North Platte Railfest

We have just received the first draft of information concerning the first-ever RailFest in North Platte, scheduled for September 21 through 23 2007. It is billed as “railroad appreciation days for railfans and employees".

North Platte is certainly the right place to hold railroad appreciation days. Home to the largest railroad classification yard in the world, Union Pacific Bailey Yard, North Platte is definitely a railroad town! The statistics are sometimes conflicting, because the yard is constantly expanding, but it is estimated that more than 3,000 men and women work at Bailey Yard, it covers 2,850 acres and switches 10,000 rail cars daily. The main rail line through North Platte is the busiest rail freight corridor in the nation, with more than 135 trains operating over the line every 24 hours.

The goals for the RailFest include recognition the contributions made by the rail industry and its employees to the past, present and future development of North Platte, show support for members of our existing railroad family and extend a welcome to new members relocating to North Platte from other cities and states, and create an interactive festival for railroad and steam engine enthusiasts and employees from across the United States.

Some of the festivities already being planned are
NebraskaLand Bank Pancake Feed
Tours of locomotives on display locally:
Tours of the 1903 Baldwin UP #480 Steam Locomotive
Tours of the 1943 UP #3977 “Challenger” Steam Locomotive
Tours of the 1969 UP #6922, the world’s largest diesel locomotive

Interactive Locomotive Simulator
The Radio Shack
Literary Guild speakers and authors
Graffiti Contest
Harley Owners Group Motorcycle Rally & Show
Gold Wing Owner’s Group Motorcycle Rally & Show
Haz-Mat Seminars
Live Music in the Pavilion
Union Pacific Railroad Choral
Women of Railroading Fashion Show and Luncheon
Tours of Mid-Plains College Railroad Technology Center
Railroad Equipment Manufacturers booths
Railroad Art and Collectibles Vendors
Games for children and families
Food vendors and carnival rides.

If you love railroading, either the big stuff or models, you are going to find something to enjoy at the first-ever RailFest in North Platte.

You can get more information on the festivities by contacting the North Platte Original Town Association, 1021 North Jeffers, PO Box 1704, North Platte, NE 69103. Phone: 308-534-3648, Fax: 308-534-6175, e-mail railfest@nque.com.

You can get the scoop on everything going on in North Platte by contacting the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-955-4528 or visiting the CVB website at www.VisitNorthPlatte.com.

Sandhill Crane Migration

Even though the North Platte area is still shivering under an unusual deep freeze, the first calls of the annual Sandhill Crane migration can be heard overhead. Each year, from mid-February through mid-April, a half a million Sandhill Cranes stop over in the Platte River valley to feed and rest on their way to their nesting grounds in the North.

Information from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: An individual crane spends about 29 days along the Platte. During that time, it will deposit up to a pound of fat, which provides the energy necessary to complete the migration and initiate nesting. About 90 percent of their diet consists of corn while the remaining 10 percent is made up of invertebrates such as earthworms, snails, and insect larvae. It has been estimated that the cranes consume nearly 1,600 tons of corn during their stay.

At dusk, the cranes gather along the broad, shallow reaches of the Platte to roost for the night. They prefer to stand in water about six inches deep, taking on the configuration of submerged sandbars.

At dawn, the cranes leave the river and head into the fields to feed. They usually range within five miles of the river. The cornfields provide cranes with a source of energy, while meadows and alfalfa fields provide essential proteins and minerals. They also serve an important social function as loafing and courtship areas.

The "dance" of the Sandhill Crane is well known. Pairs engage in elaborate bowing displays with outstretched wings and leap high into the air. Often, a corncob or stick is picked up and thrown upward repeatedly.

At midday when the sun is shining, look for soaring "kettles" of cranes over the river valley. These groups appear as wisps of smoke from a distance. The birds are testing the thermals and keeping their flight muscles toned for the journey that lies ahead.

Thousands of these birds can be seen within a short drive from North Platte. The North Platte Convention and Visitors Bureau can provide a circle tour driving map that will allow you to get up-close and personal with these majestic birds. There is a viewing blind available at Buffalo Bill State Historical Park. Visit the CVB website at www.visitnorthplatte.com or call (308) 532-4729 for more information.