Was wondering if there’s anyone out there knowledgeable about the KCS’ junction just north of Shreveport, Louisiana where the mainlines from Kansas City and Dallas converge. I’m assuming that there’s a connector there that allows Dallas-area bound trains from Kansas City to split off and head west, correct? Or is there another connection/way that I’m not aware of? Also, what is the name of that junction north of Shreveport?
It’s called Texas Junction. At one time I lived less than 1 block away. Texas Junction consists of a wye from the north-south main line, on the west side of the main line. The arrival tracks for Deramus Yard begin immediately south of the wye. About the only trains that regularly take the north leg of the wye are the Welch, Texas, coal trains. Most of the traffic is on the south leg, consisting of the east-west traffic between Dallas and Alliance Yard in Fort Worth, and Meridian, Mississippi, manifest freights between DFW and Deramus Yard, and other freight traffic between Beaumont and DFW.
On the south side of Shreveport are additional junctions, where the lines to Beaumont, New Orleans, and Meridian/Monroe diverge. Thus all east-west and all north-south traffic on KCS is running joint track through Shreveport.
RWM
Aptly named. Thanks!