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A Union Pacific boom truck and lowboy truck position to safely transport Omaha’s official Christmas Tree, a 5,500-pound blue spruce donated from the front yard of a metro-area home. A Union Pacific boom truck and lowboy truck position to safely transport Omaha’s official Christmas Tree, a 5,500-pound blue spruce donated from the front yard of a metro-area home.
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December 1, 2025

Union Pacific Delivers Omaha’s Official Christmas Tree for 50th-Year Celebration

Union Pacific Railroad delivered the city of Omaha’s official Christmas tree for the Durham Museum’s 50th annual ‘Christmas at Union Station’ celebration.
Union Pacific Engineering employees stand in front of the 40-foot-tall blue spruce Union Pacific Engineering employees stand in front of the 40-foot-tall blue spruce, lying flat on its side after harvesting. Using their railroad expertise and skills, they operated chainsaws, two trucks and a lowboy trailer to safely extract the massive tree from a residential neighborhood.

On Nov. 17, Union Pacific Engineering crews harvested the nearly 40-foot blue spruce donated by Stephen and CJ Carr of La Vista, Nebraska, transporting it downtown and positioning it inside the museum, where it now serves as the centerpiece of the season.

A seven-person crew led by Union Pacific Bridge Foreperson Keegan Smutz and Manager-Bridge Maintenance Travis Cook safely removed, hauled and installed the 5,500-pound tree.

“This is my 11th tree,” Smutz said. “I’m proud that we get to be a part of something that honors Omaha’s history.”

Union Pacific crews have been delivering holiday magic to the Durham Museum for decades. The railroad gifted the former Union Station to the city of Omaha in 1973, after Amtrak was created by an act of Congress and the site’s passenger operations ended. 

“We take pride in making it a safe, successful day at the Durham,” Cook said. “It’s a long-standing tradition. Our crews look forward to it every year.”

For more information about Christmas at Union Station events, visit the Durham Museum’s website.
The Union Pacific crew uses a boom truck to unload the tree outside the Durham Museum. The Union Pacific crew uses a boom truck to unload the tree outside the Durham Museum.
Union Pacific team members pulled the massive tree through the museum with a pickup truck, where it’s anchored to the ceiling in its final display spot. Union Pacific team members pulled the massive tree through the museum with a pickup truck, where it’s anchored to the ceiling in its final display spot.
The tree is decorated using 1,000 feet of lights and 250 ornaments. The tree is decorated using 1,000 feet of lights and 250 ornaments.
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