The (BN)SF Argentine yard is south of the river and south of Kansas Ave. It has everything you'd want : complete engine shop (east end), 2 hump yards, intermodal, car shop (w/ exec car parking), flat switching, quik-n-go fuel stop on mainline........just use Kansas Ave to saw back-n-forth on all the overpasses from 18th to 55th sts.
The larger yards on the north side of the river and north of Kansas Ave from 18th to 1st sts is mostly UP property. Traffic is usually staging for runthroughs here with a little intermodal and maintenance leftover from the old days. There's an old Rock Island turntable north of 12th & Kansas and the 2 level action near 1st & Kansas could produce some good shots. UP's hub is the hump yard east of Chouteau Trafficway in KCMo. Fly-overs are east of the hump.
No.K.C. hosts BN(SF) on the west side (NE of downtown airport) and the area you mentioned has both BN and Norfolk Southern. I've spent my fair share of 35mm film at both of these spots on the Missouri side.
Help me out, K.C. What other advice can we give Dave ?
Thanks for your information. I looked at a map of Kansas City and found all of the streets and roads you mentioned. I do have 2 more questions, though. Is Argentine Yard north of or south of the Kansas River? My guess is that it is located on the north side but right adjacent to the river. And, to the NE of this area, my map show a lot of tracks in the "North Kansas City" area, east of I-35 and south of Armour Road. What might this be?
Thanks!
Hey, Davey1, welcome. I'm hoping my fellow Kansas Citians bombard you with more spots than you you'll have time for because being a rail hub can really eat up the camera batteries. "Good spots" depend on the type of action / scenery you prefer.
The newest fly-over that I am aware of is east of the (BN)SF's Argentine Yard that lifts up over the diamonds and "high line" to come down into eastbound Union Station. You can view the turnouts for this & the west ramp from the 7th St bridge in KCK. An overhead view can be accessed from I-35 and Cambridge Circle (KCK) , then wind north up the hill to the dead end (2600 Wyoming ?, KCMo). One of my personnal favorite spots (that now includes this fly-over) is at West 25th & State Line Rd (come in from the east to avoid construction). My son prefered this spot because of the closeness to the diamond action & the highline to the double-deck bridge over the river. Another one might be Air Line Junction, Mo east of the East Bottoms (Gardner Ave & Hawthorne ) and west of I-435.
Plan to spend plenty of time on your favorite satelite view site, print copies & take notes. and good luck
Hello, I'm going to the Leavenworth, Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO area in a few weeks and I was wondering where some great train watching spots might be. Names of adjacent highways/roads would be helpful, too. I know there's a new flyover somewhere but I don't know exactly where! Thanks.
Dave
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