We stopped @ The Golden Spike Tower of The Union Pacific Bailey Train Yard in N.Platte, Nebraska. The Bailey Yard made The Guinness World Book for being the largest train yard. There is an open air observation deck as well as an enclosed (8stories up) deck to take photos(360 view). They also have a live webcam showing all the train yard activity. YOU MUST LOVE TRAINS for this stop!
If you haven't been to North Platte the Union Pacific Railroad is the main business. I had the opportunity to tour the facilities and was very impressed with the immense size of the yard and what the employees do there. Many of the functions are automated or remote controlled but there are plenty of old fashioned hard working men and women that make it all happen 24/7/365. The railroad is alive and well in North Platte. If you have any interest in trains or railroads in general this would be worth the experience.
If You love trains U have to go to the Golden Spike Tower at The Bailey Yard. 8 floors high gives a great Panoramic view of the entire place, the Largest train yard in the world. Usually is a guide upstairs to answer all your questions, and even though I know a lot about trains he was very interesting and knowlegeable. Dont Miss this attraction.
You have to drive around city streets to get where you are going, then you get to the golden spike tower. It is a small fee but it rises you up high enough to see the train yards and absolutely amaze you with all the trains you got to stop if you are in the area or passing by on the freeway.
Visited this on a swing through Colorado, western Nebraska, and South Dakota. Great place for a railroad enthusiast. And even if you are not, the views from golden Spike Tower and docent explanations would likely be of interest to most anyone with even a small bit of interest in how trains are broken up and re-directed for ultimate destinations. Its an amazing operation with the sheer size and technology
There is a small historical museum of the Union Pacific RR but the main attraction is the observation tower. From the tower you can observe the workings of a huge railroad yard. There was a retired RR employee available to answer questions. He was very helpful and added much to the visit.
This is the worlds largest railroad yard. There is a visitors center that is easy to access. There is a tower shaped like a railroad spike that you can go up in and see the rail classification yard at work. Busiest corridor in the united states right there.
The UPRR supported my family and my husband's family for decades. How nice it was to go up into this tower years later and get a panoramic view of the world's largest train yard. An employee was there to answer questions. Nice gift shop.
I'm not what you would call a real train nut, but since I'm in the area on a contract we decided to swing by. I was awed by the whole thing. On the seventh floor observation deck was a umm tour guide, railroad expert, retired banker volunteer named Don whose son is an engineer for Union Pacific. Don did such a great job of answering our questions and explaining the mysteries of how the world's largest rail-yard works. I am so impressed and intrigued that I am hoping to make it Railfest my vacation destination next year. Thank you Union Pacific and thank you Don.
The Bailey Yard sits just behind the Golden Sjpike Tower and Visitor Center in North Platte, and you can get a great bird's eye view from the panoramic observation deck. We were just passing through ... I'm really glad we didn't pass it by!!