West
Bottoms
The original hotbed of rail
activity in Kansas City in the late 19th century, the
West Bottoms is still the oldest warehouse and
industrial district in town. Once home to the
classification yards of the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio
(later Illinois Central Gulf) and the Frisco, the
only trackage these days belongs to
Union Pacific and BNSF.
Northbound coal empty winds
its way through the West bottoms
Vantage Points:
1. Woodswether Road - Running alongside the Missouri
River at the north end of the West Bottoms is the Union Pacific
line north to Omaha (ex-Missouri Pacific). There are not many
access points due to the number of industrial buildings along
this line, but at the east end of Woodswether underneath the
Broadway Bridge is a dead-end street that can provide some
photo opportunities. Access this street by going north on
Broadway from Downtown and instead of going over the bridge,
duck down to the right and go under the bridge. Not a good
place to be at night.
At the west end of
Woodswether Road is a crossing at Market Street and street
parking is available. The odor from the nearby sewage treatment
plant can be powerful at times. You've been
warned!
2. 9th & Santa Fe
Streets - This is an active spot along the Union
Pacific tracks that lead east to Neff yard on the
Northeast side of Kansas City. There are several areas
around this location to park and walk around to observe
the action.
3. "The Narrows"
- BNSF and UP trackage squeeze together at this
point to snake around the north side of Downtown and
continue north and east. It is possible to access the
Narrows by going to the east end of West 8th Steet but
the street dead-ends into a local business and parking is
limited. In addition, this is a very isolated area
inhabited ny transients and can be a little spooky
sometimes, but the opportunity to see a good number of
trains at different elevations is
good.
Update 12/30/08 - The east end
of 8th street still is a dead end but the business is
gone and the buildings have been torn down. It is fenced
off and KC Terminal Railway has No Tresspassing signs
posted. The good thing is that more trackage is available
for view so getting photos will be much easier!
(Still spooky at night, however)
4. Hickory & Union
Streets - Just a few blocks west of
9th & Santa Fe Streets is Doc's Caboose, at the corner of Hickory
and Union. Doc's is a well-stocked hobby shop about 25 feet
from the Union Pacific main line through the area. Shop and
watch trains at the same time! (Closed Sunday and
Monday)
5. Under the 12th St
bridge - Tucked under the bridge are some good
train watching spots that are fairly active with BNSF
manifest, coal and transfer trains.
Train
Frequency:
Between UP, BNSF and various NS
run-through trains, you will see 60-80 total trains a day. A
two-hour session is usually good for nearly a dozen
trains.
What you'll
see:
BNSF - coal
trains, manifest trains, grain trains and transfer moves (90%
of these trains also run through Santa Fe Junction)
Union Pacific - coal trains,
stack trains, manifest trains, a few transfer moves
Norfolk Southern -
run-through stack and intermodal trains
Security
Concerns:
There are many public areas and a few
abandoned parking lots to watch the action. The area is
patrolled by BNSF Police and KCMO Police. There is a good
supply of homeless and transients in the area and being there
after dark is not recommended.
How to Get
There:
While the West Bottoms is accessible
from many areas, the easiest way in is from the 12th Street
bridge from the Downtown area. From I-35 north or south, exit
at 12th street and go west. You will be enjoy a panoramic view
(?) of the entire West Bottoms as you go across the bridge,
turn right at the very bottom of the bridge (yes, it's a
street!) and wind around to get to all the vantage points
listed. Nearly all streets are well marked.
The West Bottoms is less than a mile north of Santa Fe Junction
so combining train watching in the two areas is
easy.
|