Western Railroad Discussion > Colorado to Texas Trip Day 4: KYLE!

The latest installment...

Day 1:https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,5679220
Day 2: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,5679685
Day 3: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,5680212


After a sleepy third day, we had an action-packed drive across Kansas. We started the morning in Goodland, took a decent detour up through Nebraska, and back down into Kansas, where we wrapped the day up in Salina. 

1) After setting an early alarm and checking out of our hotel in Goodland, we heard some activity on the scanner. It turned out to be the locomotives we saw yesterday- the crew was swapping the order for a run west to Limon. 
2) We chased them west for a few miles, seen here departing Ruleton.
3) Another rural crossing shot. Kansas has a reputation for being flat, but it's much hillier than I expected. 

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4) Approaching Kanorado
5) Passing the elevator in Kanorado. After this stop, we drove back east, since we didn't want to backtrack too much.
6) Back in Goodland, an SD40T-2 and SD40-2 were tied down. Sensing no imminent crew call, we decided to drive north and check out the BNSF Akron Sub for a bit. 

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7) Outside of Benkelman, we caught a BNSF local heading west.

8) An interesting plant switcher in Benkelman. ex-C&S SD9.

9) A stack train outside of Benkelman

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10) After that, we headed back down to KYLE. In Phillipsburg, we talked to a friendly KYLE employee who let us take some pictures around their yard.

11) An ex-DRGW SW1000 was switching the yard

12) A banged up hopper on a spur

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13) The SW1000 shoving a cut of hoppers back

14) After it cut off the hoppers, it pulled back forward

15) Blocked by demolition debris, but this Illinois Terminal hopper caught my attention. The SD40-2 was a nice sight too

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16-18) After leaving Phillipsburg, we found one more train just west of Cawker City. 

Also, open to any tips or "must hit" spots between Salina, KS and Austin, TX. Open to a generous definition of "on the way" - we're taking our sweet time down and have through Saturday to get back
Thanks for viewing!! 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/23 20:52 by atx_railfan.

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A stop in Mulvane, KS will put you on the BNSF Transcon if you want quantity. 

Aside from the waste facility, there isn't much in Avard, OK save for the junction of the BNSF Avard sub (former Frisco/BN) and BNSF Transcon. Waynoka is a few miles down the road and offers the Transcon and amenities (was a good Mexican restaurant in the old station there. Not sure it's still open though).

If you want to work further west., Curtis Hill on the Transcon (toward Woodward) is a great spot for photos (watch out for rattlesnakes in the scrub though).

The former Santa Fe station in Guthrie, OK (former Harvey House) is a good place to watch trains (not sure if there's a still a restaurant open there though). Can usually catch some swithcing and train building in the yard depending on the day.

You can park at the Oklahoma Model Railroad Association building at 42nd and Sewell in Oklahoma City and watch trains on the BNSF Red Rock sub (avg about 25/day). 

Just east of the BNSF tracks in downtown OKC is the Stillwater Central yard. Access isn't easy and not in the best neighborhood.

Further east in Oklahoma City (at NE 10th and Sooner Rd), you can check the Arkansas and Oklahoma (AOK) auto facility. Traditionally railfan friendly, but no idea how active/inactive it is these days though.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/23 23:04 by billywa.

Since you're starting the day in Salina, you may want to take a few minutes to photograph the Salina Union Station (former UP and Santa Fe passenger station) near the northwest corner of downtown.  UP is no longer using it but it's still looking decent (although it's days may be numbered).  Several blocks east of Salina Union Station is the former Missouri Pacific passenger station located on north Santa Fe Street (north-south main street through downtown Salina).  The former MP station has been nicely refurbished and was being used for leased office space when I stopped by in May 2022.

Newton is another place worthy of a stop if you like the old Santa Fe division point town.  The ex-Santa Fe (now used by Amtrak) passenger station is worth a look.  The old roundhouse area is a couple of blocks west of the passenger station.  Both are located at the south edge of downtown Newton.

Wichita is also worth a look.  The Great Plains Transportation Museum is located just north of Wichita Union Station at the east edge of downtown Wichita.  Look for the ATSF 3768 steam engine positioned on the bridge over east Douglas Street.  They also have one of the ex-ATSF FP-45 diesel locomotives.

Hope you enjoy your trip south through central Kansas!

Bob

Nice bunch...

JG

Thanks for sharing your Kyle shots. I liked them.