(The following story by Diane Wetzel appeared on The North Platte Telegraph website on February 13.)
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — As the home of Union Pacific Bailey Yard, the world’s largest switching yard and the world’s busiest railroad tracks in the world, it makes good sense to officially acknowledge the importance of railroad culture to the area, and a local community group has done just that.
In 2006, Original Town members Ken and Connie Bible were enjoying their usual Sunday morning cup of coffee when they came up with the idea of a festival as a way of raising money for the organization and give recognition to Union Pacific employees. In 2007, the first Rail Fest Celebration brought railroad buffs to town from all over the country.
“There must be something in the coffee,” said Dave Harrold, chairman of Original Town Association and the annual Rail Fest celebration. “Because it was at Sunday morning coffee they came up with the idea to identify North Platte as a center for rail industry enthusiasts.”
The Nebraska Secretary of State has registered “Rail Town USA” as North Platte’s service mark.
“Look at what we have here,” Harrold said. “We have a regional health center, the community college, and the Union Pacific.”
From Original Town’s point of view, North Platte is Rail Town USA, Harrold said.
“There’s a world of interest in the railroad out there,” Harrold said.
That interest is reflected in the growing number of inquiries from all over the world.
A dozen members of the Great Freight Rail Society in the United has made reservations at a local hotel for the upcoming Rail Fest in September, Harrold said.
“They want to tour Bailey Yard, visit the Golden Spike Tower and Visitors Center and see the U.P. training program at North Platte Community College,” Harrold said. “I think North Platte is Rail Town USA.”
The designation helps create a citywide identity that the entire community can build on and benefit from, Harrold said.