Kirksville MO depot

[eolafan]

Hi to all. I am currently in St. Louis on business and have a few hours to kill on Wed. and came across the Kirksville, Mo depot site today but could not spend more than about ten minutes there today. It is a really nice looking spot with a classic depot on a nice curve. The signals are in the right spot to boot. Well,, can anybody tell me when the best time to see trains might be, and what kind of traffic density might be viewed there? Thanks in advance for all your help.

[richardy]

Could it be you were in Kirkwood? Kirksville is a long way from St. Louis.

[kenneo]

Kirksville is not that far from St. Louis. I know of the place because that is the area that one branch of my family settled in when they came from Germany. Many still live in the area.

The depot is just like Eolafan states. Since I don't have a clue when they run trains there, all I can say is - when the train is there would be the best time.

[eolafan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by richardy

Could it be you were in Kirkwood? Kirksville is a long way from St. Louis.

[B)]Whoops, yes, I believe Kirkwood is correct (about five to ten miles west of St. Louis downtown). Any info. would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Should see trains with reasonable frequency...a least 1 per hour, and more likely, 2-3 per hour. I take my kids to the park just across from the depot all the time to watch trains and play on the playground there. They call it "Trainpark". Traffic is pretty consistent there, wtih trains throughout the day and evening. You usually have a lull around Amtrak times (4 per day), but traffic usually picks up after they pass. Lots and lots of coal through there...some manifest and an occasional Z train. A scanner is helpful to her westbounders as there is a defect detector at MP 12.2. And the signals will give you a good indication regarding eastbound traffic. I know other St. Louis folks have written more thorough posts about the depot at Kirkwood. If you search the forum for Kirkwood, you will find more data I'm sure. But it's a great place to watch and photograph trains. And easy to park and not be bothered...lots of railfans there all the time.

Mark...

[CShaveRR]

I would not think of going through St. Louis without going to Kirkwood. That is one location where they don't even have to think about building a railfan park like Rochelle's--everything you could possibly desire is there already!

[eolafan]

Well, I found time today to spend about an hour or so at the Kirkwood depot. I found two older gentlemen on a bench outside with scanners and engaged them in conversation. One of these men was a volunteer at the station, which he told me is 100% staffed by volunteers but only when one of Amtrak's trains is due (plus or minus an hour or so). The depot is at the crest of a grade coming out of the Missouri River Valley and so trains REALLY fight hard up the hill to the depot and my "guide" told me they frequently stall on the hill. I saw a UP manifest train in Run-8 doing about ten MPH when passing the depot, but when he crested the hill he really got a run on his train and was doing over 45 when the rear end cleared. On his heels was an eastbound Amtrak train and a family of five (two adults three little kids) was bourding with lots of luggage bound for Joliet, IL

A side note, the conductor of the Amtrak train had a "traditional" cap on instead of one that looked like he was a Chicago police officer.

I left the depot after seeing my second UP, a stacker on the other main line (double track here).

In a nutshell, I will be back in Kirkwood and by the depot every chance I get. What a great place, a very classic stone depot, a nice town, easy to find food and parking, and some really nice people to boot.

[Anonymous]

glad you enjoyed it. it is a treasure. by the way, that is the meramec river valley the eastbound trains are coming up out of. they don't stall there the way they used to. they used to have helpers sitting down on a little branch about 500 ft east of the station all the time. but the advent of ac power has cut down on the stalling out on the hill. overall, kirkwood is one of the better railfan spots in st. louis...

mark...sorry caps key is broken