4/25/2010 I arose in Parsons and had a continental breakfast before checking out and filled the car with petrol, then decided to explore before leaving.
Union Pacific 7236 South.
The former Missour-Kansas-Texas shops built in the 1900s and closed in 1988.
Helm Leasing (HLCX) GP38-2 3828, ex. Norfolk Southern 5378, nee Conrail 82583 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1978. From here I departed Parsons on Kansas Highway 400, heading west to US Highway 75, which I took south to Independence, Kansas.
The Missouri Pacific freight house.
The South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad bridge at Independence still has a Santa Fe emblem on it. I realized that if I tried to get through Independence, I might not be able to catch Union Pacific 844 again for a long while if I photographed it south of town, I decided to head north and choose my first my first spot with good highway access so picked the small town of Sycamore and parked at the grade crossing facing out. I met a former Verizon phone user who had nothing but problems with the company as I do. A while later we started hearing the steam engine's whistle and soon saw smoke approaching.
Union Pacific 844 passing through Sycamore, Kansas. I headed back on US Highway 75 and joined the chase then in Neodesha, watched it cross the highway in front of me. All the chasers overtook Union Pacific 844 and would pick their next photo locations.
North of Buffalo, Kansas, everyone beat it to the US 75 bridge over the tracks and I set up for my next series of pictures, then saw the smoke and again heard that whistle. Here came Union Pacific 844 around the corner into view.
Union Pacific 844 put on a fine show as it passed our photo location. Next we all headed to the Yates Center/Durant servicing stop.
The steam engine pulling into the servicing stop. I drove north on US 75 to Kansas Highway 57, which I took to Leroy and set up.
Union Pacific 844 passing through Leroy. I quickly returned to Kansas Highway 57, which I took to US Highway 169 and tok that north. North of Garnett, I started seeing people at grade crossings and knew I was ahead of Union Pacific 844 so parked across the highway and walked over to the grade crossing.
Union Pacific 844 east of Garnett, Kansas. Back in the car, I passed those stupid people who have to pace the engine.
Just before that, I took this picture of the train while driving then got ahead to the next good grade crossing with a curve.
Union Pacific 844 took this curve and I was back in the car again. Once again, I passed the pack and made it into Osawatomie, finding the Missouri Pacific heritage unit no longer there. Soon I heard the whistle and saw the smoke as Union Pacific 844 approached.
Union Pacific 844 passing through Osawatomie. With a servicing stop at Paola, I went to KFC and picked up two breast filets to go then drove to the Kansas Highway 68 overpass where I had my lunch while waiting for my final series of pictures of the steam train today. I saw smoke and heard the whistle and before long, it came into view.
My final views of Union Pacific 844 and with it now gone, it was time to drive back to La Plata so I returned to US Highway 169 north towards Kansas City.
BNSF East 2660 at Hillsdale.
BNSF East 3205. I filled the car in Olathe then took Interstate 35 north through Kansas City but had to exit at Exit 8 to turn around so I could exit at Exit 6, which was closed northbound. There were no detour signs. I got on Missouri Highway 210 but had to stop right away.
The Norfolk Southern engine facility at North Kansas City.
Norfolk Southern C40-9W 9585 at North Kansas City. I continued east on Missouri Highway 210 which I took to Richmond, then drove south to Henrietta.
Henrietta Santa Fe station, one of several depots in Missouri and Illinois that remained on-site to serve maintenance-of-way forces after its agency closed in 1982. Like most of the other survivors, Henrietta was heavily modified to fit its new role. The former waiting room was converted into a garage, complete with a roll-up door, and several windows were bricked shut. The overall appearance of the building remained, however. Henrietta was once a junction for the branch to St. Joseph, Missouri.
Union Pacific 7868 West passed while I was here. Back to now Highway 10, I took it east to Hardin, when I saw something to photograph.
Ray-Carroll Co-Op SW1200 1221, ex. Chicago and North Western 1221, nee Chicago and North Western 321 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1962 at a grain silo in Hardin, Missouri.
I continued east on Missouri Highway 10, but at Norbourne, found the highway closed to flooding with no detour signs so stopped at Casey's to get directions. I took Road D north and later crossed the former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy at what would be another nice photo location in the future. Road M was closed to flooding but when I reached Road W, it was open. It crossed the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, which produced another nice photo location. I took this road to US Highway 65, crossing the railway again and went north. But when I reached Road J, it was closed for bridge repair with no detour signs. I took Road H to Missouri Highway 139, crossed the railway twice more while going through Sumner. Once back on US Highway 36, I drove east to Macon and stopped at KFC before reaching La Plata for my two-night stay at the Depot Inn & Suites in the Pullman Suite. It had been a great day and it was always a true pleasure to see Union Pacific 844.
