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Railfan Headquarters for the Greater Kansas City Area

 

Lee's Summit Hotspots

 

Lee's Summit Amtrak StationEastbound Local at Lee's Summit

Vantage Points:
The "station" itself is actually a shelter since Union Pacific sold the original Missouri Pacific station to the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce. The shelter is still a good place to get photos and observe. Nearly every train will be a westbound as UP avoids hauling heavy trains eastbound. There are many good places to walk around near the shelter and get good photos.

Train Frequency:
Freight - 50-60 a day 
                                                                                
Amtrak - 
Missouri River Runner morning eastbound scheduled at 8:06 am
Missouri River Runner evening westbound scheduled at 8:50 pm
Missouri River Runner afternoon westbound scheduled at 1:19 pm
Missouri River Runner afternoon eastbound scheduled at 4:36 pm

What You'll See:
Union Pacific - A front row seat to westbound freights including empty coal trains, stack trains, intermodal, manifest trains and Amtrak's Missouri River Runner Trains. A daily local also goes eastbound to work the industries east of town, 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 its 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 and there is plenty of lighted parking along the streets of downtown Lee's Summit. The Lee's Summit Police patrol the area on a regular basis.

How to Get There:
From I-70 - Exit at Missouri Hwy 291 South/I-470 South (Exit 15A), go South to Douglas St. (Exit 9, 7.4 miles), turn left on Douglas St, go to SE 3rd St. (2.3 miles), turn right and proceed to the tracks, cross tracks and turn right to the station.

 

Harris Park

Vantage Points:
The park is a good place to get photos and observe. Nearly every train will be a westbound as UP avoids hauling heavy trains eastbound. This is not as good as the Amtrak station for "up close" observation of trains but is a good spot in the summer months because there are plenty of trees for shade. Many westbounds wait at the signal before receiving clearance to head into Kansas City. The park closes at 11:00 pm.

Train Frequency:
Freight - 50-60 a day
Amtrak - Missouri River Runner morning eastbound scheduled at 8:06 am
              Missouri River Runner evening westbound scheduled at 8:50 pm
              Missouri River Runner afternoon westbound scheduled at 1:19 pm
              Missouri River Runner afternoon eastbound scheduled at 4:36 pm

What You'll See:
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 to work the industries south of town, usually in the morning and returns 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. After dark could be a problem as the Lee's Summit Police will wonder what you're doing and they patrol the area on a regular basis.

How to Get There:
From I-70 - Exit at Missouri Hwy 291 South/I-470 South (Exit 15A), go South to Douglas St. (Exit 9), turn left on Douglas St, go to SE 3rd St. (2.3 miles), turn right and cross tracks, turn left at the 4 way stop (SW Market St) and follow SW Market St to Harris Park on the left.
The park is near the intersection of US Hwy 50 and SW Jefferson St. if you are coming to Lee's Summit from US Hwy 50