Bailey Yard

The massive Union Pacific railroad classification yard - Bailey Yard - continues to be one of the most asked-about tourist attractions in and around North Platte.

The yard covers 2,850 acres, reaching a total length of eight miles. There's room enough for 3,097 football fields.

Every 24 hours, Bailey Yard handles 10,000 railroad cars, comprising approximately 135 trains. Of these, 3,000 are sorted daily in the yard's eastward and westward yards, nicknamed "hump" yards. The humps are a mound 34 feet high on the eastbound side and 20.1 feet high on the westbound side. These humps allow four cars each minute to roll gently into any of 114 "bowl" tracks where they become part of trains headed for dozens of destinations.

While there is no ideal way to see the railroad operations, there are a couple of options. Approximately 2.4 miles east of the Buffalo Bill Avenue/Front Street junction, there is a one story viewing platform that overlooks the west hump. This is open 24/7, and there is no charge.

Another option is the Buffalo Bill Avenue overpass itself. Parking is available at The Barn Store, a convenience store located on Front Street under the overpass. From there, you can walk to the south end of the overpass and walk up the pedestrian walkway. The walkway is on the west side of the street, and provides an interesting overview of the railroad yard.

Anyone wanting more information about viewing the operations at Bailey Yard can call the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-955-4528.

UPDATE: The old one-story viewing deck has been demolished, pending the construction of the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center, located at the corner of Homestead and Bailey Yard Roads. The tower will open in the spring of 2008. For now, you can observe the yard from the overpass at Buffalo Bill Avenue. See you all next spring for the opening of the Tower!