Railfan Sites in Kansas
A self-guiding railfan tour
Ken Kuehne is the Editor for Frograil's Kansas Railfan page.
To submit contributions, corrections and/or additions to the Kansas page, please e-mail Ken here (after removing spaces and substituting for "at"): zwsplac "at" hotmail . com
Railfan, railfan--where do you see trains in Kansas?
Mapwork: If you're going to be looking for railfan locations, you'll need an industrial strength map resource. we definitely recommend you get a DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer, study it before your trip, and copy pertinent pages for your field work. You can find information here about Railfan Maps that are available.
Cities And Sites
- Abilene -- BNSF Station Area
- Abilene -- UP Station Area
- Aikins
- Alta Vista (1)
- Chapman
- El Dorado State Park
- Emporia -- Fremont Park (1)
- Emporia -- NR Junction (1)
- Emporia -- Santa Fe Depot (1)
- Emporia -- Social Considerations (1)
- Harper (2)
- Herington
- Hutchinson
- Hutchinson -- Station Area
- Leavenworth -- Dakota Street
- Leavenworth -- Landing Park
- Lebo
- Lenexa (1)
- Manhattan -- Big Blue River Bridge
- Matfield Green
- Matfield Green -- Pioneer Bluff
- Melvern
- Onaga
- Parsons (3)
- Shawnee -- Holliday Juction
- Solomon
- South Hutchinson -- Morton Junction
- Terra Cota
- Terra Cota -- KS-141 Overpass
- Topeka -- Great Overland Station
- Wamego
Contributors:
(1)Eric Burris has contributed this information. He has a nice, growing series of railfan pages here. This site contains maps of the sites described here, as well as those which are referenced above and hot-linked to his site.
(2) Thanks to Sam Schlageck for this data.
(3) This data courtesy of Tom Shaw.
ABILENE -- UP STATION AREA (September 2007)
Looking for a railfan experience that includes plenty for the family to do between trains? Then historic Abilene, Kansas, is for you! With 3 different railroads, several museums, and history galore, Abilene can easily occupy an entire day of a family vacation. There are several restaurants and lodging opportunities available in Abilene. Most of these are found in the northern part of town near I-70.
To reach the Union Pacific tracks at Abilene, take Exit 275 off I-70 onto KS-15 South/Buckeye Street. At NW 2nd Street you will be at the Union Pacific tracks, where you can park in the Civic Center (which is the old UP passenger depot) parking lot to watch the UP trains passing through town. An old UP freight depot is located just west of the Civic Center at the corner of Cedar & 2nd Street NW.
The UP is used by 11 or so trains per day, mainly coal, grain and locals. This line, the Salina Subdivision, uses AAR Channel 42/frequency 160.740. There is a detector just west of town which gives warning of approaching eastbounds.
This railfan location has been contributed by Walt Sharp, and has been edited for us by Ken Kuehne, Frograil's Kansas Editor.
ABILENE -- BNSF STATION AREA. (September 2007)
Several blocks further south on Buckeye is the BNSF Abilene Depot on BNSF's Strong City Subdivision. Pictures can be taken from the Eisenhower Center parking lot or the church parking lot south of the depot (3rd Street SE/SW). BNSF's locals to and from Superior, Nebraska, are the main trains using this line. Addtionally, there can be unit grain trains, and with the UP having trackage rights between Lost Springs, Kansas, and Abilene, an occasional UP movement will also show up. One can also drive around the Eisenhower Center and take SE 4th Street to view the BNSF yard.
BNSF uses AAR Channel 36/frequency 160.560 for communications.
This railfan location has been contributed by Walt Sharp, and has been edited for us by Ken Kuehne, Frograil's Kansas Editor.
AIKINS (January 26, 2006)
[Webmaster's Note: This is a contribution from Frograil's Kansas Editor Ken Kuehne.]
Anyone who says that Kansas is flat has never been to the Union Pacific station of Aikins, located on the busy Marysville sub. Deep in the rolling hills and sharp escarpments of northeast Kansas, Aikins is the where the branch to Jeffrey Energy Center leaves the Marysville Sub.
Despite being pretty much in the middle of nowhere, Aikins is very easy to get to, and can be reached on exclusively paved roads, a rarity in Kansas. The simplest way is to travel north from St. Marys, Kansas on K-63. At Emmet, you will cross over the Marysville sub. About three miles past this point, look for Aiken Switch Road headed west off of K-63, turn onto it heading west. The tracks will eventually join you. After about 2 1/2 miles, you will climb a large hill. Coming down the other side will reveal a broad vista of the prairie. You will also see a farm road crossing the tracks. Park on the farm road and enjoy the view to the north.
To the south, the Marysville sub is in a deep cut, as is the Jeffrey Branch, which joins at this very location. Signals are visible to the north, and are approach lit. Photographic opportunities are almost limitless at this location. The north-south orientation of the line at this point means on sunny days, almost all eastbounds will be in good light, at all hours of daylight. Hiking up on the hills to the south offers even more sweeping views of the prairie. Also, you will see on average 1-3 trains per hour here, predominately eastbounds, so there will be ample photo opportunities.
The only downside to Aikins is that it's out in the boondocks, so make sure you have gas, water, and food. St. Marys is the nearest town of consequence, and it's a good 15-20 minutes away. Also, even though this is a wide open spot, STAY OFF THE TRACKS! Eastbounds work up a stiff grade here, and loaded coal trains crawl by, giving the illusion that this is some slow speed railroading. It is not. The cut to the south is on a curve, and westbounds can be in your lap before you know it, even if you are paying attention. Some of these trains MOVE!
Don't get yourself killed, stay back and enjoy the show!
ALTA VISTA (June 7, 1998)
Reach this small town of 477 folks by taking exit 313 from I-70, and heading south on KS-177. On the UP (ex-SP, exx-RI) Herrington Line, traffic has been reduced due to the merger, but this is a very scenic area ("Alta Vista" means "high view"), and is well worthy of a visit from any railfan with photography in mind.
Eric Burris has contributed this information. He has a nice railfan series of pages here.
CHAPMAN
Take Exit 286 off I-70 and head south into Chapman to the 4-way stop sign at 4th Street. Turn left and you can park on the north side of the Union Pacific Salina Subdivision, or you can cross the track and park on the south side of the street. The tracks through town are visited by 11 or so trains per day. Loaded and empty coal trains, autoracks, grain trains and the daily locals make up these trains. The Salina to Topeka local normally runs in the late afternoon so lighting might be a problem.
To listen in on the railroad, tune your scanner to AAR Channel 42/frequency 160.740.
One might take "Old" US-40 West out of Chapman to Abilene, as the Salina Subdivision parallels the road basically all the way to Salina, Kansas. Abilene and Salina to the west, and Junction City to the east, have plenty of food and lodging available.
This railfan location has been contributed by Walt Sharp, and has been edited for us by Ken Kuehne, Frograil's Kansas Editor.
El DORADO STATE PARK (July 2004)
The city of El Dorado is on the BNSF, ex-ATSF, high volume race track between Kansas City and Wichita. At the northeastern edge of town is the El Dorado State Park, and the western boundary of the park is comprised of the railroad. From town, take East 12th Avenue eastward right into the park entrance. If you camp in the Boulder Bluff area, you can stand on your picnic table and watch/photograph the trains. This campground does not have electricity, but the Walnut River area does, and it is just a short drive over to the tracks. There is also a location where the park road goes over the tracks in the Boulder Bluff area that's good for pix.
Frograil thanks Bill Stewart for this excellent contribution.
EMPORIA --FREMONT PARK (Jan 9, 1999)
From the ATSF depot, follow the tracks on either 4th Avenue or 2nd Avenue until you get to Union Street. There is parking on the north side of the tracks. In the park is an old Santa Fe steam locomotive. Fremont Park is a good spot to photograph trains running thru Emporia.
Eric Burris has contributed this information. He has a nice railfan series of pages here.
EMPORIA -- NR JUNCTION (Jan 9, 1999)
From the vicinity of Fremont Park, follow the tracks to East Street. From East Street to Carter Street is NR Junction, where the BNSF Topeka Sub connects with the Emporia Sub. You can use the gravel road next to the tracks for access to the junction. NR has many photo possibilities. Going up Carter street you can photograph the Topeka Sub close to the 6th Street overpass. From below there's a staircase to the sidewalk on the bridge. Most of the the time, photos are better from the south side of the tracks in the Emporia area.
Eric Burris has contributed this information. He has a nice railfan series of pages here.
EMPORIA -- SANTA FE DEPOT (March 31, 2000)
There are trains running thru Emporia -- lots of trains, to paraphrase a TRAINS Magazine article from some years back. Eric has suggested one of the best places to see them. From I-35/335 west of town, come in to Emporia on old US-50. At Merrick Tower Road is one of the only towers still standing in Kansas. The tower is near the I-35/Kansas Turnpike Bridge. Once you get into Emporia on Sixth Street, turn south on Neosho, and go straight to the site of the Santa Fe depot. Alas, in spring of 2000, the depot burned to the ground. :-( However, this is still where most railfans hang out. DO NOT VENTURE ONTO ANY TRACKS.
Eric Burris has contributed this information. He has a nice railfan series of pages here. Sam Schlageck provided the update on the depot.
EMPORIA -- SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS (January 9, 1999)
6th Avenue has lots of places to eat. For good Mexican food, you can go to the El Pelenques on Commercial Street near the trax in the 300 block. If you sit by the window you can watch trains whiz by. For ice cream go to Braums on west 6th Street. Braums also has good hamburgers and fries. For motels, try the west side of town.
Eric Burris has contributed this information. He has a nice railfan series of pages here.
HARPER (December 10, 1999)
It may be just a dot on the map to many folks, but for trainfans, this small town of about 1100 souls offers a real big show: The BNSF (ex-ATSF) racetrack between Kansas City and the southwest provides all the action you could ask for.
From I-35 south of Wichita, take exit 19, and head west on US-160. Harper is about 40 miles from I-35. This should be quite an enjoyable drive, as the mainline parallels US-160 all the way from Wellington/I-35! Once in town, go north on Central to just before the tracks, and turn west onto 5th (?) street. Follow the latter to its end, and you'll be in the vicinity of the double track mainline's wye with the Central Kansas Railway's line up to Kingman.
Our thanks to Sam Schlageck for this information.
HERINGTON (November 2008)
[Webmaster's Note: This is a contribution from Frograil's Kansas Editor Ken Kuehne.]
Herington is an ex-Rock Island junction town on the plains of Kansas. While ownership of the lines has changed over the years from Rock Island, to Southern Pacific, and finally Union Pacific, Herington has been an important terminal for each line, both as a crew change site, and as a rail yard.
Herington is located about 25 miles south of Junction City, Kansas on US-77. As you near Herington, the road passes over the tracks, and then intersects with K-4. Turn right to head west on K-4. After one mile, the tracks will pass overhead. Turn left to head south on Vane Road, the first road after the rail overpass. Vane runs along the west edge of the rail yard, and there are often eastbounds being staged here awaiting crews. After a mile, the road turns west, but almost immediately meets 8th Street. Turn left to head south into town on 8th Street.
Continue south on 8th until you come to Walnut Street. Along the way, you will cross over a railroad track which is all that remains in Herington of the Missouri Pacific line to Pueblo, CO, which used to cross here. During the past, Southern Pacific used this line quite a bit, but with the Union Pacific merger, the traffic was diverted. The line is abandoned to the east of Herington, and this stub extends only to Hope, where it is abandoned once more. Turn left to head east on Walnut, and after going over the tracks on a new overpass, make a right turn on 5th Street and pull into the gravel lot by the tracks and in front of the hardware store. This is a roundabout way to approach this location, but it does allow you to to get a good look at all that goes on in Herington.
As for the overpass itself, there is a sidewalk on the north side, allowing good views of the south end of the yard.
The gravel lot is located at the junction of Union Pacific's Herington and Lost Springs subs, while the yard is north of the overpass. The Herington sub curves to the southwest at this location and eventually makes it's way to El Paso, TX. The Lost Springs sub heads south to Wichita, and eventually to Ft.Worth, TX. This line was rarely used during the 90's, but the Union Pacific merger has led to greatly increased traffic on this line. Today, both combine for around 24 trains per day. All of these trains stop to change crews, and many will switch out blocks of cars. Herington also originates and terminates several trains.
For amenities, fast food and lodging can be found in Herington along US-77 and US-56Business. To reach them, head east on Walnut into the downtown area, then go 4 blocks south to US-56Business, then turn east again. It's about a mile to US-77.
Frograil thanks Walt Sharp for this November 2008 update.
HUTCHINSON
Located about an hour northwest of Wichita, Hutchinson is a prairie crossroads which features action from a variety of railroad lines. For eastern people like your Webmaster, Hutchinson is the home to absolutely gargantuan grain elevators.The main railroad players in town are BNSF'S La Junta Subdivision, and UP's Golden State Route. The top location in town is where these two lines cross.
To reach the diamonds, take KS-61 (a freeway) and exit at East A Avenue. Go eash 1 block to Lorraine Street. Turn north to the BNSF tracks and find a nice spot in the open area around the diamonds. Expect 20 +/- trains a day on the Union Pacific, and 10 +/- on BNSF.
This railfan location has been contributed by Chuck Mitchell, and has been edited for us by Ken Kuehne, Frograil's Kansas Editor.
HUTCHINSON -- STATION AREA (August 2008)
The Old Rock Island Depot is now the Union Pacific yard office, and is located on Main and Avenue D. It has a dirt parking area where railfans can park. If you go there on a busy day you are bound to see some railfans. The yard engines park at this location when not out switching, which provides the sounds of idling power while waiting for the next train. The UP line past this point sees as many as 20 trains per day.
Hutchinson is in south central Kansas, and US-50, KS-61 and KS-96 are the main roads in the area.The station is in the downtown portion of Hutchinson, and numerous amenities can be found nearby.
This railfan location has been contributed by Chuck Mitchell, and has been edited for us by Ken Kuehne, Frograil's Kansas Editor.
LEAVENWORTH -- DAKOTA STREET
If you're coming from East Leavenworth, continue west on MO-45Spur, and you'll join MO-92 east of the Missouri River. Go west on Mo-92 over the river, and you'll be in Leavenworth. There are many other ways to enter the town, but all directions within town assume entering via MO-92 (which becomes KS-92 once in Kansas). Take a left onto 4th Street at the traffic light, and then the third left onto Dakota Street. This will cross the Union Pacific Omaha - Kansas City main line, in the vicinity of large grain elevators next to the river. There is an old Amtrak car in the area.
Alex mentions that most movements seem to be northbound, so there may be directional running involved. That said, expect an average of about 3 trains per hour. For life support purposes, there's a Sonic Drive-in on 4th Street.
Frograil thanks Alexander Rodriguez-Mora for this location. If you have time, you can make a mini-tour out of the following, in logical start to end order:
Beverly (MO)
East Leavenworth
Leavenworth -- Dakota Street (KS)
Leavenworth -- Landing Park
LEAVENWORTH -- LANDING PARK (August 2004)
If you're at the Dakota Street location, go back out to 4th Street, take a left, and then another left onto Cherokee Street. You're now heading back towards the river and the Union Pacific Omaha - Kansas City Main Line. If you're starting to this location from anywhere else but the Dakota Street location, use the junction of KS-92 and 4th Street as your point of departure, and go south on 4th.
You'll see the old brick depot, which is now a community center. There is a pedestrian overpass of the tracks, and Leavenworth's Landing Park is on the other side. You can walk around, sit lazily by the river and watch the flow of traffic on the UP. There is a near-by crossing with arms, bells and lights to warn of an approaching train.
Frograil thanks Alexander Rodriguez-Mora for this location. If you have time, you can make a mini-tour out of the following, in logical start to end order:
Beverly (MO)
East Leavenworth
Leavenworth -- Dakota Street (KS)
Leavenworth -- Landing Park
LEBO (March 13, 2006)
[Webmaster's Note: This is a contribution from Frograil's Kansas Editor Ken Kuehne.]
Lebo is a small, picturesque Kansas farm town located about 20 miles east of Emporia. Lebo is located on BNSF's busy Transcon mainline running from Chicago to Los Angeles.
To get to Lebo, exit Interstate 35 at exit 148, and head south on K-131. You will enter the town of Lebo within a mile. There are a number of places to park along the tracks. I would suggest crossing the tracks and then turning west on the first road, Sac and Fox St acording to Mapquest, which runs just on the south side of the elevators. Continue down this road to the railroad crossing, park on the north or south side of the tracks, and prepare to enjoy the show.
Out of all the small towns in Kansas to watch trains in, Lebo is my favorite. The tracks travel through Lebo on a Southwest to Northeast bias, so decent photos can be had at most times of the day, and in most seasons too. Lebo is currently home to some classic Santa Fe style searchlight signal bridge, which guards the crossovers here. These, along with the elevators and the expanse of prairie to the west, will give you dozens of photo opportunities while in Lebo. This is good, because BNSF sends an eye popping amount of trains through here. On a recent trip, I saw 73 trains in 19 hours.
Being a small town, Lebo has little to nothing in the form of restaurants and lodging. There is a gas station a couple blocks north of the tracks on the road you entered town on, but that's about all. For lodging and restaurants, Emporia has what you need.
LENEXA (June 7, 1998)
From I-35, take exit 225A, West 87th Street and head west to Pflumm (not a misprint), and then south on Pflumm to the tracks. The ATSF train station is near a good hobby shop, and the BNSF parade of trains can been seen from the windows of the shop. The station/shop area is on the north side of the tracks, so you might want to scout for a vantage point south of the tracks for photos. Expect to see more than one train per hour here.
Eric Burris has contributed this information. He has a nice railfan series of pages here.
MANHATTAN -- BIG BLUE RIVER BRIDGE (August 2008)
Located on the eastern edge of Manhattan, this location is home to a rather nice 3-span bridge. To access the bridge, take US-24 east from Manhattan, passing a Kmart, a car dealership, and the traffic light at McCall Road. The Union Pacific will be to your right. As you pass McCall Road, US-24 will curve to the right, and you will see the bridge that US-24 uses to cross the Big Blue River ahead. About 200 feet before the bridge will be a turnoff to the right which leads down to the dirt parking area where you’ll park. This location can only be accessed traveling eastbound on US-24. If you approach Manhattan from the east, you will need to cross over the Big Blue River, then make a U-turn at Levee Drive which is about a quarter mile west of the bridge.
This location is home to a boat ramp as well as an access point for Manhattan’s Linear Park, a hiking and biking trail surrounding town. Standing on the levee where it intersects the tracks can yield nice pictures in the mornings and afternoons, and exploring yields numerous angles of the railroad bridge. Manhattan is located on the UP Salina Subdivision about 50 miles west of Topeka, KS. The Salina Sub is used by 11 or so trains per day, and tuning your scanner to 160.740 will allow you to listen in on operations. Manhattan has plenty of food and lodging opportunities. The Comfort Inn found along US 24 a mile to the west was clearly placed with the railfan in mind, being all of 30 feet from the tracks.
Frograil thanks Luke McIntyre for this submission. In addition, Ken Kuehne, the editor of the Kansas page, extensively edited the submission.
The Webmaster would like to also point out that to the west of Manhattan is Fort Riley, the home of the United States Army's "Big Red One", the 1st Infantry Division.There is a fine museum on post, and if you're tired of looking at young Americans who are terriblyFrograil thanks Adam Burnett for this submission. He was the Mayor of Melvern when he submitted this location. Ken Kuehne, the editor of the Kansas page, processed the submission. overweight and foreign to exercise, you will be impressed with the young men and women in today's Army. "Army Strong" is definitely more than just a trite advertising slogan.
MATFIELD GREEN (July 2008)
Located in Kansas’ scenic Flint Hills, Matfield Green is a great place to view BNSF action. Matfield Green is located on KS-177 about 16 miles south of Strong City or 10 miles north of Cassoday. The tracks are above the road through this area as they wind through the hills, and can be hard to access. One place to reach track level is to take the road heading under the railroad overpass in Matfield Green and following the road up to track level on the opposite side of the bridge.
Due to BNSF’s current practice of directionally routing trains between Ellinor Junction and Mulvane, Matfield Green currently sees around 40 trains per day with 80% of those being westbound. The only eastbound trains are high-priority intermodal trains using the shorter leg of the directional running. There is a passing siding at Matfield Green. The signals at the siding will be lit when a train has been cleared through. If the signals are lit, a train is coming.
Due to the orientation of the track, the best time to visit with photography in mind would be from September to April. The area is also very lush and green in the early weeks of summer. Photographing trains in the Matfield Green area requires a lot of effort, but the results are rewarding. Trespassing on ranch lands should be avoided. Matfield Green is a tiny town with no services. Cassoday or the Strong City area provide gas and food.
[Webmaster's Note: This is a contribution from Frograil's Kansas Editor Ken Kuehne.]
MATFIELD GREEN -- PIONEER BLUFF (July 2008)
One specific location of note in the Matfield Green area is Pioneer Bluff located north of town. Finding this spot can be tricky, as I drove right by it for years before realizing there was a way up. It is easiest to find this place while heading north from town. As you head north up KS-177, you will pass the north switch of the siding and its accompanying signals after a half mile. Straight ahead, you will see the tracks running along the hillside about 50 feet above the highway. As you pass this spot, keep your eyes peeled to the left side of the road for a rutted, overgrown, road (if you can call it that) heading up the hill and around the corner. SLOWLY ease on to this road and up the hill.
While you can get cars up this road, a truck is preferred. You can always walk up if you don’t feel comfortable taking the family sedan through the tall grass. Once at the top, park and scout around for photo spots. One pleasing shot is a morning shot of eastbound trains coming around the picturesque S-curve here. Unfortunately, because of directional running, few eastbound trains come by here.
[Webmaster's Note: This is a contribution from Frograil's Kansas Editor Ken Kuehne.]
MELVERN (July 2008)
Melvern is situated southwest of Kansas City and directly south of Topeka. From the intersection of US-75 and I-35 on the Osage and Coffey County border, go north on US-75, and then east on KS-31, which will take you into the center of town. The BNSF (ex-ATSF) double track main line from Kansas City approaches the town from the northeast and curves thru town in a rocky cut. Expect about 70 trains per 24 hours, which means a train every 21 minutes. That's a lot of trains.
There are several nice locations thru town to view the action, but the key location is the old steel truss bridge at 5th and Hollman. Constructed in the early 1900's, the bridge is on the National Historic Record, and is purported to be one of the last of its type in the country that trains still pass under. It is closed to automobile traffic, but is open to bikes and pedestrians (including railfans!). The city is developing a Railroad Park that offers the public an area to view trains immediately alongside the tracks. This park is located between the truss bridge and the K-31 highway bridge on the north side of the tracks.
Frograil thanks Adam Burnett for this submission. He was the Mayor of Melvern when he submitted this location. Ken Kuehne, the editor of the Kansas page, processed the submission. Mr. Burnett points out that there is a cafe open until 2PM, a bar and grill (closed Mondays), a bank, and a full service gas station available in town for life support. Lodging is available in Ottawa, Emporia, and Topeka.
ONAGA (June 2006)
Onaga is about about 6 or 7 miles NW of Aikens Switch. The town itself is not especially scenic, but there is a KS-16 overpass just east of town that crosses high above the UP tracks. The bridge is very wide and it's safe to legally park on either side of the road, where one can get good "aerial" views of eastbounds in the AM and westbounds in the PM.
Thanks and a tip of the Frograil hat to Don Woodworth for this location.
PARSONS (June 29, 1999)
For much of our nation's railroad history, railroads have often seemed to be linked very strongly to one town (e.g. Western Maryland and Cumberland, Union Pacific and Omaha, Southern and Spencer. For the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (Katy), the link has always been to Parsons, Kansas. Back in 1986, I made my first and only visit to Parsons. It was obvious, in looking over the huge facilities which had been so important, that this had been a railroad town to be reckoned with. Well, as Tom Shaw reports, there is still life in Parsons! Indeed, according to the latest U.S. Railroad Traffic Atlas by Harry Ladd, the traffic thru there is still very, very heavy.
Parsons, home for some 12,000 folks is not really difficult to railfan. Located in the far southeast corner of Kansas, at the intersection of US-59 and US-160/400, the entire mid-section of the town is the railroad complex. To give you an idea of the importance of the Katy to Parson's past, 3,000 people once worked for the railroad here! Union Pacific runs southbound freight thru here on a directional running scheme, and runs its northbounds thru Neodesha some 30 miles or so to the west. Southbound road crews are changed in Parsons, so all road freights stop and pose for pix. There is also some local work in what's left of the yard complex. Expect 19 +/- trains per 24-hour period.
With thanks to Tom Shaw for this good info.
SHAWNEE -- HOLLIDAY JUNCTION
[Webmaster's Note: This is a contribution from Frograil's Kansas Editor Ken Kuehne.]
Holliday Junction is a well-known location in suburban Kansas City, Kansas. Located 8 miles west of BNSF's massive Argentine Yard, Holliday is where BNSF's Topeka Sub splits from its Transcon main. From here, the Transcon heads southwest to Emporia, while the Topeka Sub follows the Kansas River west to Topeka, where it then heads south to Emporia rejoining the Transcon.
To reach Holliday, get on I-435 and get off at Exit 8A, Holliday Drive. Turn left (west) and drive until you reach the tracks, which is about 1 mile down the road. Cross the tracks and immediately turn into the small gravel area to your right, which has a beat up, yellow pipe fence separating it from the tracks. There is room for about 2 vehicles here.
So, what will you see at Holliday? A lot of trains! 60-80 BNSF trains per day will roll through as well as a handful of Union Pacific intermodal trains utilizing trackage rights. Additionally, Amtrak's Southwest Chief uses the Topeka sub, rolling westbound around midnight, while the eastbound train hits around 6:15 am. The eastbound train can easily be photographed in the summer months and when it's running late.
As far as photography, angles are rather limited for eastbounds, but westbound trains approach on a 1-mile long tangent, and afternoons can yield good shots of these trains. Holliday is located in a rather sparse location for amenities, but driving a few miles south on I-435 will yield many commercial establishments.
One major drawback to this location is you often have no idea when a train is coming. This is due to the fact that no signals face you, and that this is an extremely noisy location, with no nearby crossings. Often, you will have only seconds warning that a train is near. You will, however, hear plenty of horns on Union Pacific's line across the river to the north, and it can be very irritating if the BNSF hits a dry spell when the UP gets hot!
Now for some important safety considerations. Firstly, the road is very busy, and the yellow pipe fence looks like it has been hit by at least one car that missed the curve. Look out for civilian traffic. Secondly, while not trespassing on railroad property is common sense, this location doesn't have a lot of real estate, which makes that a little bit tempting. Don't do it. This area has a sensitive feel to it, and while I have never had problems here, I have had cops give me a real good look as they drove by. Just play it safe and everything should be fine.
SOLOMON
Take exit 262, Solomon Road, south off I-70 into Solomon via Poplar Street. This leads one to the west end of the city park. Between the railroad tracks and the south side of the city park is the best viewing of theUnion Pacific Railroad's Salina Subdivision. The UP is used by 11 or so trains per day, and uses AAR Channel 42/160.740 for radio communications.
The Kyle Railroad links with the UP at MP 173.6 on the UP Salina Subdivision which is just west of Solomon. Kyle has to get a warrant from the UP dispatcher before proceeding into Salina, KS to drop off their train. Occasionally, parked locomotives can be found parked at the junction, but movements on this line are sparse. Kyle operations use 160.440 for radio communications.
This railfan location has been contributed by Walt Sharp, and has been edited for us by Ken Kuehne, Frograil's Kansas Editor.
SOUTH HUTCHINSON -- MORTON JUNCTION
Morton Junction is an interesting location southwest of Hutchinson that has grown in importance in recent years. Aside from the BNSF and UP diamonds, all thru train traffic on both railroads thru Hutchinson will also pass Morton Junction. A lot of action happens here. To reach the junction, drive south on Main Street in Hutchinson and cross the Arkansas River. Continue south until you reach Blanchard Road, and take a right turn. The latter will take you to the yard.
Morton Yard usually showcases switching at all parts of the day. BNSF and UP run parallel here in a northeast - southwest direction. A connector track in the middle of the junction marks the location where the UP trackage rights over the BNSF to Chicago begin. A handful of UP intermodal trains will take this connector. There is a UP passing siding just west of this location called Whiteside, and if a train stops there, you will have many opportunities for photos. Expect about 20 trains on the UP and 10 on the BNSF. However, some of the trains on BNSF will be UP trains which use the UP to the west of Morton Junction.
Frograil thanks Chuck Mitchell for the submission of this railfan location. Ken Kuehne, the Kansas editor for Frograil, helped with the submission.
TERRA COTA
Terra Cotta siding is located near MP 206 on Union Pacific's Sharon Springs Subdivision.
To reach Terra Cotta, take exit 238 from I-70, and take South Brookville Road straight south into Brookville. Take a right onto KS-140 and head west to Avenue J in Ellsworth County. The Union Pacific tracks parallel KS-140 on the south side, and the Avenue J turnoff is located where the tracks curve away from the road. Make a left turn onto Avenue J and follow it around until you reach the siding. You can take pictures of both ends of the siding. If you proceed west on Ave J past Terra Cotta, be careful as the road gets into somewhat worse shape in inclement weather. Your best bet is to turn around and exit the same way you came it. You can also get pictures in the vicinity of the Kansas 141 overpass located a few miles to the west by continuing down K-140 to K-141 or by continuing west down Ave J to the overpass.
This railfan location has been contributed by Walt Sharp, and has been edited for us by Ken Kuehne, Frograil's Kansas Editor.
TERRA COTA -- KS-141 OVERPASS
From the siding described in the entry for Terra Cota, You can get to an entirely different photographic perspective by going to the KS-141 overpass to the west. If you proceed west on Avenue J past Terra Cotta, be careful, as the road gets into somewhat worse shape in inclement weather. Your best bet is to turn around and exit the same way you came in, and then continuing west of KS-140. Take a left onto KS-141, and park in the vicinity of the overpass.
This railfan location has been contributed by Walt Sharp, and has been edited for us by Ken Kuehne, Frograil's Kansas Editor.
TOPEKA -- GREAT OVERLAND STATION (November 2006)
[Webmaster's Note: This is a contribution from Frograil's Kansas Editor Ken Kuehne.]
[Webmaster's Note: The driving directions to the station have temporarily changed. Go here to see an update as of February 2007.]
The state capital of Kansas offers some good train-watching opportunities, and the crown jewel of these is the restored Union Pacific passenger station. Called the Great Overland Station, this building has been beautifully restored after sitting for years as a burned out hulk. The station is located at the junction between Union Pacific's line from Kansas City to Gibbon, NE and its ex-Southern Pacific exx-Rock Island Golden State Route to El Paso, Texas.
From I-70 at exit 362A, use 3rd Street to head two blocks west to Kansas Avenue. If you're headed westbound on I-70, you will need to drive one block north from the exit ramp to access 3rd St. At Kansas Avenue, turn north (right turn) and cross the Kansas River. It is important to note that on the north side of the river, Kansas Avenue shifts to the east and is now Quincy Avenue.
At Gordon Street., turn left and drive one block west to Kansas Avenue. Turn south (left turn) on Kansas Avenue, cross the tracks, and continue one block. Turn west, drive about half a block, and look for the entrance to station's parking lot. There are signs to guide you to the station for these last few turns. Either park in the lot, or continue to the vacant area to the west of the lot and prepare to see a lot of trains. In the future, a connection is being built from the Kansas Avenue bridge that will feed directly to the south end of the station parking lot, making access even simpler.
As beautiful as the station is, it won't distract you from all the trains flying by. This is a busy spot, averaging around 70 trains per day. As an added bonus, two railroads have haulage rights over Union Pacific here, adding an occasional rare move to lookout for. Kansas City Southern has rights from Kansas City into the Topeka Yard to the west of the station. Periodically, they will run unit grain trains along this line. BNSF has rights down the Golden State Route, and occasionally will send a train via that route.
This is a great place to watch trains, but photographic opportunities aren't the best. For food, Topeka Boulevard has a number of restaurants to the north, and lodging can be found to the west along I-70, which runs across the river to the south.
----------------------
Temporary driving instructions, as of mid-February 2007:
Due to the reconstruction of the Topeka Boulevard bridge, it is impossible to use the route described previously. Instead, use the following route: Exit I-70 at exit 362A, and use 3rd Street to head two blocks west to Kansas Avenue. If you are headed westbound on I-70, you will need to drive one block north from the exit ramp to access 3rd Street. At Kansas Avenue, turn north (right turn) and cross the Kansas River. It is important to note that on the north side of the river, Kansas Avenue shifts to the east and is now Quincy Avenue.
At Gordon Street, turn left and drive one block west to Kansas Avenue. Turn south (left turn) on Kansas Avenue, cross the tracks, and continue one block. Turn west, drive about half a block, and look for the entrance to the station's parking lot. There are signs to guide you to the station for these last few turns. Either park in the lot, or continue to the vacant area to the west of the lot and prepare to see a lot of trains. In the future, a connection is being built from the Kansas Avenue bridge that will feed directly to the south end of the station parking lot, making access even simpler.
WAMEGO (August 2008)
Wamego is a small town with some rather good photographic opportunities. The town is located at the intersection of US-24 and KS-99 highways. From the intersection of the two highways, head south into the main part of town. You will reach the tracks just after the traffic light at 4th Street. Wamego features a number of photo opportunities, including grain elevators, a caboose on display, and a historic Dutch Mill that can be worked into photographs. The town is small enough that you can easily find a place to park and walk around, or simply drive up to the spots at which you want to take pictures.
Wamego is located on Union Pacific’s Salina Sub, which features 11 or so trains per day. You can listen in to operations by tuning your scanner to 160.740. Wamego is the home to a rarely used passing siding. The reason for its disuse can be explained by the fact that trains waiting on the siding would cut the entire town in two! Wamego has several restaurants, and a couple of smaller hotels can be found along US 24 in the northern part of town.
Frograil thanks Luke McIntyre for this submission. In addition, Ken Kuehne, the editor of the Kansas page, extensively edited the submission.