NORTH PLATTE,GRAND ISLAND,GIBBON,NE.

North Platte is the site of Bailey Yard, supposedly the world's largest.

http://www.visitnorthplatte.com/GoldenSpikeTower.cfm 

If you're a first-time visitor to North Platte, you should go up to the Golden Spike Tower to get an overview of the yard. There are docents up there who can answer questions, and the views are pretty decent.

My favorite railfanning spot in North Platte is right downtown, in the vicinity of the overpass that carries the main north-south street over the tracks. I'm not a photographer, so keep in mind that I just want to watch trains. (Also, there's a quilt shop right there, if your spouse is into that sort of thing, as is mine.)

Grand Island: best spot is where you can view the BNSF's flyover, with the UP main line beneath. Again, I'm not a photographer, so I can't vouch for the accessibility of the good angles (the site itself is pretty open, but I don't know what's private around there).

Gibbon: nothing there.

I think what I'm trying to say is that you may not be able to get good photographic angles at Gibbon, or at the junction. If you want to experience things, though, just stay on U.S. 30 anywhere between Grand Island and North Platte. You'll see one mighty busy railroad, really moving the freight. If you see a headlight anywhere, be ready to set up quickly--you'll probably not catch that train again! The main line is three tracks west of Gibbon, two tracks to the east. Kearny is the best on-line town for amenities between the other two.

I assume you're going to Nebraska from Chicagoland. If so, I'd strongly recommend Fremont as another good place to stop. The lines from Iowa (CNW) and Omaha converge here, and crews often change at the yard office. Nice downtown right near the best train-watching, and you'll see as many UP trains here as you would in Grand Island. The BNSF also goes through town.

Kearney nebraska is just 12 or so miles west of Gibbon, Central Ave  the main drag crosses the triple track and if you are on the south side of the main where the former Burlington depot use the be , You can see about three miles in each direction. Pmenty of places to stay and eat Larry 

If he's wandering around out there, he ought to be aware of all the first and second generation motive power now employed as switching power for the Ag businesses along UP (SW-1's, S-1's, GP-7's, CF7's on up to a Belt Railway and BN SD40-2)...

I was out there last fall for the umpteenth time.  US 30 pretty much parallels the UP mainline from North Platte to Gibbon.  Odds are you will never be out of sight of a train headlight except for some short areas west of Kearney.  Train frequency is 150 or more trains per day.  That's an average of a train every 10 minutes.

There is a very picturesque S curve about 10 miles east of North Platte with the road raised up a little above track level.  Lots of chance to get a double stack or coal train leaning around the corners.

The trains move fast.  There is no chance of chasing them and little chance to catch up, even with a 65 MPH speed limit on US 30.  You are best off to just find a spot and watch the parade go by.  When you get tired, move on to the next one.

Downtown Kearney has a parking lot right next to the tracks.  Good spot.

The BNSF crossover at Grand Island is great.  It's on the east end of town.  You can drive up close to it on public streets and alleys from the southwest quadrant.

With the CTC in place and double track, there is surprisingly little radio chatter out on the main.

The little towns all have an overpass and lots of place to park by the tracks.

Golden Spike Tower at North Platte is great and well worth the cost of admission.  It's about 8 stories tall above the yard, right adjacent to it on the south side.  There is an enclosed area with a 360 degree view along with an open deck facing the yard.

South Morrell junction, where the coal main joins up, is about 10 miles west of North Platte on US 30 with a public gravel road running right through the junction.

The east entrance / exit of Bailey yard is very visible from public streets on the south side.

As someone mentioned, every grain elevator and ethanol plant now seems to have their own power ranging from trackmobiles to SD 40's.  Most have a very colorful paint scheme.

Be very careful at grade crossings.  The frequency and speed of the trains, along with the welded rail, makes it easy to overlook a train coming from the direction opposite the one you are looking at.

I went to GI & Gibbons in 05 which was naturally before the crash. Gibbons at that time was trains it seemed every minute. GI the BNSF was busy but the UPRR was down due to a tornado the nite before.  

 

 

 

 

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GRAND ISLAND:  All the recommendations made above are good ones, but one is overlooked.  On the west side of the BNSF fill and high bridge and about three blocks north of the U.P. mainline is the old Burlington Route passenger station building.  I think there may be a model railroad club layout inside.

GRAND ISLAND:  Uncle Ed's Steakhouse, 2624 S. Locust St.  Open for lunch and dinner.  Reasonably priced and OUTSTANDING food.  The best restaurant I've found between Lincoln, Nebr. and Denver.  Closed Sundays.

WOOD RIVER:  Ginny's Cafe along U.S. 30 makes a wicked Spanish omelette.  Dirt cheap prices too.  Lot's of "local color" inside drinking coffee and kibbitzing.

KEARNEY:  Driving westwards along U.S. 30 into town, you'll encounter a curved highway overpass.  Instead of continuing on U.S. 30 make an easy left onto Railroad Ave., a street that parallels the U.P. mainline for about 5-miles.  When the pavement runs out turn northwards and eventually you'll hook-up with U.S. 30 again. 

South of the mainline fairly close to downtown is a pioneer museum of sorts, one which has several railroad-related items on display.  Consult the AAA Guidebook for the address. 

KEARNEY:  It's a college town, so you'll find a nice variety of restaurants there.  My favorite is the Alley Rose, downtown.

COZAD:  The historic passenger station building is now a downtown community center.  One of U.P.'s classic "cadillac crummies" is on display and the "100th Meridian" sign near the depot makes a nice framing device for taking railroad pictures.  When the building was moved a short distance north and placed on a new foundation, the contractor spun it around 180-degrees.  The bay window where the telegrapher sat now faces U.S. 30 instead of the tracks. 

NORTH PLATTE:  Driving westwards along U.S. 30 into town, you'll pass the airport, some backwaters of the Platte River system, and then you'll come to a major intersection.  At that intersection, the traffic sign for U.S. 30 points north.  Don't make that right turn.  Instead continue west into town.  After passing a park with a U.P. Consolidation on display look for Tabor St.  Turn right onto Tabor, go north about 3-blocks, and when the road runs out turn west.  You're now on Front St. which parallels the south side of The Overland Route.  Continue west into downtown.  That same street will take you all the way out to the Bailey Yard visitor's tower. 

NORTH PLATTE:  At the northeast corner of U.S. 83 and I-80 is the Whiskey Creek Steakhouse.  At the northwest corner of the same intersection (just north of Perkins) is the North Platte Canteen restaurant.  Both places serve good, reasonably-priced food, and the latter has many large b.& w. photos of U.P. operations around North Platte circa WW2.  If you're a "caffeine fiend," Starbucks is close by.

From this intersection, if you look south/southeast you'll see what looks like a white watertank.  That structure is actually a surge tank connected to the penstock that feeds the North Platte hydroelectric plant.  The plant is accessible by car.  If you present yourself as a responsible adult, the operator may let you inside and give you a tour. 

The Lincoln County Museum located on the far northwest side of greater North Platte features an old time prarie village and has a room devoted to the WW2 era "North Platte Canteen."  Lots of photos and dozens of letters written by servicemen who were passing through town on troop trains enroute to the European and Pacific theaters of war.

Drive U.S. 83 north of downtown North Platte and on the east side of the street is Cody Park.  At the southeast corner of the Park is a static railroad display featuring a DD40Ax, UP 3977 (Challenger), a baggage car, an R.P.O., a caboose, and an old country railroad station.  That too is a nice photospot. 

NORTH PLATTE:  After you visit the Bailey Yard visitor's tower you can continue west on the paved county road.  About three-to-five miles west of the tower the road turns north and it will take you to the Birdwood crossing.  The crossing has gates and flashers alright, but the likelihood of you being able to drive across that 6 (or is it 8) track crossing is nearly impossible.  It's a pretty good place to watch trains, but the gates there are seldom up long enough to let any vehicles through.

Have fun as you watch what may be the ultimate in big time U.S. railroading.  But be careful, be aware of your surroundings at all times, and don't get hurt.

As Bob F. mentioned above, Cody Park on the north side of North Platte has a nice display of UP equipment.  The equipment and depot are open to visitors (? hours).  Highlights: