Golden Spike Tower at Bailey Yard
North Platte, NE, is the location of the largest railroad yard in the world: Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard. In order to take advantage of railroad fans’ interest in this, Union Pacific has erected the Golden Spike Tower, an eight story observation deck overlooking the yard which, for a fee, allows guests to look over this huge railroad yard and watch the activity going on there.
Union Pacific also supplies a railroad man who can answer most of your questions regarding Bailey Yard, Union Pacific Railroad, and the people and equipment there.
The fee that I paid to get in the tower was $7.00. After I paid the fee I took the elevator to the eighth floor viewing deck.
Bailey Yard north view
Bailey Yard west view
The closest part of the yard is the locomotive servicing facilities to the west of the tower. Scanning on around toward the north one sees the eastbound hump yard at some distance, followed by the west bound hump yard at a closer distance as we scan directly to the north.
The eighth floor is completely glassed in, but an open deck is provided on the seventh floor for cameras with automatic focus which would be fooled by the glass. There are also displays on the ground floor as well as the eighth floor which would be of interest to railroad buffs.
The Golden Spike Tower is not on a main thoroughfare. From I-80 or coming from the north, south, or east, take US 83 into North Platte and turn west on the road just south of the railroad bridge. You will need to follow this four or five miles along the southern perimeter of the yard.
You will have no problem identifying the tower when you get out there. Coming from the west on US 30, turn south on a rather obscure country road that takes off between two corn fields about four miles east of Hershey. This is the last road that crosses the tracks going into Bailey Yard from the west.
Bear left after crossing the tracks along the perimeter of the yard. Again you will have no trouble identifying the Golden Spike Tower as you approach. It is worth the trouble to find it and climb it.
Your main problem will be finding an opportunity to talk to the UP trainman in the tower as he will be busy with a lot of people. But if you get that opportunity, you will be able to have a most enjoyable conversation with him regarding Bailey Yard in particular and railroad things in general.
--Dale
Comments