Western Railroad Discussion > OCS Trifecta Over 8 days in KC

It's been one heck of a week out here in the Kansas City area!  Between finishing up the school year, dodging tornados, running an ops session at Turbine's HO-scale layout, and going to three separate soccer games at Children's Mercy Park (two SKC, one USMNT), I've also managed to shoot the OCS trifecta!  It's not that often that you happen upon business trains from three separate roads without that much work involved and all over a one week period.  So, without any further adieu, here we go!

Photo 1: Last Saturday night, I was able to shoot the KCS Southern Belle laying over in Knoche Yard.  This would depart Sunday morning for Shreveport as the BKCSH 21.

Photo 2: Tuesday afternoon, the BNSF 7093 led a five car office train (O-GALTOP) west through the area on its way back to Topeka, and I was able to get it twice.  The power might suck, but at least there aren't any bilevels in this train. Here it is pulling into the Argentine fuel pad on Main 2.

Photo 3: Here's that O-GALTOP rolling through Shawnee, KS, just west of Holliday Jct. on the Topeka Sub.

- Jeff Carlson

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Photo 4: This afternoon, I got a timely heads up from a friend in KC that this westbound UP passenger train would be running out of KC, though we weren't entirely sure which route it'd take. Regardless, being a nice day, I decided to set up shop at the UP station in Lawrence and within half an hour the ol' girl showed up with the UP 8253 in the lead!  This train had been down in Parsons, KS earlier in the week running public excursions for their Katy Days Festival.  It was also interesting to see the ex-SP business car "Stanford" in this consist, as these trains typically rate a couple of coaches and a dome.

Photo 5: Here's the same PPSMV rolling around Lawrence's Don Ball Curve with the UP 8784 pulling up the markers.

Photo 6: After catching it in Lawrence, I hopped on I-70, ran back to Topeka and caught it rolling around the curve at mp67, otherwise known as Porubsky's Curve.  From here, the line is awfully tough to chase, so I called off the chase, but I'd say it was a pretty good couple of days.

Thanks again for looking!
- Jeff Carlson

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I wonder if the "Stanford" will ever return to its normal Oakland base that it used to share with the "Sunset?"

Great job Jeff.  All very class photos and trains indeed.
Brian Stevens

An excellent set.  You do nice work Jeff.

Marty

Very nice series, your night photo is excellent. Congratulations on Image of the Day.
John

Nice pics!!

Great series of photos. Congratulations on IOTD.

Ronda Thomas

Posted from Android

Whoa Jeff!  Those look awesome!  That night shot is killer!  Did you shoot that one at ISO 12,800 handheld?

Eric

Despite the era is over for train travel in the days of the Gilded Age.   Its is wonderful to see train sets preserved in such beautiful condition.  The Class 1s have done an outstanding job with beautiful heavy weight cars.  Though there are many private cars in existence,  restored to the orginal condition.   its is a delight to see these train sets photos.  Job well done.  The night shot was super.    Mike IN Ohio

Thanks for all the great shots!  In one sense, I feel bad that I missed shooting them,
but, in another, grateful that you are able to post them on TO for all to enjoy!