The Railroad Helped to Shape Falls City, Nebraska and Continues to Benefit Businesses Today

Falls City, Nebraska is a railroad town and has been since the 1800’s. The arrival of the railroad contributed to significant growth within the city, particularly since Falls City is a hub within a four-state-corner. From a transportation and logistics perspective, Falls City cannot be beat as it gives businesses access to Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa and the large cities of Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, St. Joseph and Topeka. Today, businesses can choose between the interstate and rail to transport freight, but in the 1800s, the railroad was the preferred mode of transportation, making Falls City an important regional hub.

The transportation assets that make Falls City an ideal location for businesses today (rail, interstate and airport access) all began with the arrival of the railroad in 1871.

Falls City’s Railroad History

The arrival of the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad in 1871 signaled the beginning of real growth for the community.

The addition of a second railroad — The Missouri Pacific in 1882, further accelerated the community’s growth. This Missouri Pacific mainline from Omaha to Atchison, Kansas provided a critical link between two major trade centers, creating significant opportunities for Falls City residents and businesses. Then, in 1909, Falls City became a division point on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. This improved transportation access helped Falls City to grow from 607 in 1807 to 3,022 in 1900 and provided the town with good freight rates and excellent passenger service for many years.

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF Railway) and Union Pacific Railroad serve Falls City today

The BNSF Railway Company is the largest freight railroad network in North America, making it easy for Falls City businesses to ship raw materials and finished products throughout the United States. BNSF is one of eight North American Class I railroads with 32,500 miles of track and over 8,000 locomotives. These trains travel over 160 million miles per year, making Falls City’s access to BNSF rail highly significant from a logistics perspective. In addition, the BNSF and Union Pacific (also a rail provider in Falls City) have a duopoly on all freight rail lines in the Western United States, ensuring fast and efficient transportation times.

With a loading point in Falls City and five non-coal train trips per day, Falls City is an excellent hub for businesses looking to transport goods via rail.

Available space in rail-served business park

The Falls City Industrial Park is situated at the U.S. Highways 73 and 159 and served by the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads. Businesses looking to benefit from Falls City’s convenient location, affordability and skilled workforce, should consider the advantages of locating in an industrial park providing immediate access to the largest railroad in the country.

Businesses benefitting from the transportation access provided by the Falls City Industrial Park include: Herzog and Consolidated Grain and Barge.

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Learn more about Falls City

For more information on Falls City or the benefits of locating here, contact us.