Traveling Through Nebraska's Forgotten Paths: Fort McPherson Railroad
The Fort McPherson Railroad, established in the late 1800s, was a crucial transportation link connecting the Union Pacific Railroad mainline to the military outpost of Fort McPherson, situated near the city of North Platte in central Nebraska. Constructed in 1880 by the Union Pacific Railroad Company, the railroad line served as a vital supply route, facilitating the transportation of goods, troops, and military equipment to the remote fort.
During its operation, the Fort McPherson Railroad was approximately 8 miles in length, branching off from the main Union Pacific line near the present-day town of Maxwell, about 11 miles northwest of the North Platte city limits. This auxiliary line enabled the Union Pacific to cater to the logistical needs of the U.S. military at Fort McPherson, along with other nearby settlements. Notably, Fort McPherson itself was established in 1863 as a critical military outpost along the Oregon Trail, providing protection to travelers and supporting the U.S. Army's westward expansion efforts.
The Railroad's infrastructure included a unique setup at the Fort McPherson terminus, featuring a Y-junction that allowed for simultaneous arrival and departure of trains, enhancing operational efficiency. Additionally, the Fort McPherson Railroad line included sidings for freight handling and storage facilities. The site also accommodated U.S. Army-run facilities such as a locomotive roundhouse and crew quarters.
However, as the U.S. military reduced its presence at Fort McPherson in the late 1800s, the demand for rail service to the outpost decreased. Ultimately, the Fort McPherson Railroad ceased regular operations in 1889, with much of the line eventually being abandoned after final disuse. By 1911, segments of the railroad line had been formally decommissioned by the Union Pacific company.
Today, despite remnants of the Fort McPherson Railroad's former route still traversable by dedicated railroad historians and local enthusiasts, remnants of this long-forgotten piece of Nebraska history fade into the surrounding landscape near North Platte. The development of nearby highway US-30 further exacerbated this decline by supplanting earlier forms of long-distance transportation like railroads.
Considering its rich context within U.S. military and Nebraska history, however, efforts continue among preservationists to highlight the importance and evolution of this temporary crucial infrastructure.
Unrelated to the long-term abandonment but notable to the same physical location was the creation of an ever-present roadbed from much of the original rails that once marked railroad lines right-of-way - its footprint remains in evidence today.
The construction and historical presence of the Fort McPherson Railroad presents deep insights into nineteenth-century U.S. military expansion, regional development of infrastructure and lastly these key contributing aspects of Nebraska's history.
Overall, Fort McPherson Railroad offers a fascinating lens through which one can observe Nebraska in the late nineteenth century.
During its operation, the Fort McPherson Railroad was approximately 8 miles in length, branching off from the main Union Pacific line near the present-day town of Maxwell, about 11 miles northwest of the North Platte city limits. This auxiliary line enabled the Union Pacific to cater to the logistical needs of the U.S. military at Fort McPherson, along with other nearby settlements. Notably, Fort McPherson itself was established in 1863 as a critical military outpost along the Oregon Trail, providing protection to travelers and supporting the U.S. Army's westward expansion efforts.
The Railroad's infrastructure included a unique setup at the Fort McPherson terminus, featuring a Y-junction that allowed for simultaneous arrival and departure of trains, enhancing operational efficiency. Additionally, the Fort McPherson Railroad line included sidings for freight handling and storage facilities. The site also accommodated U.S. Army-run facilities such as a locomotive roundhouse and crew quarters.
However, as the U.S. military reduced its presence at Fort McPherson in the late 1800s, the demand for rail service to the outpost decreased. Ultimately, the Fort McPherson Railroad ceased regular operations in 1889, with much of the line eventually being abandoned after final disuse. By 1911, segments of the railroad line had been formally decommissioned by the Union Pacific company.
Today, despite remnants of the Fort McPherson Railroad's former route still traversable by dedicated railroad historians and local enthusiasts, remnants of this long-forgotten piece of Nebraska history fade into the surrounding landscape near North Platte. The development of nearby highway US-30 further exacerbated this decline by supplanting earlier forms of long-distance transportation like railroads.
Considering its rich context within U.S. military and Nebraska history, however, efforts continue among preservationists to highlight the importance and evolution of this temporary crucial infrastructure.
Unrelated to the long-term abandonment but notable to the same physical location was the creation of an ever-present roadbed from much of the original rails that once marked railroad lines right-of-way - its footprint remains in evidence today.
The construction and historical presence of the Fort McPherson Railroad presents deep insights into nineteenth-century U.S. military expansion, regional development of infrastructure and lastly these key contributing aspects of Nebraska's history.
Overall, Fort McPherson Railroad offers a fascinating lens through which one can observe Nebraska in the late nineteenth century.
