I’m planing a trip to vist North Platte NB, I would like to know if any one can give info on were to stay and vist places on the the mainline. Info about the area will be great also.
Also when is the best time togo spring,summer,fall or winter.
Thanks
Gene
I can’t recall any hotels or motels that are trackside along U.S. 30 from Grand Island to North Platte–but many cities have a choice of places to stay. Oh–and stick to 30, instead of using 80, if you’re going for the trains.
Any idea what your route(s) east of Nebraska will be? I’m making the assumption that you’re driving–perhaps I’m wrong about that.
Give us more information about your trip, and I’m sure plenty of folks will have an idea of what you could, or should, see.
As for seasons, I’d nominate spring or fall, just to avoid the temperature extremes. (Pat and I will be making a similar trip in the spring, but we’ve got a little experience between here and there already.)
The postal abreviation for Nebraska is NE. NB Is New Brunswick Canada.
I was in Nebraska and North Platte the last 2 Thanksgiving days. Many trains. I’ve been there in April and it was just slow because of a derailment in the coal fields and a big major snowstorm in Wyoming also. To me, anytime is the best time to go out there.
As for the hotels, outside Kearney along Hwy 30, there is nothing. There’s a motel in Lexington but I spent most of my time awake waiting for someone to break into the room. To me, it wasn’t safe. People walking by the windows at all hours of the night and morning. There is a cool walking bridge over the tracks there tho, that kinda made up for it. You can see multiple trains for miles coming at you.
Written before, stick to Hwy 30 for viewing trains and Int 80 for hotels. Speed limit on Hwy 30 is 60mph and most trains do not come close to that. When pacing trains, vehicle traffic will catch up to you in a hurry so beware of that (not a lot of traffic on the hwy IMHO). Just move over and let them pass and go back to pacing.
Heres a few videos from the trips I made out there to wet your lips…lol:
Last year Pacing 2 westbounds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf3pJot8C5I&feature=related
This year, sitting at Buttermilk Curve 18 trains in 2 hours 12 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jyk8ebZ6Nc
From this year also. Pacing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXnPNHjynUE&feature=channel
Enjoy and safe travels
Paul
We were in North Platte two years ago. My advice would be to stay in the eastern end of Nebraska - either Lincoln or Omaha for an overnite and then travel to NP during the daylight hours. It is roughly 4 hours from Lincoln and plenty of small towns for gas and food and train watching.
North Platte is a good sized town and offers several very nice places to stay - one even with a Starbucks practically at your door. Will tell you that if you need gas, don’t wait for your tank to get to almost empty - fill up in the town part. As you get away from town, it may be difficult to find a gas station. Lots of neighborhoods don’t have convenience stores close by.
They also have an Archimedes Screw at a water facility west of town. A must see!
Spring/fall is ok - fall probably a little better. Spring is tornado season and NP area does get its share. We have calving season in about March and it always brings blizzards. Fall is pretty quiet - up until about Oct 1st.
Summer is hot, but the humidity is a lot lower in western NE than it is in the east.
I recommend a visit there. It is an interesting “small” town.
Mookie
Gene, my wife and I have spent a night in North Platte several different times. A variety of motels and restaurants are around the I-80 exit and going into North Platte, from low end to mid range. Just be aware that they fill quickly with travelers, esp in the summer or bad weather. I suggest you have reservations or arrive by 7pm to ensure a room. At the very least have some phone numbers and call ahead if you are traveling late. Bailey yard is north and west of town, there are no services around the yard area, take water etc. with you. The visitors “tower” is at the west end of the yard, near the hump. This is a great place to watch trains and meet others doing the same thing. Also a good place to watch the sunset.
There is a road that parallels the yard on the south side, which goes around the diesel shops and loco service area. A good place to get loco shots. Be aware that some side roads are marked UP property, and in some areas UP is particular. I have never had a problem in the area, but be alert and ready to move on if asked.
There is also a UP steam engine and short train on display in a park north of the tracks and east of the yard. Just follow the main road north through town, you will see the ball fields, turn east.
Summer is not a bad time, it cools off in the evening and the long hours of sunlight permit viewing late into the evening hours. Thunderstorms can roll up quickly, esp late in the afternoon.
Spend a litte time with Google Maps, North Platte is one area they have good coverage.
Doug Harding
My wife and I stayed in the Hampton Inn in North Platte, NE on our return trip from Rapid City and Mt Rushmore to Kansas City. The Hampton Inn is located in the south side of the city near I - 80, and its lobby has drawings and photos of Union Pacific power.
Cody Park on the north side of the city has a display of a Union Pacific 6900 class DD40, a Challenger, and a small station.
I agree the best route for chasing trains is US 30 between North Platte and Grand Island. By the way Grand Island is well worth a stopover in that BNSF crosses over the Union Pacific at the east end of the city. A viewing platform is planned for the BNSF-Union Pacific crossing. The Stuhr Museum, on the west end of Grand Island, has an extensive exhibit of pioneer life in Nebraska in addition to a small railroad exhibit.
Don’t forget that the “Golden Spike Tower” at Bailey Yard is now finished and open for business. See the following link:
I didn’t catch which direction you will be coming in from, but if coming from the east, here would be my suggested agenda:
Omaha, NE - As you cross the Missouri river from Iowa and look up at the river bluffs, you will be greeted by a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy and DD40X on display at the Kenefick Park. You can also stop at the Durham Museum located in the old Union Station in downtown.
Continuing west on I-80, stop in Lincoln, NE and drive by the BNSF Havelock Shops. If you are into model trains, Grand Central Limited is just a few blocks from Havelock Shops (O & HO, some N). Stop in downtown and tour the restored Burlington Depot.
In Grand Island, NE, the old Burlington Depot was restored by the local Historical Society, and a model train club operates a layout in the attached baggage building. Also in Grand Island is the elevated mainline BNSF tracks that cross over the UP mainline. It used to be a diamond, but modern coal trains put an end to that! On the east side of Grand Island is the CTX (??) plant where they make concrete railroad ties.Diverting from US-30/I-80, take Hwy 2 northwest out of GI and head to Ravenna, NE. Ravenna is a crew layover point for the BNSF. Stop and have breakfast (24/7) at the Dew Drop Inn with the crews!From Ravenna, drop straight sout
I forgot one thing - avoid coming to North Platte during Nebraskland Days (June 11-21, 2009), unless you are into Rodeo. Not that it’s a bad event, just hard to get a motel room and even harder to get a decent rate!
thanks for all the help.
I’ll be flying in from NC and will be stoping at the locations that were sugested.
Thanks agian, Gene
Either way have a great time, and see plenty of trains. Although from what I understand out that way its impossible not to.