What is the largest rail yard in the United States?
Coal trains. NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- The Union Pacific's Bailey Yard is the world's largest rail yard. That means that every day, as many as 139 different trains roll through carrying about 14,000 rail cars. Bailey Yard covers 2,850 acres and eight total miles, and has long been key to UP's massive rail network, given its location central to...
How many trains pass through Bailey Yard every day?
That means that every day, as many as 139 different trains roll through carrying about 14,000 rail cars. Bailey Yard covers 2,850 acres and eight total miles, and has long been key to UP's massive rail network, given its location central to the company's major east-west and north-south corridors.
What are the different types of rail yards?
This article is a list of important rail yards in geographical order. These listed may be termed Classification, Freight, Marshalling, Shunting, or Switching yards, which are cultural terms generally meaning the same thing no matter which part of the world's railway traditions originated the term of art.
How many tracks does Union Pacific have in Bailey Yard?
Bailey Yard has 200 separate tracks totaling 315 miles (507 km) of track, 985 switches, 766 turnouts, and 17 receiving and 16 departure tracks. Union Pacific employs more than 2,600 people in North Platte, most of whom are responsible for the day-to-day operations of Bailey Yard.

Where is the world's largest marshalling yard?
North Platte, NebraskaBailey Yard is the world's largest railroad classification yard....Bailey YardLocationNorth Platte, Nebraska USACoordinates41.15°N 100.83°WOwned byUnion PacificConstruction11 more rows
How many miles of track are in a Bailey Yard?
315 milesPut end-to-end, Bailey Yard's 315 miles of track would reach from North Platte in western Nebraska east past Omaha on the Iowa border along the Missouri River. Every 24 hours, Bailey Yard handles 10,000 railroad cars.
What is BNSF largest rail yard?
Covering 2,850 acres and reaching a total length of eight miles, Union Pacific's Bailey Yard in North Platte, Neb.
Who is the largest railroad?
Deutsche BahnLargest Railroad Companies in the World by RevenueRankCompanyRevenue (USD billions)1Deutsche Bahn50.312Indian Railways28.83East Japan Railway Company27.14Union Pacific Railroad22.836 more rows•Aug 7, 2021
What is the biggest train yard in America?
Bailey YardUnion Pacific's Bailey Yard in North Platte, Nebraska is the largest railroad classification yard in the world. Named in honor of former Union Pacific President Edd H. Bailey, the massive yard covers 2,850 acres, reaching a total length of eight miles.
What is the largest railroad hub in the United States?
ChicagoChicago is North America's largest rail hub, and remains unsurpassed in the total number of passenger and freight trains that converge on any city on the continent. Chicago is a major hub for Amtrak, with 15 different lines terminating at the city's Union Station.
What is the largest CSX yard?
The company's 10 largest yards and terminals based on annual volume are: Waycross, Ga. Bedford Park Intermodal Terminal - Chicago, Ill. Nashville, Tenn.
Where is the highest railway in the US?
The Highest Railway in America Has Finally Reopened. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway now has modern amenities, but has kept all its the historic charm—and its heavenly views. When it comes to mountainside activities, Colorado has always been spoiled for choice.
Where are the longest trains in the world?
The Trans–Siberian Railway which connects Moscow with the Russian far east is still the world's longest direct rail route, running for 9,259 kilometers or 5,753 miles. The journey passes through the Ural Mountains, Siberia's birch forests and Lake Baikal, taking six days according to The Telegraph.
Who is the richest railroad?
Top 5 2020 RailroadsBNSF Railway – $29 Billion Revenue.Union Pacific Railroad – $19.53 Billion Revenue.Canadian National Railway – $10.9 Billion Revenue.CSX Transportation – $10.6 Billion Revenue.Norfolk Southern Railway – $9.79 Billion Revenue.Sources and Tools Used.
Does Bill Gates own a railroad?
Bill Gates sold about $940 million of Canadian National Railway Co. shares, trimming one of the largest holdings of the investment firm that controls his $117 billion personal fortune.
What city has the most railroads?
ChicagoMore major railroads serve Chicago than other U.S. city. Six out of the seven existing Class I Railroads in the U.S. – the largest and most profitable railroads – run through the Chicago area. “Chicago became a rail center as early as 1856,” said Jim Wrinn, editor of Trains Magazine.
Where are the longest trains in the world?
The Trans–Siberian Railway which connects Moscow with the Russian far east is still the world's longest direct rail route, running for 9,259 kilometers or 5,753 miles. The journey passes through the Ural Mountains, Siberia's birch forests and Lake Baikal, taking six days according to The Telegraph.
Do train engineers sleep on trains?
Two decades after federal officials identified fatigue as a top safety concern, the problem continues to haunt the railroad industry, especially the largest carriers responsible for moving the vast majority of the nation's rail-borne freight. “Engineers and conductors sleep on trains.
What is a hump yard?
Definition of hump yard : a railroad switch yard having a hump.
How many hump yards does BNSF have?
eight hump yardsBNSF has eight hump yards on its 32,500-mail rail network. TPC has been installed at all eight BNSF hump yards: Barstow, California; Galesburg, Illinois; Kansas City, Kansas; Lincoln, Nebraska; Memphis; Tennessee; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Pasco, Washington; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Notes
Names of the nearest cities etc. are presented in the common usage, and shown first followed by a colon, unless the specific yard name is known (which will be presented in the form native to their country. possibly transliterated)
Europe
Ireland: Within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland there are no notable marshalling yards still extant.
Asia
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (April 2021)
Africa
Kidatu, Tanzania – transhipment from 3 ft 6 in ( 1,067 mm) gauge to metre gauge.
What is the largest rail yard in the world?
In 1980 the 1948 hump yard was replaced with a new 50-track yard. In 1995, as a result of its massive size, the yard was recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest rail yard in the world. It was featured on the "Freight Trains" episode of Modern Marvels on The History Channel .
How many trains pass through Bailey Yard?
An average of 139 trains and over 14,000 railroad cars pass through Bailey Yard every day, and the yard sorts approximately 3,000 cars daily using the yard’s two humps. The eastbound hump is a 34-foot (10 m) tall mound and the westbound hump is 20 feet (6.1 m) high. These are used to sort four cars a minute into one of the 114 "bowl" tracks, ...
Why does Union Pacific describe Bailey Yard as an economic barometer of America?
The cars go through the car department to get fixed and the diesel locomotives go to the diesel shop. Because of the enormous amount of products that pass through Bailey Yard, Union Pacific describes the yard as an “economic barometer of America.”.
How big is Bailey Yard?
Facilities. Bailey Yard is halfway between Denver and Omaha. It covers a total expanse of 2,850 acres (4.45 sq mi; 11. 5 km 2) and is over 8 miles (13 km) in length and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide at its widest point, the facility's average width is about 1,000 yards wide.
Why did Buffalo Bill start Scouts Rest Ranch?
Buffalo Bill located Scouts Rest Ranch at North Platte because it allowed him to move his Wild West Show by train or by wagon across the United States relatively quickly.
How many tracks are there in the bowl train?
These are used to sort four cars a minute into one of the 114 "bowl" tracks, 49 tracks for the westbound trains and 65 for eastbound. The bowl tracks are used to form trains headed for destinations across North America, including the East, West and Gulf coasts of the United States, and Canadian and Mexican borders.
Where is the Bailey Yard located?
Owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP), Bailey Yard is located in North Platte, Nebraska. The yard is named after former Union Pacific president Edd H. Bailey.

Overview
Europe
• Ireland: Within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland there are no notable marshalling yards still extant.
North Wall yard in Dublin is used for loading per way materials trains and stabling unused stock. Also host a small wagon repair shop used to maintain ore and container wagons.
• UK (excluding Northern Ireland): British Railways undertook a major programme of investment i…
See also
• Rail transport
Notes
• Names of the nearest cities etc. are presented in the common usage, and shown first followed by a colon, unless the specific yard name is known (which will be presented in the form native to their country. possibly transliterated)
• If known, the number of tracks are shown in brackets, with two numbers e.g. (xx + xx) for yards with 'up' and 'down' lines.
North America
From west to east
• Nanaimo, British Columbia
• Vancouver, British Columbia
• Kamloops, British Columbia
• Golden, British Columbia
Asia
• India
• Indonesia
• China
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka
Africa
• Kidatu, Tanzania – transhipment from 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge to metre gauge.
• Dabuka, Zimbabwe
Oceania
• Enfield, NSW standard gauge
• Mile End, SA
• Keswick, SA
• Kewdale, WA standard gauge
• Forrestfield, WA
Overview
Bailey Yard is the world’s largest railroad classification yard. Employees sort, service and repair locomotives and cars headed all across North America. Owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP), Bailey Yard is located in North Platte, Nebraska. The yard is named after former Union Pacific president Edd H. Bailey.
History
North Platte was first platted as a railroad town by chief engineer Grenville Dodge. He chose the location because of the availability of good water nearby, and its distance from Grand Island, Nebraska. The town, first known as "Hell on Wheels", received its first train in 1866. Dodge then constructed major shop facilities and winter quarters for its crews. In 1867 it began conducting main line operations through the town. The early yard was a flat-switched yard with 20 tracks.
Facilities
Bailey Yard is halfway between Denver and Omaha. It covers a total expanse of 2,850 acres (4.45 sq mi; 11.5 km ) and is over 8 miles (13 km) in length and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide at its widest point; the facility is about 1,000 yards wide on average. Bailey Yard has 200 separate tracks totaling 315 miles (507 km) of track, 985 switches, 766 turnouts, and 17 receiving and 16 departure tracks. Union Pacific employs more than 2,600 people in North Platte, most of whom are responsible fo…
See also
• List of rail yards
Further reading
• McPhee, John (2006). Uncommon Carriers. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. pp. 206–210. ISBN 978-0-374-28039-0.
External links
• Official website
• Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center