Kansas City North Hotspots
North Kansas City
Railfan Vantage Point:
Railroad Ave at Missouri 210
Hwy - This area is a good location to view both Norfolk Southern and BNSF trains. The east end
of the NS Yard is near this location and No Trespassing signs are posted. The NS engine house is also in
view. Eastbound NS trains launch from this point to head east along the Missouri
River.
BNSF shares this line to a point east of
Missouri City where it splits off and heads northeast to Quincy. Vehicle traffic is limited to NS employees
entering the yard so there's little danger of being in the way of anyone. This is also a good railfan photo
location for BNSF because the tracks take a nice curve (above) as they head for Murray Yard a few miles away.
Keep in mind that this is an industrial area and you are either on private property or railroad
property.
Train
Frequency:
20-30 trains daily
What You'll
See:
Norfolk Southern: Auto racks, intermodal, RoadRailers and
mixed
freights
BNSF: Mostly
mixed freight and a few coal trains
Security
Concerns:
Not a big problem in the daytime. Even though it's next to a busy highway the area is
somewhat isolated. North Kansas City Police may question your intentions after dark.
GPS Address
2200 State Road 210 (SR210) - North Kansas City, MO
How to Get
There:
From I-70 - Take I-35 North to Exit 6. After you exit turn right and go about a quarter
mile. You will see a sign "Railroad Avenue" to the right.
From I-35 South - Exit 6. This will take you to a stoplight. Turn left and Railroad Street is
about a quarter mile on the right past the lumberyard.
Other North Kansas City Vantage
Points:
Photos coming soon
14th
Avenue - Several blocks West of Burlington Street is the entrance to BNSF Murray Yard. A
warehouse area provides parking to see yard activity at several points. Be careful to observe the No Trespassing
signs as the railroad security folks patrol the yard area "vigorously".
GPS Address
122 W 14th Ave
- North Kansas City, MO
10th Avenue - Also west of Burlington Street a few blocks is a spot that you can get a
good view of the south end of Murray Yard. There are usually locomotives parked and being shuttled around since
this is near the engine house.
GPS Address
100 W 10th Ave - North Kansas City, MO
Atlantic Street - One block west
of Burlington is Atlantic Street. Go south on Atlantic and there are several large parking lots that belong to
local industries. From these vantage points it is easy to see a good deal of action going into Murray Yard and also
trains passing by on their way to the Hannibal Bridge over the Missouri River.
GPS Address
500 Atlantic Ave - North Kansas City, MO
UP Transfer run waits for clearance into Murray yard at Atlantic
St
Parkville
Railfan Vantage Point:
English Landing Park - This park is an excellent location to view trains on the ex-CB & Q line to
Nebraska. The old train station is still in use as a city-owned structure. Parking is available in a large lot next
to the park. Do not park your vehicle anywhere in the park itself. This is strictly enforced. In the
spring and summer the Farmer's Market also sets up shop on the weekends in the parking lot. There are several
restaurants nearby and Downtown Parkville has a number of interesting retail
stores.
There has been talk of BNSF double-tracking this line through Parkville.
What You'll
See:
BNSF: coal trains, grain trains and manifest
trains.
Train Frequency:
BNSF: 23-35 trains daily
Security
Concerns:
Not a problem in the daytime. The area is well-lighted at night as it is close to the
Downtown area of Parkville where restaurants and other establishments are open late.
GPS Address
116 S Main St - Parkville, MO
How to Get
There:
From I-70 - Exit at Broadway/169 North (exit 2A) on the north side of Downtown Kansas City.
Cross the Missouri River on the Broadway Bridge. The Downtown Airport will be on your left and the BNSF Murray yard
will be on your right. Take the Hwy 9 exit immediately after curving away from the railyard. Stay on Hwy 9 until
you get to Parkville (5.8 miles). English Landing Park will be on your left between the tracks and the Missouri
River. Stay straight and enter Downtown Parkville, turning left at either East Street or Main Street. Cross the
tracks and you're there.
Liberty
Railfan Vantage
Point:
Suddarth Street - This area is the location of
the City of Liberty Vehicle Maintenance facility. The facility is in operation Monday through Friday from 7:30am to
4:30pm and parking is very limited during those hours. After hours it is possible to park along the edge of the
property and observe the action on Union Pacific's ex-Rock Island "Spine Line" and the former Iowa, Chicago &
Eastern line to Chicago. This is ex-Milwaukee trackage and a good place to see SD40-2 units belonging to ICE or
it's former parent Dakota, MInnesota & Eastern. It is now owned by Canadian Pacific but most locomotives are
still dressed in DM & E colors.
The Rock Island Lines - DVD Route of the
Rockets
 
Milwaukee Road Diesel
Power Rock Island Herald Sign
The Kaw River
Railroad also goes through Liberty on ex-CB&Q trackage to
Kearney, MO. Kaw River is owned by short line operator WATCO and operates only several times a
week.
Train
Frequency: IC & E local
sout hbound eases into Liberty
15-25 trains
daily
What you'll see:
Union Paciic: Grain trains,
stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains. The UP local is usually is in the area in the evening on it's way to
Trenton, MO. The UP is no longer using the yard at Liberty for transfer of cars to the CP so drop-offs
and pick-ups at the yard are nearly non-existent these days.
Iowa, Chicago Eastern:
Mixed freights. The northbound "B92" local is usually in town around 9:00 am and then again in late
afternoon. Scanner frequency is 160.770
Kansas City Southern also has run-through
grain trains periodically.
Security Concerns:
Not a
problem in the daytime. The Liberty Police may visit with you after dark.
GPS Address
400 Suddarth St - Liberty, MO
How to Get There:
From
I-35 - Exit at Hwy 152 (exit 16) and go east towards Downtown Liberty. This will be Kansas Avenue. Stay on Kansas
Ave through the Liberty Downtown Square and turn right at Lightburne St. Go one block to East Mill Street
and turn left. Stay on Mill Street until you see the entrance to William Jewell College on your left (less than
a mile). At that point, bear right at the traffic light and cross over the Kaw River Railway track and go two
blocks to Suddarth St. Turn right and go about a quarter mile to the city garage.
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