OPPOSITE: A westbound KCS transfer is about to duck under the Freight House Bridge on the afternoon of June 30, 2008, with Am- trak’s eastbound Southwest Chief at right. The iconic Western Auto sign, which lights up at night, towers over the scene. The west- bound Southwest Chief normally calls at night, but due to Missouri flooding, the eastbound terminated in Kansas City and turned around for the trip back to Los Angeles. ABOVE: The colorful eastbound BNSF transfer, which shut- tles mainly Schneider containers between BNSF’s Argentine yard and the KCS, is about to duck under the Freight House Bridge on the morning of July 13, 2008. In the background is the West Pennway overpass. Flanking the train are constantly-lit searchlight signals, which give advance warning of trains to pho- tographers. LEFT: Norfolk Southern’s Road- railer train is about to pass under the Freight House Bridge midday on April 17, 2010. Every day except Sunday, NS will deliver this train to Argentine yard in the late morning or early af- ternoon, using Kansas City Terminal tracks through Union Station.
the KCUS parking garage is a regional branch of the National Archives, while a very short drive up a nearby hill will get you to Liberty Memorial and the National World War I Museum. A cov- ered walkway will take you southeast from KCUS to nearby Crown Center, which has more restaurants as well as retail shops. Thus, there are many things to see and do in and around the area close to the station.
Parting Thoughts
It seems that railfans are increasingly subject to scrutiny from public and pri- vate police for legally taking pictures of trains in public places. Since these security concerns will not likely go away, it is therefore worthwhile for railfans to consider their photographic game plan, especially if in an urban area. Although recent history is not an ironclad guarantee of future events, my
To learn more about Kansas City Union Station visit
www.unionstation.org
experiences, and those of local and vis- iting railfans, suggest that Kansas City Union Station and nearby places that I have described will continue to be a great place to visit. The quantity and variety of trains as well as accompany- ing amenities make the area around Kansas City Union Station an urban railfan safe haven. If you’re making a visit, perhaps we’ll meet on the Freight House Bridge!
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