Many of you have probably heard about the gunman who opened fired at a City Council Meeting in Kirkwood Missouri, Killing 5 including two Kirkwood Police Officers
Just to let all of you know, Kirkwood City hall is less than 800 feet from the Kirkwood Amtrak Station. affects are unknown of how it will affect train watching in kirkwood or How it is affecting operations of the Union Pacific Mainline that runs next door.
Jim- From what I read this individual was known to council members from previous outbursts, including at least one occasion when he’d been forcibly removed. The council had decided not to remove him in order to “not stoop to his level.” Regrettably for all involved it was obviously the wrong decision. I’ve visited Kirkwood a number of times, usually while visiting the nearby Transportaion Museum, and found it to be a lovely little community. They have had some bad events happen lately between today’s shootings and the kidnappings that made national news last year. I understand that many of the persons killed or injured were city officials including the mayor, who was wounded. My heart goes out to all in the community as well as my best wishes in getting through a senseless and tragic event.
Not to make light of the situation but I agree that this hopefully won’t affect the trainwatching as it is a great spot. I don’t see a correlation between trainwatching and the city council events other than general proximity, however more surprising regulations have been enacted in the name of security.
Mike
They are alot nutcases in this world today.
And fortunately we have sent many of them to Washington DC as representatives and senators.
“And fortunately we have sent many of them to Washington DC as representatives and senators.”
And presidents. But what in the world does this have to do with Trains?
What it has to do with trains is that this is possibly the best train watching spot in the St. Louis area. The double track UP (ex-MP) line passes between the Kirkwood station and City Hall. This is at the top of Kirkwood Hill, both east and westbound, so trains are down on their knees at this point and easy to photograph. There is a park adjoining the tracks, which is City Hall park and on any warm day you can see a number of railfans, with and without cameras, sitting on the benches.
Now we have a national tragedy, and our folks in Washington, knowing nothing of the circumstances, may decide to post a battalion of infantry or worse, FEMA reps. They’ve done screwier things.
I sympathize heartily with everyone involved. In fact I know many people who live in Kirkwood and my stomach is in a knot as I write this. So I don’t want to appear selfish or emotional, and therefore will cut my message short. I can find somewhere else to watch trains, but Kirkwood folks have to live with this.
I’m sorry Ishmael. I was referring to the last couple of comments in the thread, not the incedent its self–that was certainly an ugly situation and I hope it doesn’t impact train watching at all. My apologies if I gave that impression.
Our office almost next door (Webster Groves, and on the south MoP R/W line) was too close. Our engineers knew the public works people as clients.
At least they can watch the UP from the 3rd floor still.
From what I’ve read, it’s a pretty involved situation, chiefly involving the shooter’s home-based construction business, parking, permits, and a few other things. While I doubt it will affect train-watching, I suspect the reverberations will continue for quite a while.
You don’t think this comment is out of place in a thread about a mass murder?
That’s OK Cornboy. Not your fault. I was a little upset, and like Pop says, trainwatching and politics should be the last thing we discuss. This is a little close to home. Not only is this close to where I live and railfan, but I’m an ex-copper and these things always get to me.