UP Steam Shops-Open to the Public?

Lasted time I checked the shops were closed to the public expect for certain events.

I was just there earlier this week. Closed to the public but you can get a reasonably decent view of the buildings from the Cheyenne station. You can also see some equipment, but no steam engines, from the highway overpass behind the steam shops and to the left of the station. As of earlier this week, the ABA set of E units was out front of the shop. 

Thats what I thought but wasn't sure. I may still head that way though. All options open at this point in the northern half of the US.

 

Pete

If you've never been there, you might be impressed by the Golden Spike Tower in North Platte, NE. Fantastic view of the UP yards.

 

Also noteworthy: Dunham Museum in former Omaha Union Station and the Rails West Museum across the river in council Bluffs, IA.

 

 

Very close to the Golden Spike Tower in North Platte is Cody Park, a local city park. There is a small station with deploys and outside a reefer, caboose, RPO, baggage car and DD40 diesel and Challenger. All cars are open and you can go in the engine cabs. 

 

 

Great stuff guys. Looks like North Platte is well worth a stop. Thank you.

 

Pete

Council Bluffs Ia, has the heritage museum for UP.  Last trip there there was a nice cab simulator playing a cab ride down the Feather River. Well worth the stop.

Norton:  if you are driving, be sure to drive through Wyoming, Nebraska and Iowa on U.S. Highway 30, the former Lincoln HIghway.  It is nearly as quick as driving on Interstate 80 but much more interesting.  You get to see all of the interesting towns along the way, watch for Lincoln Highway markers and historical sites AND you will be within sight of the Union Pacific" original and main line.  It is about the heaviest duty railroad that I have ever seen with trains running one right after the other.  It's not unusual for one 100+ car train to go past when you can already see the headlights of the next one.

 

And of course you have close access to the golden Spike tower in North Platte giving you a tremendous view of the largest railroad yard in the world.  These are sights that will impress not only railfans but anyone that stops to view and learn about the places.

 

Paul Fischer

Paul, I am with you. We prefer to travel the two laners vs the interstates. We did US 30 from around just south of Pocatello to Little America. Most of the route has been along the Oregon Trail which the UP seems to follow.

Now in Cheyenne and plan to see the museum in the morning. As luck would have it the motel clerk suggested the Albany restaurant across the street from the Station/Museum and we caught a glimse of the turntable and what I assume is part of the old roundhouse.

I guess I will find out how close we can get to the equipment near the roundhouse.

Cody Park is in the GPS for tomorrow too.

 

Pete

Don't forget Big boy 4023 in Omaha, NE at the Lauritzen Gardens right next to I80. Best looking big boy by far. WRRC did an amazing job restoring it cosmetically a few years back. Well worth checking out. Also across in Council Bluffs is the other UP FEF1 #814.