Yup, off for more work travel. If I was more in to modern railroading this would be great. But, I'm not.
I did see the UP Museum in Council Bluffs, so that's on the list. Any good hobby shops there, or across the river in Omaha? Or anyone know of other things around there - WWII stuff, any sort of other transportation museums, etc?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The Union Pacific Museum is immaculate and very interesting, but no railroad equipment is on display. There are all kinds of interesting things to see like telegraphs, cutaway railroad axles, and coupler demostrations, but you will not see any locomotives or really neat stuff.
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As you cross the river into Nebraska, there is a great display on the right with a DD40X and a Big Boy. I could not find a way to get close enough to it to take a picture.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Caveat for what's below: it's been a number of years since I've been to Omaha.
The Durham Museum in Omaha is in the former art deco style Union Station (nicely restored). It's a regional history museum, with information on UP and other rail themes (including some equipment; look at the list of "permanent exhibits" on their website).
Air & military material is on display at the Strategic Air Command museum southwest of Omaha (maybe 30 minutes drive). It's large, with aircraft, etc., from late WWII era to recent past. Nearby Offutt Air Base was headquarters for SAC (until disbanded in the 1990s). (Tidbit: _supposedly_ in cold war era conflict scenario planning, even though some scenarios envisioned places like Washington DC, New York, etc., escaping a nuclear attack, due to SAC headquarters being a prime target no scenario envisioned the survival of Omaha (or so people told me).)
We didn't get to visit because it is only open Friday to Sunday but it looks interesting. Rails West Museum in Council Bluffs.
Randy, looking forward to hearing of your upcoming trip and you can post updates on this thread.
Knowing of you for many years, I'm sure your pics will be of interesting scenes and RR items - unlike some who insist on putting themselves front and center in every posted picture...............
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
EngineGuyA good hobby shop in Omaha is "House of Trains".
I missed that one. When we were there the floods were awful, and it was difficult to get around the area.
I'm usually by myself, so no way to get pictures of me, plus no one wants to see that, trust me.
I have tons of pictures from Colorado, only 2 real train-related things, Georgetown Loop and the Colorado Railroad Museum (rode the Goose), but since they are all full res photos and videos I usually just post that stuff to my Facebook.
There was a small railroad museum in Shreveport I have pics of too, when I was there. The water works was fascinating, steam driven pumps that ran into the 1980's.
House of Trains in Omaha on Maple St about 81st St is the best hobby shop.
The Durham Museum in the old UP Union Station has several railroad as well as Omaha history exhibits.
The 10th St Overpass behind the museum is a good train watching location, it crosses both the UP and BNSF.
In Ashland there is the Strategic Air Command Museum, two huge hangers chock full of restored aircraft. Over on Hwy 6 in Ashland, a few miles to the north is a junction on the BNSF that is very busy.
Also the Omaha Zoo railroad has two steam engines, both 30" guage, a replica of the UP 119 and an Austrian 0-6-2T from the late 1800's.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
SeeYou190As you cross the river into Nebraska, there is a great display on the right with a DD40X and a Big Boy. I could not find a way to get close enough to it to take a picture.
To get close to the UP 6900 and 4023 get off I-80 and the 13th St exit and go north 2 blocks to Bancroft St. Turn right (east, the only way you can turn) and go several blocks to the Lauritzen Gardens & Kenefick park (there are signs). The locos are there and you can get right up close to them.
I'll echo other posters here.
The Durham Museum (the old UP station) is a great example of an art deco station.
The SAC museum is only 15 minutes out of Omaha, and is worth the trip.
York1 John
Also, if you're interested in flora, fauna, geology, birding, etc., the Loess Hills of the Missouri River valley, just north of Omaha/Council Bluffs, are notable. Just google Iowa's loess hills and DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge (headquarters near Missouri Valley, Iowa). I'm not a birder, but I've met birders who travel from all over North America to go there (in migration season). (And check the refuge's website first; spring floods might have altered current visitor options.)
mobilman44 Randy, looking forward to hearing of your upcoming trip and you can post updates on this thread. Knowing of you for many years, I'm sure your pics will be of interesting scenes and RR items - unlike some who insist on putting themselves front and center in every posted picture...............
Rich
Alton Junction