BNSF News

Alliance, Neb., celebrates 125th anniversary and railroad heritage

2013-08-05

Every July, Alliance, Neb., celebrates its heritage during its annual Heritage Days festival.

This year denoted a special milestone, marking the city's 125th anniversary.

To help celebrate, BNSF's Alliance diesel shop hosted an open house and tours, allowing the public to see parts of the railroad firsthand. In addition to locomotive displays, the division office provided bounce houses, water slides and a dunk tank, and hosted the BNSF Idol singing competition, judged by a panel of local music teachers. BNSF employees and spouses also served 7,500 community members a barbeque lunch and dinner over the weekend.

The railroad played an important role in the early development of Alliance. Alliance was founded and settled in 1888 by one of BNSF's predecessors: the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. The town's success was tied closely to BMRR, and as the railroad continued to grow, so did business and prosperity. The city became a ranching and agricultural center known as the "Queen City of the Plains." Today, BNSF continues to act as a life force in Alliance as its largest employer, with more than 1,400 employees.

"This year's Heritage Days has been a great success," said Larry Lower, BNSF Alliance terminal manager. "We try to be good neighbors and get involved in anything going on in the community, whether it's providing trucks for parades, volunteering with events or providing financial assistance."

In honor of Alliance's anniversary, BNSF's Steve Nettleton, general manager, Powder River Division, presented a donation of $10,000 to the United Way of Box Butte County and its director, Kathy Worley.

According to Worley, the funds will go to meeting the United Way's annual campaign goal of $100,000. The mayor of Alliance and other public officials were also in attendance for the presentation.

Donations provided by BNSF employees and the BNSF Railway Foundation have traditionally been an important source of funding for the local United Way in Alliance.

"BNSF has always been so generous to the United Way of Box Butte County," said Worley. "Most of the businesses in the community are small and locally owned, so the railroad is the biggest industry around. We rely a great deal on donations coming from BNSF. They've been a great support."

This past spring, BNSF also donated funds to help support the town's anniversary kickoff gala and dinner.

About the photos: In the top photo, a float representing BNSF was in the parade.

In the bottom photo, pictured from right to left in the front row are Kathy Worley, director, United Way of Box Butte County; Steve Nettleton, general manager, BNSF's Powder River Division; Fred Feldges, mayor of Alliance; and John Blake, community liaison for U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.

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