kcrailfan.com

Railfan Headquarters for the Greater Kansas City Area

Kansas City, Kansas Hotspots

Fairfax Industrial District

Vantage Points:
Fairfax Trafficway - This general area is a good location to view Union Pacific trains on the ex-Missouri Pacific Falls City Sub to Omaha. Union Pacific funnels many empty coal trains up this route to Hiawatha, KS and then west to Marysville, KS to join the main line to Nebraska and Wyoming. In the past, the Chicago Great Western also used this line to get to Leavenworth and cross over the Missouri River to wind it's way to Iowa. Keep in mind that this is an industrial area with few public areas and you are either on private property or railroad property.

Train Frequency:
30-50 trains daily

What You'll See:
Union Pacific:  empty coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains.

Security Concerns:
Not a big problem in the daytime. The area is not a good place to be after dark.

GPS Address
2000 Fairfax Trafficway - Kansas City, KS

How to Get There:
From I-70 - Exit from I-70 westbound at Exit 423. The exit will say "Fairfax". After you exit you will be on Fairfax Trafficway and there are several areas to turn off the road to observe.

Argentine

Argentine is home to the huge ex-Santa Fe classification yard. There are various places along Kansas Avenue west of Armourdale to take in the action but nearly all are railroad property and they don't want you in there. There is a bridge with a sidewalk on one side that crosses over the entire yard south of Kansas Avenue at 42nd Street but parking is difficult to find on either side.

Some good views are also available along Metropolitan Ave, which parallels the BNSF Transcon main through Kansas City but there are not many places to park. Drive east on Metropolitan from 7th St and you can reach the west end of the Flyover that goes through Santa Fe Junction further to the east. This dead-ends into fenced railroad property. Good place to observe but not great for photos because of the 6 ft high fence (bring a ladder maybe?) DO NOT go here at night, way too isolated.

Armourdale

Vantage Points:
Kansas Avenue at Adams - This general area is a good location to view Union Pacific trains at ground level and on the highline.  Most coal trains take the highline while transfer jobs are on the lower level. Most trains seen here will have been through or are heading toward Santa Fe Junction. Keep in mind that this is an industrial area with few public areas and you are either on private property or railroad property.

Train Frequency:
45-55 trains daily

What You'll See:
Union Pacific:  empty coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains and transfer runs from other railroads.

Security Concerns:
Not a big problem in the daytime. The area is not a good place to be after dark.

GPS Address
70 Kansas Ave - Kansas City, KS

How to Get There:
From I-70 - Exit from I-70 westbound at Exit 422 on Hwy 169 South/7th St South.  After you exit you will cross over the Union Pacific yard and come down to Kansas Ave. Take a left on Kansas Ave and the tracks will be less than a mile.

This location also a half mile west of Santa Fe Junction and Kemper Arena. Just take Ceasar Chavez Avenue (same roadway as Kansas Avenue) over the Kansas River and you'll be there.

Muncie, Edwardsville, Bonner Springs

 
Westbound coal empty approaches Bonner Springs

Vantage Points:
Kansas Highway 32 parallels the Union Pacific double track mainline all the way to Bonner Springs - There are many points along this 10 mile stretch to observe and photograph this ex-Rock Island/Union Pacific right of way

Train Frequency:
50-60 trains daily

What You'll See:
Union Pacific:  Coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains. A local switcher is based at Bonner Springs to work the local industries.

Security Concerns:
Not a big problem in the daytime.

GPS Address
4000 Kaw Dr - Kansas City, KS  (east end of Kaw Drive near Exit 419)

How to Get There:
From I-70 - Exit from I-70 westbound at Exit 419.  After you exit go left at the light and you will be on Kaw Drive which later turns into Kansas 32 and goes all the way to Bonner Springs.