Has anyone been to North Platte lately? And if so, does the UP still make it possible to view the operation of their yards??
allen
Well, I read in TRAINS magazine that North Platte Yard is going to get a 15 story OBSERVATION DECK for us railfans to watch the action.
HAVE FUN (When it is completed)
Andy
They’ve been talking about that deck for a while, haven’t seen anything new on it lately, I’m not sure if they’re still going ahead with that project.
As of last summer when we were out there, the “Golden Spike Tower” (the proposed 15 story observation tower) is a DEAD DUCK. This info was from a most helpful UP employee. There is a wooden, about one-story, covered observation platform near the west end of Bailey Yard where you can observe the eastbound hump operation.
That’s about all there is.
GIVE ME A BREAK. SINCE WHEN DID THE RAILROADS GIVE A HOOT ABOUT US RAILFANS. PLEASE…WHAT EVER.
We have been to North Platte at least three times in as many years. Every time we have gone to the “Visitor’s Center” at the west end of Bailey Yard which actually seems to be be growing more run down every year. I have also heard the discussion of the Gold Spike Tower which for all intents and purposes now seems largely a myth. I sure wi***hey would build some sort of facility more accomodating to railfans.
Spend money to build you guys a railfanning facility??? I’d rather see us spend some money for upkeep of the right of way. Replacing some of the junk that we have for equipment would be nice.
The railfan facility would also add to safety.
I’m not old enough to know, but I’d venture to guess (please do correct me if I"m wrong) that before the railfan park in Rochelle, IL was built, many railfans got way to close to the tracks. Now, however, 99% of the railfans there stay in the shelter, well away from danger.
The same concept would work at Baily. If the railfans have a specific place to go in order to take good pictures (and even socialize with other railfans) they’re less likely to go and put themselves and others in danger.
The UP was not financing the Golden Spike Tower. The city of North Platte approved a 1% hotel tax to pay for it. The tower would have been a revenue-generator for the North Platte tourism industry. But some avowed winer brought a lawsuit against the city. The delay in construction owing to this was pretty much a deal breaker. There’s still a chance, but a slim one.
Do you have any links to a story about this? I’m curious as to why anyone would sue about a platform for the yard??[?]
Isn’t that a bit harsh on the railroad that maintains not one, but two mammoth steam locomotives and endeavors to run them quite a bit all over the western US?
I still don’t understand the seemingly absolute hatred of the UP by a good percentage of railfans. Yes, I know that they took over some favorite roads. So did BNSF. So did CSX. So did NS. And quite honestly, if I had to get hot about this, the focus of my disdain in this respect would have to be CN. They’ve wiped out quite a few operations that I liked. It’s just part of the business, though.
Maybe it’s the whole modeling trademark rights thing. OK…it’s their right to defend their trademarks as they see fit. When you pony up the ca***o buy the trademark rights, you can allow those trademarks to be used how ever you like.
As long as the UP keeps 3985 and 844 running, I’m a UP fan. As long as the UP workers I meet are as friendly as they have been (and at least to me, UP workers are among the most friendly I’ve come across), I’m a UP fan. As long as the UP runs Yellow locos in neat places I’m a UP fan.
Just my [2c] of course.
What the heck are you talking about? DID YOU NOT READ THE FREAKIN ARTCLE?!
IF YOU DIDN’T THEN QUIT ASSUMING STUFF, AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA ON THIS ISSUE SO UNLESS YOU CAN HELP STAY THE HECK OUT! THIS FORUM IS TO HELP OTHERS “QUESTIONS” AND NOT BE STUPID AND POST UNESSESARY THINGS! DUH!
I work at the North Platte diesel shop.
The Golden Spike Tower was deemed to be too costly so a more realistic design was planned. By the time it came out, people had lost interest and with almost 1 million dollars spent and nothing to show for it, locals started smelling a rat. I dont know if anything will ever be built but I know the current obsevation deck never did give a really good view of anything other than the east hump anyway.
The pedestrian walkway on the Buffalo St. overpass gives a pretty good view of the yard but not the hump.
such hostility, such meanness, cant we all just get along
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFrailfan
This post contributed absolutely nothing to our forum, Allan. In the future, keep your strong views of the UP to yourself. It’s very tiresome.
Bergie