I arose at the Depot Inn and Suites in La Plata, Missouri, obtained breakfast and took it back to my room then learnt that the Southwest Chief was late and the Pittsburgh Penguins were playing at noon. No one had yet arrived for the La Plata Railfan Event but I knew John Green and a friend were arriving tomorrow night. As such, I had the day to myself and decided to drive out to Route Z and go for a walk and photograph trains. It was 32 degrees when I left the hotel found a strong cold northwest wind blowing.
The eastbound signal bridge at Hart at County Road Z.
The westbound signal bridge.
I had a green westbound signal meaning a train was in the block then heard this train blow for the road in Ethel.
Union Pacific 5418 West at the westbound signal bridge at Hart at County Road Z.
BNSF 7896 East.
BNSF 6129 West. From here I drove over to Lisbon Road just east of Marceline, saw a westbound on the approach, so parked on a side road and made a run for it.
BNSF 8267 West at the signal bridge just west of Lisbon Road MP 344.59. I drove to West Marceline, finding my westbound BNSF train I had photographed at Hart waiting on a green.
BNSF 6129 West again at Long Branch Road grade crossing, after which I returned to Lisbon Road.
BNSF 7655 East at Lisbon Road, MP 344.59. Returning to the hotel, I listened to the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the New York Islanders and Kris Letang had an assist, his 62nd point of the season in the 5-0 Penguins win. I then drove east and found the County Road 42 grade crossing east of Baring, a new photo location. I parked and soon the crossing gates went down.
BNSF 8532 East was a military equipment train rolling east at County Road 42, MP 287.18.
BNSF 7468 West.
BNSF 7549 East. I started returning to La Plata, filled the car with petrol in Edina and drove back to the Depot Inn & Suites. Tom Anderson came by and we went Ruby Tuesday's in Kirksville for dinner then back to the hotel, where Tom showed me the vineyards before we parted company, after which I wrote the rest of this travelogue then called it a night.
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