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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 150 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.

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.