kcrailfan.com

Railfan Headquarters for the Greater Kansas City Area

 

 

Lawrence, Kansas 

Lawrence Visitor Center

                                                 Lawrence Visitor Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vantage Points:
Visitor Center parking lot - In 1991, the City of Lawrence opened the Lawrence Visitor Center in the old Union Pacific depot. Union Pacific's two-track main line consists of the old Kansas Pacific route and the Rock Island Golden State route.

Train Frequency:
50-70 trains daily

What You'll See:
Union Pacific: coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains. A local geep consist handles the switching duties to local industries.

Security Concerns:
Not a big problem in the daytime. Hanging around after dark may arouse the suspicions of the Lawrence Police department.

GPS Address
400 N 3rd St - Lawrence, KS

How to Get There:
From I-70 - Exit at the East Lawrence exit (Exit 204) on the Kansas Turnpike (I-70), this will put you on US Hwy 40. Go south to Locust Street (1 mile, first street after the underpass), take a left to the Visitor Center.

For an interesting book on the trains that have rounded the curve at Lawrence, check out "Kansas Curve" by Robert P. Olmsted
  
 

Lawrence Amtrak Station

Vantage Points:
Amtrak Station parking lot is a good place to watch what's happening. Not as active as Union Pacific however.

Train Frequency:
Freight - 10-12 daily. The local is usually in town around the noon hour.
Amtrak - Southwest Chief Eastbound scheduled at 5:49 am
              Southwest Chief Westbound scheduled at 12:32 am

What You'll See:
BNSF - All types of trains with the exception of coal trains.

Security Concerns:
This is basically a small town atmosphere so don't expect any problems. The late night arrival of Amtrak's Southwest Chief means you won't be alone at midnight.

GPS Address
500 E 7th St - Lawrence, KS

How to Get There:
From I-70 - Exit at the East Lawrence exit (Exit 204) on the Kansas Turnpike (I-70), this will put you on US Hwy 40. Go south on US Hwy 40, cross the river and turn left at East 6th St, follow it around to the right and go left at East 7th St, go East on 7th St until you reach the station.