Cody Park Railroad Museum in North Platte, Nebraska

Oct 19

North Platte, Nebraska · Updated October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Outdoor rail parkFreeRailroad museum open seasonally; Cody Park open year-round

The Cody Park Railroad Museum displays Union Pacific 3977, the only Challenger 3900 series steam locomotive on public display in the world, alongside diesel 6922, a restored depot and rail cars filled with railroad memorabilia, all free to visit.

Union Pacific Challenger 3977
Diesel locomotive 6922
Climb into the engineer's cab
Free admission
Open seasonally

Cody Park Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours: Seasonal; check with Cody Park at (308) 535-6719 before you go
Admission: Free
Train rides: Cody Park's carousel and miniature train run seasonally; prices not posted
Plan for: About 30 minutes to an hour for the rail display
Best for: Families with young kids and steam fans
Best ages: Ages 3 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Contact and directions

Follow Cody Park Railroad Museum

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Cody Park Railroad Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to North Platte.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A Challenger comes to rest in North Platte's favorite park

North Platte is a railroad town, and its biggest city park keeps one of the railroad's giants close to home. The Cody Park Railroad Museum is the setting for Union Pacific 3977, the only Challenger 3900 series steam locomotive on public display anywhere in the world. Beside it stands Union Pacific diesel 6922, along with a restored railroad depot, several rail cars and a caboose.

The museum is part of Cody Park, a public park along the North Platte River that is open all year, while the railroad museum, rides, concession stand and pool open seasonally. Admission to both the park and the railroad museum is free. The museum does not keep its own website, so check with the park or Visit North Platte for the current season and hours before you go.

From the Challenger's cab to the caboose

Start at 3977, where you can climb up into the cab for the engineer's view. Then walk through a line of old rail cars, including a mail car and a caboose, filled with railroad memorabilia from the years when trains were how most Americans traveled. Diesel 6922 and the restored depot round out the display.

Don’t miss

Union Pacific Challenger 3977The only 3900 series Challenger steam locomotive on public display in the world, and you can climb into its cab.
Union Pacific diesel 6922A diesel locomotive displayed beside the steam engine, showing the change that ended the steam era.
The mail car and cabooseWalk-through cars packed with railroad memorabilia.

Climb the engine, then ride the carousel

This is a stop built for hands-on kids: they can climb into the Challenger's cab, then walk through the mail car and caboose. Cody Park itself adds a historic 1913 carousel, a miniature train, a small animal enclosure, playgrounds and a seasonal pool, so it is easy to turn a quick locomotive visit into an afternoon. Climbing into a steam locomotive cab means steep steps, so little ones will need a hand.

Plan your visit: tips for Cody Park Railroad Museum

The railroad museum, rides and pool are seasonal, so call ahead outside summer.
Admission is free, which makes it an easy add-on to a North Platte rail day.
Help small children on the steep steps into the locomotive cab.
Pack a picnic; the park has playgrounds and space along the North Platte River.

A city park that keeps the Challenger on display

The railroad museum is part of Cody Park, a public city park. The museum does not post information about volunteers or donations online; call (308) 535-6719 to ask how to support the locomotives and rail cars.

Make it a North Platte railroad day

The Golden Spike Tower is about 4 miles away. The Union Pacific depot exhibits and the Lincoln County Historical Museum are each about 2 miles. Browse Nebraska railroad museums for more.

Every train museum in Nebraska

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Climbing up into a steam locomotive cab is a big job for short legs, and I know a corgi who would agree. In our book, Rally stands at the bottom of the tall train steps until Dad scoops him up and gives him a boost. I picture little ones at the Challenger doing the same with a parent's hand, then grinning from the engineer's seat. My mom loved small moments like that. Print our coloring pages for the drive home.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

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Every Amtrak route with kids

Work or volunteer at Cody Park Railroad Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Cody Park Railroad Museum on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Cody Park Railroad Museum: 20 quick answers

What is the Cody Park Railroad Museum?

The Cody Park Railroad Museum is a free railroad display inside Cody Park in North Platte, Nebraska. It features Union Pacific Challenger steam locomotive 3977, Union Pacific diesel 6922, a restored railroad depot, several rail cars and a caboose, with railroad memorabilia inside the cars.

Where is the Cody Park Railroad Museum?

The museum is in Cody Park, listed at 1400 North Jeffers Street in North Platte, Nebraska. The park sits along the North Platte River. Call (308) 535-6719 if you need directions to the railroad display within the park.

Is the Cody Park Railroad Museum free?

Yes. Admission to Cody Park and to the railroad museum is free. That makes it an easy stop for families driving I-80 through North Platte. Rides in the park, such as the carousel, may have their own fees, so check at the park.

What are the Cody Park Railroad Museum hours?

The railroad museum is open seasonally, while Cody Park itself is open year-round. Exact hours and season dates are not posted online, so call (308) 535-6719 or check with Visit North Platte before you go, especially in spring and fall.

What is Union Pacific 3977?

Union Pacific 3977 is a Challenger steam locomotive, and it is described as the only Challenger 3900 series locomotive on public display in the world. It is the centerpiece of the Cody Park Railroad Museum, and visitors can climb into its cab for the engineer's view.

Can you climb on the train at Cody Park?

Yes. Visitors can climb up into the cab of Challenger 3977 to see the engineer's view, then walk through a series of old rail cars, including a mail car and a caboose. The cab steps are steep, so help young children up and down.

What else is on display at the Cody Park Railroad Museum?

Besides Challenger 3977, the museum displays Union Pacific diesel locomotive 6922, a restored railroad depot, several rail cars and a caboose. The cars hold railroad memorabilia from the era when trains were America's main way to travel.

What do reviews say about the Cody Park Railroad Museum?

Travel listings from Visit North Platte and VisitNebraska single out the chance to climb into Challenger 3977 and the free admission. Cody Park's Tripadvisor page collects visitor reviews of the park, including the railroad museum, if you want to read more before you go.

Where can I see photos of the Cody Park Railroad Museum?

The museum does not have its own website, so the best places for photos are the Visit North Platte and VisitNebraska listings and the Cody Park page on Tripadvisor, where visitors post their own pictures of the Challenger and rail cars.

Is the Cody Park Railroad Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, as a short stop. Toddlers can look at the giant steam engine and peek into the caboose, and the park has a carousel, miniature train, small animal enclosure and playgrounds nearby. Hold small hands on the steep locomotive steps.

Is there a train ride at Cody Park?

Cody Park has a miniature train ride along with its historic 1913 carousel, and these rides operate seasonally. The locomotives in the railroad museum are on static display. Call (308) 535-6719 to check ride days and any fees before you go.

What else is there to do at Cody Park?

Cody Park offers a historic 1913 carousel, a miniature train, a small animal enclosure, playgrounds, sports fields, disc golf, tennis and pickleball courts, a seasonal swimming pool and campgrounds. The concession stand, rides and pool are open seasonally.

How long does it take to see the Cody Park Railroad Museum?

Plan on 30 minutes to an hour for the locomotives, depot and rail cars. If kids want the carousel, miniature train and playground too, Cody Park can easily fill an afternoon. Pair it with the Golden Spike Tower, about 4 miles away, for a fuller railroad morning.

Is the Cody Park Railroad Museum open in winter?

The railroad museum is seasonal, so the rail cars may be closed in winter even though Cody Park stays open all year. You can still see the locomotives from outside. Call (308) 535-6719 to ask what is open during your visit.

Is the Cody Park Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility details are not posted online. The locomotive cab requires climbing steep steps, and older rail cars often have steps as well. Call (308) 535-6719 to ask which parts of the display can be reached with a wheelchair or stroller.

Can you camp at Cody Park in North Platte?

Yes. Cody Park has campgrounds along with its other recreation areas, which makes it handy for travelers who want to see the Challenger in the morning. Call (308) 535-6719 to ask about camping rates, season and reservations.

Who runs the Cody Park Railroad Museum?

The railroad museum is part of Cody Park, a public park in North Platte. It does not post information about a support group or volunteers online. Call (308) 535-6719 to ask how you can help or donate toward the care of the locomotives.

Are there picnic areas at Cody Park?

Cody Park is a family-oriented city park along the North Platte River with playgrounds, fields and a seasonal concession stand, so it works well for a picnic after visiting the locomotives. The park does not post shelter reservation details online; call (308) 535-6719.

Is the Cody Park Railroad Museum worth a stop on I-80?

For families with train fans, yes. It is free, it takes under an hour, and the chance to climb into the cab of the only Challenger 3900 series locomotive on public display is rare. The park's carousel, miniature train and playgrounds make it an easy break from a long drive.

What train museums are near Cody Park?

The North Platte Union Pacific depot exhibits and the Lincoln County Historical Museum are each about 2 miles away, and the Golden Spike Tower is about 4 miles. Farther east, the Nebraska Prairie Museum in Holdrege is about 87 miles and Stuhr Museum in Grand Island about 127 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil