the 114 "bowl" tracks where they become part of trains headed to all the destinations.
The eighth floor observations deck of the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center gives you a panoramic view of all that is happening at the Yard. You reach the top of the tower by an elevator. When you arrive at the top you can use the coin-operated binoculars (or bring your own) while standing in the enclosed area to see all that is going on. The seventh floor observation deck is open to the air allowing you to hear the diesel engines roar and the box cars clan as they come together to make a new train on the bowl tracks.
The new Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center will allow you to see the massive Union Pacific Railroad?s Bailey Yard which is the largest railroad classification yard in the world! This massive space covers 2,850 acres, reaching a total length of eight miles.
Just imagine how you would handle 10,000 railroad cars every 24 hours. That is the job that is done by the Bailey Yard. 3,000 of these cars are sorted daily in the yard?s eastward and westwards yards, nicknamed "hump" yards. How do they possibly do that?? Well, using a mound cresting 35 feet for eastbound trains and 20/1 feet for those heading west, these two hump yards allow four cars a minute to roll gently into any of the 114 "bowl" tracks where they become part of trains headed to all the destinations.
The eighth floor observations deck of the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center gives you a panoramic view of all that is happening at the Yard. You reach the top of the tower by an elevator. When you arrive at the top you can use the coin-operated binoculars (or bring your own) while standing in the enclosed area to see all that is going on. The seventh floor observation deck is open to the air allowing you to hear the diesel engines roar and the box cars clan as they come together to make a new train on the bowl tracks.
Hours
The Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center offers guided public tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm.
The hours for the Tower are:
October 1 ? April 30
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 1pm-5pm
May 1 ? September 30
Mon-Sat 10am-7pm
Sun 1pm-7pm
Admission fees
Adults ? $6
Seniors ? $5
Groups (15 or more guests) ? $5
Students (6-16 yrs old) ? $4
Children under 6 ? free
The Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center offers guided public tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm.
The hours for the Tower are:
October 1 ? April 30
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 1pm-5pm
May 1 ? September 30
Mon-Sat 10am-7pm
Sun 1pm-7pm
Admission fees
Adults ? $6
Seniors ? $5
Groups (15 or more guests) ? $5
Students (6-16 yrs old) ? $4
Children under 6 ? free
For site problems or suggestions please use the contact form HERE