kcrailfan.com
Railfan Headquarters for the
Greater Kansas City Area
East Kansas City Hotspots
The BNSF Transcon line passes through
the east side of Kansas City via Independence and Sugar
Creek. UP's River Subdivision shares trackage with the
Transcon until it reaches Eton, where it heads southeast
to meet the Sedalia Sub at River Junction outside of
Jefferson City. Kansas City Southern meanders through
East KC and Independence on former Gateway Western,
Illinois Central and Gulf, Mobile & Ohio rails
on it's way across Missouri to reach the Mississippi
River.
East Bottoms
More info coming
soon
Rock Creek Junction
Helpers duck under Transcon Line at Rock Creek
Junction in East Kansas City
Vantage Points:
1. Kentucky Road - While the actual Rock Creek
Junction is no longer accessible to the
public, it is
possible to get close enough to observe quite a bit of
activity. The grade crossing at Kentucky road is closest to the
Junction and it is possible to pull off the road on the east
side and observe the action.
Train
Frequency:
Freight - Upwards of 100 trains
daily, with most of them being on the Transcon Line.
Amtrak - Southwest Chief eastbound
- approximately 8:00 am
Southwest Chief westbound - approximately 9:50 pm
Missouri River Runner westbound -
approximately 1:45 pm
Missouri River Runner westbound -
approximately 9:15 pm
Missouri River Runner eastbound -
approximately 4:10 pm
Missouri River Runner eastbound -
approximately 7:40 am
What You'll
See:
BNSF -
All the traffic on the Transcon Line will be visible at a
distance (1/4 mile) entering or leaving the 3 mile-long
Sheffield Flyover that was completed in 2000.
Union Pacific - A front row
seat to westbound freights including empty coal, stack trains,
intermodal, manifest trains and Amtrak's Missouri River
Runner Trains. A daily local also goes eastbound, usually
in the morning.
Missouri & North
Arkansas - MNA runs several trains on UP tracks to
Pleasant Hill, where they enter their own line. A late morning
manifest train heads east and it's westbound counterpart
arrives later in the afternoon. UP-powered coal trains
occasionally make the eastbound assault on the Independence
hill using manned helper engines that drop off at Pleasant Hill
before switching to MNA rails.
Kansas City Southern - All
types of trains except coal.
Security
Concerns:
No Trespassing signs are posted at
the signal sheds for the access road to Rock Creek. I used to
drive down the access road to get closer to the action and the
UP did not seem to care much but I wouldn't test the security
nowadays. There is room for parking immediately off the road on
the east side in front of the No Trespassing
signs.
Note: - 5/9/08 - Local businesses near Kentucky
Road have been experiencing a huge number of break-ins
and have taken it upon themselves to check out any
strangers since police coverage is spotty. Don't be
surprised if they approach you and ask about your
intentions. They are very wary of any strangers in the
area. I especially don't recommend being at this location
after dark.
GPS Address
144 E Kentucky Rd - Independence,
MO
How to Get There:
From I-70 - North
on I-435 to Independence Avenue (Exit 59), east to Blue Ridge
Blvd. (1/4 mile), left on Blue Ridge Blvd. to Wilson Rd (3
blocks), right on Wilson to Kentucky Rd. left on Kentucky to
tracks.
Independence Avenue
Eastbound UP coal train approaches
flyover near the Sheffield Family
Center
Vantage
points:
Sheffield Family Life Center - A huge
church at 5800 Winner Rd. They have a large parking lot that
has an unobstructed view of the tracks. Stay only on the paved
lot. Please, no littering!
Train
Frequency:
Freight - 120+
Amtrak - Eastbound: Missouri
River Runner to St. Louis at approximately 7:35 am
Missouri River Runner to St. Louis at
approximately 4:05 pm
Southwest Chief to Chicago at approximately 7:50 am
Westbound: Southwest Chief to Los Angeles at
approximately 10:45 pm
Missouri River Runner from St. Louis at
approximately 9:35 pm
Missouri River Runner from St. Louis at
approximately 2:00 pm
What
You'll See:
BNSF - Stack trains, intermodal,
manifest, unit grain, a few coal trains, the Sheffield local
(complete with caboose)
Union Pacific - Coal trains,
stack trains, intermodal, manifest, unit grain
Norfolk Southern -
Intermodal, Roadrailers
Iowa, Chicago & Eastern -
Manifest and grain trains
Kansas City Terminal - Locals
with the "Bumble Bees"
CSX, Kansas City Southern run
through units
Security
Concerns:
Not the best part of town to be in at
night. Daytime is no problem. Off duty officers hired to direct
traffic at the Sheffield Center will not let you park in the
lot on Sunday. Any other day is OK.
GPS Address
5800 Winner Rd - Kansas
City, MO
How to Get
There:
From I-70 - North on I-435 to Independence
Avenue (Exit 59), west to Winner road. (at the Hardee's
Restaurant), angle off on Winner Rd. to the church
parking lot entrance west of the church. (1.8 miles from
I-435)
Sugar Creek
Eastbound train at Sugar Creek
Station
Vantage
points:
1. Old Santa Fe station on Cement City
Rd - BNSF still uses the old Santa Fe station next to the grade
crossing on Cement City Rd. There is limited off-street parking
at this location but it is a good location to watch BNSF and UP
trains on the Transcon Line. Do not go too near the
tracks.
Train Frequency:
Freight - 120+
Amtrak - Eastbound: Southwest
Chief to Chicago at approximately 8:00 am
Westbound: Southwest Chief to Los Angeles at approximately
10:30 pm
What
You'll See:
BNSF - Stack trains, intermodal,
manifest, unit grain, a few coal trains
Union Pacific - Coal trains,
stack trains, intermodal, manifest, unit grain
Norfolk Southern -
Intermodal, Roadrailers
Security
Concerns:
No problems in the daytime. Both
locations are somewhat isolated and hanging around after dark
will arouse the suspicions of the Sugar Creek police. I also
know this from experience.
How to Get
There:
Old Santa Fe Station: From I-70 - North
on I-435 to Independence Avenue (Exit 59), east to Sterling
Ave. (several miles), left on Sterling (watch your speed!) to
Kentucky Rd. (roundabout) right on Kentucky, up the hill to
North Vermont St. (first street), left on North Vermont to
station.
Independence Amtrak
Station
Vantage
Points:
The station itself is the best place to
get photos and observe. Nearly every train will be a westbound
as UP avoids hauling heavy trains up the hill like the
plague.
Train
Frequency:
Freight - 50-60 a day
Amtrak - Missouri River
Runner morning eastbound scheduled at 7:49 am
Missouri River Runner evening westbound
scheduled at 9:06 pm
Missouri River Runner afternoon westbound
scheduled at 1:35 pm
Missouri River Runner afternoon eastbound
scheduled at 4:19 pm
What
You'll See:
Union
Pacific - A front row seat to westbound freights
including empty coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and
manifest trains as well as Amtrak's Missouri River
Runner Trains. A daily local also goes eastbound, usually
in the morning and returning in the afternoon.
Missouri & North
Arkansas - MNA runs several trains on UP tracks to
Pleasant Hill, where they enter their own line. A late morning
manifest train heads east and it's westbound counterpart
arrives later in the afternoon. UP-powered coal trains
occasionally make the eastbound assault on the Independence
hill using manned helper engines that drop off at Pleasant Hill
before switching to MNA rails.
Security
Concerns:
Almost none. The station parking lot
is well lighted at night. Hanging around after the evening
Amtrak train has departed is probably not advised. The
Independence Police patrol the area on a regular basis.
GPS Address
600 S Grand Ave -
Independence, MO
How to Get
There:
From I-70 - Exit at Noland Road
(Exit 12), go North to 23rd St. (several miles), turn
left on 23rd St, go to South Cottage St. (look for the
Certified Transmission shop), turn right and proceed to
West Pacific Ave. then left to the
station.
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