Official: North Platte Golden Spike tower

[Brad]

Are you familiar with these unusual looking 'switcher' engines?   I have looked around the web and can't find any pictures.

Was it this:

[Stargazer]

No... they don't even have a cab.  The first time I saw one I thought it was a flat bed car rolling along (that's how short they are).  It was kind of freaky watching them move around.

[Brad]

a Slug:

A railroad slug is an accessory to a diesel-electric locomotive. It has trucks with traction motors but is unable to move about under its own power, as it does not contain a prime mover to produce electricity. Instead, it is connected to a locomotive, called the mother, which provides current to operate the traction motors.

Slugs are used in situations where high tractive effort is more important than extra power, such as switching operations in yards. At low speeds, a diesel-electric locomotive's prime mover can produce more electric power than its traction motors can use. Extra power would simply cause the wheels to slip and/or overheat the traction motors. A slug effectively adds axles to the locomotive, increasing both the pulling and braking power. Slugs carry ballast to increase their weight and improve traction. Large blocks of concrete are frequently used for this purpose, substituting for the weight of the now-absent diesel engine(s).

Slugs can be built new or converted from existing locomotives. Conversion has enjoyed popularity as a way to reuse otherwise obsolete engines.

[Stargazer]

Ah yes... that's it!  Thanks Brad.

But that description contradicts what I was seeing.  These 'slugs' were moving entirely under their own power!?

[Brad]

I will have to look around.  When I do is use UP's roster:

http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/attachments/locorost.pdf

Then search for images on Google.  There is too many switch locomotives to do that now, but later tonight I can find it.

That definition is probably old, its from wickipedia.

[Stargazer]

I guess I saw them moving... but perhaps not pulling anything.  I suppose they can move under their own power just to get hooked up to it's 'mother'.   At any rate... I had never seen these before.

I really enjoy going to Bailey Yard.  When I was a single parent, I took my (then) 4 year old son out there... it was dark when we arrived at the observation stand, so there wasn't much for my son to see, but then this big diesel came around that curve under the 'hump'...it's lights illuminating us... as it straightened up, the first thing we could see was the engineer waving at us.. and my son waved back.  Funny, kind of choked me up a little.

Sorry to hijack the thread!

[Brad]

I guess I saw them moving... but perhaps not pulling anything.  I suppose they can move under their own power just to get hooked up to it's 'mother'.   At any rate... I had never seen these before.

I really enjoy going to Bailey Yard.  When I was a single parent, I took my (then) 4 year old son out there... it was dark when we arrived at the observation stand, so there wasn't much for my son to see, but then this big diesel came around that curve under the 'hump'...it's lights illuminating us... as it straightened up, the first thing we could see was the engineer waving at us.. and my son waved back.  Funny, kind of choked me up a little.

Sorry to hijack the thread!

Sounds like me when I was a kid.  My aunt lived on the BN Mainline in Hastings.  I would play out in the backyard all day and watch those trains go by.  When I was a kid a saw a few BN slugs, sometimes it was literally an old locomotive with the cab cut off.  I have never seen a UP one in person.

So is there an observation tower now while the golden spike tower is being build?

[Stargazer]

The observation 'stand' has been there for years.  I haven't been there since they started building the new tower... so I don't know if it's in the same location or not.  Looking at the map from their website... I was thinking that old observation stand was located a little further to the west.  You can actually see the curve going under the 'hump', which I was referring to earlier, just north of the pond adjacent W Front Rd.  Just to the east of that pond is about where I would have guessed the old observation stand was.  

I would estimate where they're showing the golden spike tower location... is close to where the engine shops is.

I actually took some video last time I was there... I guess I should upload it to youtube.

[Brad]

North Platte to host first-ever "Rail Fest" celebration

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10131346

NORTH PLATTE - A visit by the last steam engine built for the Union Pacific, No. 844, plus train rides and tours of the world's largest rail year will highlight a first-ever "Rail Fest" celebration Sept. 21-23 in this Nebraska railroading center.

One of the organizers said he hopes the celebration becomes to railroad buffs what the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D., is to bikers.

[Brad]

Here is some of what you should see at Railfest:

[Coyote]

Golden Spike Tower and Visitors Center:



Due to open in the Spring of 2008!

[Brad]

Awesome!

Do they have a website?

[Coyote]

Golden Spike Tower

[Erik]

How much money was spent on that?

[Brad]

How much money was spent on that?

correct me if I am wrong, but the reason it has taken so long is because its all private money.

[Coyote]

And they had to cut it back several times. The original design was much better.

[edsas]

How much money was spent on that?

Who cares?  The point was to give rail fanatics from all over the US an overhead view of North America's largest rail yard. They're not coming to see the tower.

[Erik]

How much money was spent on that?

Who cares?  The point was to give rail fanatics from all over the US an overhead view of North America's largest rail yard. They're not coming to see the tower.

I see, for some reason I was thinking the tower was built to 'draw' people to it.  My bad, I now understand its purpose  :;):

[Brad]

Thought I would just give an update on this.  The Golden Spike has been completed... I haven't been back to see it yet, but I believe it would provide the platform you guys needed to take some good pics!

http://video.nptelegraph.com/Golden_Spike.html

Thanks for the video!  I am there SOON!!!

[Coyote]

Supply, Diesel Shop, Sand & Fuel Tower, East Bound Bowl Tracks




Sand Tower, Fuel Tower, East Bound Hump & Bowl Tracks




East Bound Bowl Tracks




3 Through Tracks (Blue Coal Cars) - West Bound Hump (in the middle of pic)




West Side Bowl Tracks




Superintendents Building

[Brad]

Cool, at least it was sunny when you were there!

[StreetsOfOmaha]

Shouldn't it be golden...? Or look a bit more like a railroad spike? As is it pretty much looks like an airport control tower.

[Coyote]

The original tower was much better. They had to cut back due to costs. Locals were against this and tried to recall the city council. It sort of looks like a spike.

[Brad]

North Platte's Golden Spike Tower loses about $47,000 in 2013

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140224/N ... 00-in-2013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;