THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH RAILROAD TIES 2013 SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013 E7 What’s a classification yard?

Telegraph staff reports According to Union Pacific, 1995 was the first year was recognized as being the world’s largest in the “Guinness Book of Records.” It’s so large that the 2,850- acre classification yard could hold 2,800 football fields. UP describes it as the economic

Sage Merritt / The North Platte Telegraph barometer of America. So what is a classification yard? The Golden Spike looms above Bailey Yard in this March A classification yard is used 2013 photo. The Spike hopes to host handcar races in time for Rail Fest this year. to separate railroad cars to one of many tracks. There are 114 “bowl” tracks in Bailey SPIKE Club are in the process Yard. of building the display, Each car is sent down a dif- from Page E6 which will hang in the ferent tract based on its desti- be made available as Spike Tower’s main nation. Each car is first taken File image the project progresses. hallway. to a , which is sometimes ladders and the speed of the Every day Bailey Yard han- Hoatson does want to “Ralph and Beverly called a lead or a drill. cars must also be regulated as dles about 10,000 cars and on retain some traditions Holzfaster of Paxton In a large hump yard like they roll down the hump. Be- the average about 3,000 of that revolved around donated the trains for Bailey Yard, the lead is put on fore the cars enter the classifi- those are sorted daily in the the corn maze, such as it last summer,” Hoat- a constructed hill known as a cation yard at Bailey Yard two hump yards. In 1966 to offering weekends full son said. “That’s what hump. The car is then sent they are sorted in the east- 1970 the eastbound hump yard of activities and a pet- started the whole proj- through a series of switches ward and westward “hump” and diesel shop were con- called a ladder, which then structed. The westbound ting zoo. ect. The club is hoping yards. The east hump crests at takes the car into the classifi- 34 feet and the west hump hump was dedicated in 1980. “The petting zoo was to have it put up by cation yard. Bailey Yard has a crests at 20.1 feet. Europe’s largest hump yard such a big event for Community Day May us,” Hoatson said. total of 985 switches. The There are 18 receiving is near , . 5. That’s the one day a force of gravity is used to help tracks and 16 departure It’s slightly smaller than Bai- “People loved it. If we year we open our doors can get some volun- propel the cars through the tracks at Bailey Yard. ley Yard. for free to anybody teers to help us, we’d like to put in a pump- who wants to come kin patch, too. It might out.” be something for a 4-H Those interested in To subscribe club to do.” helping with the new Also new this year at activities at the Spike call 532-6000 the Spike Tower will be Tower can contact a G Scale model rail- Hoatson at 532-9920 or way. Hoatson said email her at direc- members of the North tor@goldenspiketow- YOUR SOURCE since 1881 Platte Model Railroad er.com. www.nptelegraph.com

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