Video coverage of the Bailey railroad yard in North Platte Nebraska

[MP173]

Well worth spending the night in North Platte on the travel to Colorado and investing a couple of hours on the observation deck.

The gentleman who was our "guide" was a retired UP conductor who was just as entertaining and educational as the views from the 8th story ob deck.

Ed

[ChuckCobleigh]

Mookie

Dad was with us and explained the inside of the cab of the Big Boy to us. A lot less complex that I would have thought.

I had a similar impression in the cab of SP No. 4294 (cab forward 4-8-8-2 monster) at the California State Railroad Museum.  It all seemed pretty spartan, by comparison to what I've seen in other cabs.  An interesting "office" in which to work.

[csmith9474]

Yeah, we're working on the east hump upgrade right now, but I don't think it's going to do a lot to improve how fast the hump works. I will tell you after a full day working with those retarders screaming in your ears (even with hearing protection), we are certainly ready for a break from it.

[Mookie]

Chuck - We toured the park where the Challenger was - but it was alone as I remember.  They would turn on the headlight for a few hours at dark.  The Centennial - there was one in Omaha along with a Big Boy, before they moved them.  Dad was with us and explained the inside of the cab of the Big Boy to us. A lot less complex that I would have thought.   

[ChuckCobleigh]

Mookie

Put this on your bucket list!  It is so impressive in person.  I spent 5 hours there and still hated to leave.

Did you have time to see the Challenger and Centennial in town as well?

Sometimes it's interesting to check in the morning and see one of the bowls almost completely empty and then check back in the afternoon and see them nearly filled up.  I think they can do four or five cars a minute over the hump, if I remember the UP description somewhere.  It seems like they are close to that rate once in a while.

UP description of Bailey Yard.

Wikipedia entry.

[csmith9474]

Really sucks that Railfest is canceled. Hope they can find someone interested in taking that over.

[Mookie]

Put this on your bucket list!  It is so impressive in person.  I spent 5 hours there and still hated to leave.  

[Paul of Covington]

http://visitnorthplatte.com/live-bailey-yard-web-cam/

[junior yardmaster]

Recently I've discovered the UP railroad yard in North Platte Nebraska; you can access the video of the yard anytime.  The yard is 2850 acres, the largest yard in the US, according to the description on the website.  The cameral slowly pans across the main part of the yard, showing the Diesel repair facility and the engine washing facility.  The traffic through this yard is enormous.  In the distance you can see a humping yard in action.  To access the camera, simply punch up North Platte, Nebraska.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Junior Yardmaster