Hi group, I am bring my 84 year old dad to the US in September to visit North Platte. We arrive in LA on the 11th September & will be visiting in Missouri from around the 22nd till we return on the 25th. He is a former railway guard here (30 years ago). I would like to take him to visit railroad related exhibitions, model, live steam etc on the west coast before we head to North Platte and I am looking for suggestions. Travel arrangements are flexible as I have driven on other occasions whilst visiting Central & East Coast, so we can fly/drive. My email address is brad@donovanelectrical.com.au. Thank you for you suggestions in advance, Brad Donovan.
Travel Town in Los Angeles
http://traveltown.org/
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
http://www.sdmodelrailroadm.com/
Pacific Southwest Railray Museum in Campo, CA (miles east of San Diego)
http://www.sdrm.org/
Fillmore and Western in Fillmore (northwest of Los Angeles, west of Santa Clarita)
http://www.fwry.com/
Sierra Railroad in Oakdale, CA (several miles east-southeast of San Francisco)
http://www.sierrarailroad.com/dinnertrain/
Railtown 1897 in Jamestown, CA (northeast of Oakdale) http://www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org/railtown/default.asp
California State Rail Museum in Sacramento
http://www.csrmf.org/
Sacramento River Train
http://www.sacramentorivertrain.com/
Skunk Train in Fort Bragg, CA (several miles north of San Francisco)
http://www.skunktrain.com/
If you are looking for a model railroad shop, I recommend Railroad Hobbies in Roseville, CA (a suburb of Sacramento). The large (but much smaller than North Platte, Nebraska) Roseville yard is nearby.
http://www.home.surewest.net/rrhobbies/
Other places to consider are Tehachapi Loop, Cajon Pass, and the Pepper Street overpass at the West Colton, CA yard.
North Platte is in the process of completing a new observation tower, and it should be open well before your travel time frame. However, I question that you will be able to see enough of the entire yard to make it worth using some of your limited time in the states. In terms of travel time, North Platte is remote; the nearest large airports are Denver (270 miles away) or Omaha (280 miles away). That means taking 2 or 3 days of your trip just for North Platte.
If it were my choice, it has already been pointed out that California is very rich in interesting railroad activities, and I would use the time out there.
By the way, welcome to the States!
The recommendations made so far are good ones. Just be sure to keep your father’s traveling needs your primary consideration (my wife and I have mothers who are that age or close to it, and neither of them travels very far any more).
Should you use Omaha as a flight base for North Platte and Missouri, be sure and drive via U.S. 30 (as opposed to Interstate 80) between Grand Island and North Platte. It runs parallel to UP’s main line, one of the busiest you’ll see anywhere.
If you need a day to just take things easy in California, I’d recommend the platform of the station in Fullerton–there are usually some local railfans around to explain things if you need it, or to ignore if you don’t. And plenty of BNSF, UP, Amtrak, and LA Metrolink action.
If you getto visit the east coast, be sure to go to the Horsehoe Curve outside of Altoona, Pa. Famous Pennsylvania Railroad spot. Has a viewing area with picinic benches and a lot of action. Very busy spot.
Hi, thanks for the info, North Platte is having an open day on that weekend, hence the visit. There is some great information recieved and will take on board. Brad
Brad, I’m not certain that I understood your meaning about the North Platte “open day”. Does that mean that the UP is having an open house of their facility and will offer tours, etc of the property; or does it mean that the City of North Platte and/or the new observation tower is hosting some kind of a event? Perhaps the meaning was neither, maybe just that the observation tower will be open that weekend?
Hi Dakguy201, I have attached details and a link as to the event. It was held for the first time last year, sounds interesting. Brad
September 19 through 21
An Original Town Event
Planned events include tours of locomotives on display locally (1903 Baldwin UP #480 Steam Locomotive, 1943 UP #3977 Challenger Steam Locomotive, 1969 UP #6922 Diesel Locomotive), Interactive Locomotive Simulator, Graffiti Contest, Live Music, tour of Mid-Plains College Railroad Technology Center and lots more.
For more information contact Dave Harrold, 534-3648
www.NPRailFest.com
Brad:
If coming into Denver* and driving the 3+ hours up to North Platte via I-76, consider:
(1) Colorado RR Museum - Golden (http://www.crrm.org/)
(2) Union Pacific (DRGW) North Yard - before it goes away
(3) BNSF Globeville Yard & DRIR Stockyards (possibly Forney Museum and anothe UP Big Boy as well…http://www.forneymuseum.org/)
(4) Union Pacific Burnham Shops and RTD 8th Street Shop nearby + DUT
(5) Utah Junction
(6) Sterling, CO
(6) Grant, Nebraska (NKCR - HQ)
(*) Providing the town isn’t a smoking ruin after the political convention in the last two weeks of August.