Golden Spike Tower

Anyone who’s ever loved the railroad or has been interested in trains, will instantly understand why the Golden Spike Tower gets Buffalo Bill’s Buffalo of Approval. The Golden Spike Tower offers the best view of the world’s largest railyard, Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard.  Approximately 20,000 railcars are sorted and sent on to their next destination every 24-hours. It also includes multimedia exhibits on the history of the railroad, the orphan trains, and the North Platte WWII Canteen.  The real treasure, however, are the volunteers.

You will be sure to be greeted by friendly staff and volunteers, many of which once worked for Union Pacific on Bailey Yard.  They’re always ready to enlighten visitors about the logistics and choreography that occurs on a day-to-day basis at Bailey Yard. Visitors will find that these volunteers are excited to share all they know about the railroad and how it affects the big picture of getting raw materials and consumer goods where they need to go. This is no small task either, it’s been said that you can get a pretty good picture of how the entire U.S. economy is doing by paying attention to Bailey Yard due to the sheer quantity of freight that is shipped through.

Between the exhibits, the volunteers, and the gift shop, it’s no wonder that the Golden Spike Tower gets Buffalo Bill’s coveted Buffalo of approval. So, next time you are coming through North Platte, make sure to take time to stop at the Golden Spike Tower.