Cheyenne (UP & BNSF) – Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA | Train Spotting Location

Railfans typically station themselves along the fence line west of the restored Cheyenne Depot, where multiple main tracks arc past the platforms before splitting toward Denver, North Platte, and the famed Sherman Hill. Trains approach at track speed—generally 40–60 mph in the city limits—then throttle up noisily as they climb the gentle grade out of town. Expect deep horn echoes off the stone depot, rumbling ground vibrations, and the unmistakable diesel exhaust plumes that linger in the dry air. Power is often three to five units per consist, with distributed power units (DPUs) pushing hard on the rear. Nighttime visits reward fans with dazzling headlight beams slicing through prairie darkness and the metallic chorus of wheel flanges on jointed rail inside the yard.

Cheyenne sits at 6,000 ft on open prairie just east of the Laramie Mountains. The horizon is wide and uncluttered, giving railfans big-sky backdrops and ever-changing cloudscapes. Shortgrass prairie surrounds the trackage, dotted with sage and low shrubs. The dry climate delivers over 230 sunny days per year, but weather changes quickly: summer thunderstorms can roll in with dramatic lightning; winter brings powdery snow that drapes locomotives in icy mist. Wind is a near-constant companion, so dress in layers and expect dust devils swirling down the ballast during warmer months.

Union Pacific’s Overland Route handles 45–60 trains per 24 hours through Cheyenne. Traffic is predominantly mixed freight and double-stack intermodal, supplemented by unit grain, ethanol, and manifest trains. Heavy coal loads and empties from the Powder River Basin add another 10–15 movements daily. BNSF’s Front Range Subdivision feeds 8–12 freights into the junction, largely petroleum and agricultural traffic bound for Denver or Laurel, Montana. Passenger sightings are rare but notable: special excursions behind UP 844 or Big Boy 4014 originate from the steam shop just north of the depot, and Amtrak’s reroutes occasionally detour via Cheyenne during track work elsewhere.

1. Depot Platform: Morning light from the east illuminates nose art and locomotive details as westbounds curve past the historic station arches.
2. Hynds Boulevard Bridge: A slightly elevated sidewalk offers unobstructed side-on shots of entire trains with the state capitol dome in the distance; ideal in late afternoon backlight.
3. Holliday Park Lake: For the classic reflection shot, position on the south shore at sunset when westbound stacks glide across the water, producing mirror images against pink skies.
4. Roundhouse Lead: While public access is limited, the fenced perimeter near West 20th Street gives telephoto opportunities of steam locomotives being serviced—especially during Frontier Days.

Railfans appreciate the ability to pan 10,000-ft trains from ladder tracks to departure signals without relocating, capturing DPUs, crew changes, and power swaps in a single sequence.

Cheyenne owes its very existence to the railroad, springing up in 1867 as a division point for the original Union Pacific main line. The city was home to some of the most powerful steam engines ever built, including the 4-6-6-4 Challengers and 4-8-8-4 Big Boys that conquered Sherman Hill. The brick roundhouse, turntable, and coaling tower remnants testify to this legacy, while the renovated 1887 depot houses exhibits chronicling the transcontinental era. Every July, UP spotlights its heritage fleet during Cheyenne Frontier Days, parading vintage equipment that draws railfans from around the globe.

Cheyenne offers a rare convergence of high-density freight traffic, active railroad heritage, and open High Plains scenery. Unlike enclosed urban yards, lines here run at grade with few visual obstructions, allowing photographers to frame entire consists against sweeping skies. The chance—however occasional—to witness the world’s only operational Big Boy departing its home base is a thrill unique to this locale. Add the dual-carrier mix of UP and BNSF, plus the audible drama of trains accelerating for the climb to Sherman Hill, and Cheyenne provides a sensory railfan experience difficult to match elsewhere in the West.