The upper level of my two-level layout is all narrow gauge, depicting a portion of the former Denver & Rio Grande Western’s Fourth Division line in southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
Union Pacific's Overland Route
Union Pacific’s original main line, the Overland Route, was part of America’s first transcontinental railroad. Today this remains one of the nation’s most used freight line, carrying coal, containers and other types of goods.
Rawlins, Wyoming
Why Rawlins and where is Rawlins? It’s a small town in south central Wyoming, 150 miles west of Cheyenne, but it’s a fuel stop for trains on the Overland Route. I discovered this when we stopped for the night, on the way to Yellowstone NP.
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Buford, Wyoming (Sherman Hill)
Buford, a few miles west of Cheyenne and hardly more than a gas station and a convenience store, was an unscheduled stop on the way to Yellowstone. However, I was able to photograph a few freights from the parking area in July 2006 as they made their way to and from the crest of Sherman Hill, about a mile and another 100 ft. of elevation to the west. Both locations were named after Union generals of the Civil War.
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North Platte, Nebraska
North Platte, Nebraska, on the Union Pacific’s Overland Route, is famous for Bailey Yard, the world’s largest hump yard, according to the UP. It is a bit overwhelming to see, and a little difficult to get close to. My visit in 2001 was very brief. Today, there is the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center from which one can take in the immensity of it all.
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