Bailey Yard

A tour of bailey yard is the ultimate railfan experience. An opportunity to see the scale and the efficiencies involved in processing over 150 trains and 10,000 railcars a day. There is only one place in the world this happens, and it’s Bailey Yard.

The focus of the tours is the men and women who make it work. Blending technology with physical skills, safety and education. Few people realize the amount of freight that moves through Bailey Yard, and consequently, the tremendous amount of goods and equipment that must be maintained and transported to keep America growing.

Just as important, the Union Pacific employees get a chance to show off what they do, and demonstrate why their work it is so critical in keeping our country moving.

In a somewhat interactive environment, the visitor gets to become a ‘part of’ the world’s largest rail operation. This is a rare opportunity to experience a view from within rather than afar.

Measuring about eight miles long and up to three miles wide, Union Pacific Bailey Yard is considered the largest railroad distribution yard in the world. The tours will allow railroad enthusiasts and visitors from near and far to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of this modern marvel — many for the first time.

Sites to be included in the bus tour would be the east and west humps, the east and west run-throughs, the diesel shop, the power lead overpass, and the the one-spot car repair facility. In addition, could also include a demonstration of how a crew changes the wheels on a railroad car and how a car is set back on the track after a derailment.

The Bailey Yard tour could include a demonstration of a mantis crane that will pick up a derailed car and set it back on the track and also demonstrate how wheels can be changed on a new “in-train” system in the yard that doesn’t require the cars to be separated from the train for the repair.

The Bailey Yard bus tours would depart from the Cody Park Pool parking lot on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Based on the tremendous interest at last year’s event, it may be anticipated that more will want to go on the tours than practicality will accommodate. As a result, many might be served by having appropriate departmental displays located within Cody Park.