Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center

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Golden Spike Tower & Visitor Center A private, non-profit, educational, tourist attraction. The only observation tower overlooking the World's Largest Classification Rail Yard, Bailey Yard!
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Open 9:00am - 7:00pm (CST) Daily
Memorial Day thru Labor Day

Open 9:00am-5:00pm (CST) Daily
Labor Day thru Memorial Day

Closed Thanksgiving
Christmas
New Year's Eve/New Year's Day

Big Boy 4014’s Epic Journey Is Coming to the Screen!Get ready to relive the historic coast-to-coast journey of Union Pac...
07/09/2026

Big Boy 4014’s Epic Journey Is Coming to the Screen!

Get ready to relive the historic coast-to-coast journey of Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 in an exciting new documentary!

🎬 Premiere: Thursday, September 17
⏰ 1:00 PM CDT

And there’s even more reason to tune in… Union Pacific will make an exciting announcement regarding 4014 during the premiere!

The documentary will stream LIVE on Union Pacific’s official page and across their other social media channels.

Mark your calendar, grab your fellow railfans, and get ready to experience Big Boy’s incredible journey all over again!

OPEN THIS LABOR DAY!Looking for something to do this Labor Day? Come watch the trains!The forecast may be calling for mi...
07/09/2026

OPEN THIS LABOR DAY!

Looking for something to do this Labor Day? Come watch the trains!

The forecast may be calling for mid-90s and a good chance of rain, but that doesn’t mean your day has to be a washout. Whether you’re watching Bailey Yard from the observation decks, exploring the exhibits, or simply taking in the incredible view, The Golden Spike Tower is a great place to spend the day—rain or shine!

We’re open Labor Day! Come see what’s moving at Bailey Yard.

RAILROAD HISTORY: THE REAL McCOYYou’ve probably heard the phrase “the real McCoy.” But did you know it has a railroad co...
05/09/2026

RAILROAD HISTORY: THE REAL McCOY

You’ve probably heard the phrase “the real McCoy.” But did you know it has a railroad connection?

Elijah McCoy, a trained mechanical engineer, worked for the Michigan Central Railroad as a fireman and oilman. His job was to walk alongside moving trains and manually lubricate axles and bearings—a dangerous and demanding task.

McCoy developed an ingenious automatic lubricating cup that allowed machinery to oil itself while in motion. His invention made railroad operations safer, more efficient and less dependent on manual lubrication.

The device became so popular that others tried to copy it. But railroads wanted McCoy’s original invention—the “real McCoy.”

McCoy went on to patent more than 50 inventions during his lifetime.

A railroad innovation that became part of everyday language.

One Rail Car = 3–4 Truckloads of Freight!Here’s a train fact that puts things into perspective: one rail car can carry t...
04/09/2026

One Rail Car = 3–4 Truckloads of Freight!

Here’s a train fact that puts things into perspective: one rail car can carry the equivalent of three to four truckloads of freight.

That means a single train can move the same amount of freight as 300 trucks!

And the weight difference is just as impressive. A standard rail car can have a gross weight of up to 286,000 pounds, while heavy-axle rail cars can reach 315,000 pounds.

By comparison, the federal interstate limit for a truck is 80,000 pounds.

That’s a whole lot of freight… moving on rails!

More than a view—it's a journey through railroad history!Sharon H. shared this wonderful review after her visit:"I found...
04/09/2026

More than a view—it's a journey through railroad history!

Sharon H. shared this wonderful review after her visit:

"I found this place to be interesting and full of railway history. The employees and volunteers were helpful and knowledgeable."

We're proud to have a team of employees and volunteers who love sharing the stories behind the railroad and helping visitors get the most out of their experience.

Whether you're a lifelong railfan or simply curious about the history that shaped North Platte, there's something waiting for you at the Golden Spike Tower.

Come explore the history. See the yard. Hear the stories. Make some memories.

🚂 ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜᴇʀ sᴇᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɪʟʀᴏᴀᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ.🚂 We wanted to give a huge shout-out to everyone who submitt...
28/08/2026

🚂 ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜᴇʀ sᴇᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɪʟʀᴏᴀᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ.🚂

We wanted to give a huge shout-out to everyone who submitted a photo for our very first North Platte Rail Days: Railway Shots!

Thank you for sharing your time, creativity, and passion for photography with us. Each photo gave us a unique glimpse into the railroad, from trains and Bailey Yard to the little moments that make railroading so fascinating.

Starting something new is always exciting, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group of photographers to help us launch Railway Shots! We hope everyone who submitted a photo knows just how much we appreciate you sharing your work with us. Your photos helped make our first Railway Shots a success!

✨ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ᴡᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ? ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴀ sʜᴏᴜᴛ-ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏsᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇ! ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀʟʟ ᴏꜰ ᴏᴜʀ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜᴇʀs, ᴡᴇ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀs ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ɴᴏʀᴛʜ ᴘʟᴀᴛᴛᴇ ʀᴀɪʟ ᴅᴀʏs 2027, August 5-8: ʀᴀɪʟᴡᴀʏ sʜᴏᴛs! ✨

“Take a good camera.” We couldn’t agree more! Brian L. had been wanting to visit the Golden Spike Tower for years—and sa...
28/08/2026

“Take a good camera.” We couldn’t agree more!

Brian L. had been wanting to visit the Golden Spike Tower for years—and says he was very glad he finally did!

"A must-see for kids and train fans. The gift shop is exceptionally well stocked, and the historic displays provide valuable information. Take a good camera."

From the amazing views of Bailey Yard to fascinating railroad history and a gift shop full of great finds, there’s plenty to see, learn and photograph.

If the Golden Spike Tower has been sitting on your must-see list, maybe it’s time to check it off!

North Platte, Nebraska
Come for the trains. Stay for the experience.

🚂ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀsᴛᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ɴᴇʙʀᴀsᴋᴀ?🚂 Missed North Platte Rail Days 2026: Taste of Nebraska? No worries! There’s al...
27/08/2026

🚂ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀsᴛᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ɴᴇʙʀᴀsᴋᴀ?🚂

Missed North Platte Rail Days 2026: Taste of Nebraska? No worries! There’s always next year!

Join us for Taste of Nebraska 2027, August 5-8 at The Golden Spike Tower. Enjoy an evening filled with local Nebraska food, drinks, good conversations, and an amazing atmosphere, all while taking in the sights of Bailey Yard.

It’s the perfect way to spend an evening with friends, family, and fellow members of the community!

Mark your calendar for North Platte Rail Days 2027 and come hungry, thirsty, and ready for a great night!

✨ᴛᴀɢ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴅ ʙʀɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀsᴛᴇ ᴏꜰ ɴᴇʙʀᴀsᴋᴀ!✨

🚂ɢᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀs ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ, ʀᴀɪʟ ꜰᴀɴs!🚂 This year, North Platte Rail Days introduced its very first photography contest: Ra...
26/08/2026

🚂ɢᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀs ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ, ʀᴀɪʟ ꜰᴀɴs!🚂

This year, North Platte Rail Days introduced its very first photography contest: Railway Shots!

Do you love photography? Do you enjoy capturing beautiful trains, railroad scenes, and the incredible activity of Bailey Yard? Then Railway Shots is the contest for you!

We loved seeing the creativity and unique perspectives photographers brought to our first-ever contest, and we can’t wait to see what you capture next year!

Start planning your shots now and join us for North Platte Rail Days 2027, August 5-8: Railway Shots!

✨ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴀ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪs? ᴛᴀɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴀʀᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴘᴇʀꜰᴇᴄᴛ ʀᴀɪʟᴡᴀʏ sʜᴏᴛ!✨

🚂ꜰᴏᴏᴅ? ᴅʀɪɴᴋs? ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴀɪɴs?🚂 Now that’s a combination we can get behind! North Platte Rail Days 2026: Taste of Nebraska-B...
25/08/2026

🚂ꜰᴏᴏᴅ? ᴅʀɪɴᴋs? ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴀɪɴs?🚂

Now that’s a combination we can get behind!

North Platte Rail Days 2026: Taste of Nebraska-Business After Hours was a night to remember, and we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Golden Spike Tower!

Good food, refreshing drinks, great company, and trains rolling through Bailey Yard made for the perfect evening. But what we loved most was seeing our community come together, mingle, and enjoy a night out at the Tower.

Events like Taste of Nebraska are all about bringing people together, and we’re so glad you chose to spend the evening with us!

✨ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴏɪɴ ᴜs ꜰᴏʀ ᴛᴀsᴛᴇ ᴏꜰ ɴᴇʙʀᴀsᴋᴀ? ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ: ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏᴏᴅ, the music, ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀɪɴᴋs, ᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪɴs?✨

Address

NE

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 19:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 19:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 19:00
Thursday 09:00 - 19:00
Friday 09:00 - 19:00
Saturday 09:00 - 19:00
Sunday 09:00 - 19:00

Telephone

+13085329920

Website

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