This spring or early summer I’m thinking about driving down to KC to do some rail photography and take in a Royals game (I’m a Twins fan, but we have a year yet before we get outdoor baseball).
I’m not crazy about driving around an unfamiliar city, even if I have directions. I’m much rather get out into the countryside to find a spot. Small towns are much nicer I think.
Does anyone have an idea of what kind of traffic I’d see on the KCS south of Kansas City? I mean traffic levels, what kind of freight I’d see mostly (coal, COFC/TOFC, autos, mixed, etc.)? Is it a multi-track main or single? Any information would be appreciated.
The KCS is the only Class 1 I’ve not had any opportunity to photograph, and I dare say I’ve only seen one of their locomotives. It was in the consist of an eastbound BNSF freight that rolled-through Minneapolis a few winters ago.
Unit coal, unit grain, manifest. Almost no intermodal or auto on the north-south line from Kansas City to Shreveport.
About 25-30 trains per day. They run on connection. Locals are called out of Neosho, Sallisaw, and Heavener.
All single-track.
It’s pretty flat and straight until Neosho.
RWM
Isn’t that the picture in this issue of TRAINS, that pic of that KCS unit grain going south in the section that talk’s about the “BIG JONS”?
The KCS Kansas City locomotive terminal is very close to E. Front St. in KC Mo. I’ve been there several times and it doesn’t seem like too bad of an area. You can see the yard as well.
If you get out to the Grandview / Belton area, the KCS has their new intermodal terminal there at the old Richards Gabauer Air Force Base. That’s a relatively rural area also.
http://notes.kcsi.com/WebApps/kcspress.nsf/626e6035eadbb4cd85256499006b15a6/1f6fe4edea8ec0758625740c0067072f?OpenDocument