Kansas City Southern: National Train Day Activity in Blue Springs

Filmed 05/10/14
I hadn't even been out of bed for 15 minutes when I heard the morning train blowing it's horn a mile or two away. So I grabbed my camera and headed for the crossing at Main Street and filmed the first train right around 8am.
Later, I headed out to Kansas City's Union Station for their National Train Day event and shot some video and still shots there. Unfortunately, I was very pressed for time and couldn't stay long. If I had, I would have finally met some local KZbinr Railfans who were out there also. But, I had a birthday party to get to, so I'll have to meet up with them some other time.
After I got home from the b-day party, I heard train #2 approaching. So, fearing I used up most of my camera battery at Union Station, I went ahead and left for the crossing again. While I was waiting for this train to round the bend, I heard it power down and stop at the next crossing up around the curve from where I was. That's when a former train club member, James, showed up...
Watch the video to see what happens.
After the train passed by, James came back over to where I was and told me what the KCS guys said, that some of the grain cars near the back had sticking brakes. James also told me that one of the KCS employees recognized me. He was on the very slow double stack train lead by the CSX that I posted recently. Said that stacker was doing 10mph. There was a speed restriction due to work on a crossing a mile or two away.
Anyway, my battery did hold out, and I was able to film these two trains along with what I filmed out at Union Station. Turned out to be a pretty decent National Train Day.
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Chris' Channel:
/ 844train
Shane's Channel:
/ thebrakeman17
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My Stuff:
facebook: Railfan Jason
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deviantART: UP9229
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Train club account:
- / ejcmrailroadclub
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Yahoo group:
- groups.yahoo.co...

[@vgrube1]

Thank you for this!! Went to New Orleans on the Southern Belle in 1954 to see New Orleans with my mom! Formal dining car, comfortable seats, pullman cars (too expensive for us) lots of train to roam! Great experience. Train fare for 2, hotel 4 nights, food, sight-seeing, Total cost: $58 Experience: AWESOME!

[@NS8010]

Nice one Jason! Glad your battery lasted. It's always cool when the train crew recognizes you! Great video.

[@RailfanJason]

Thanks Spencer, I'm glad too, it was SO low on juice! Yeah, it's cool... film them enough, who knows, may score a cab ride some day. :D

[@arturocabrera2742]

Very nice video!!, cool trains!!, congratulations!!, thanks for share!!

[@douglaskirk2543]

KCS runs by me, Their sounds announce, either North, or, South Bound. Love the Sounds of their Presence when they come thru. Their KCS Executive Business Train is Awesome up close. She stopped here a few years back with Santa, I was more interested in "The Southern Belle " and walking right beside, feeling the Vibrations, verifying it's EXISTANCE, and POWER, just sitting still, Truly Missourian . . . Ride on "The Flying Crow" , 4 times before KCS ceased Passenger Service . Riding was a Magical adventure on KCS, Miss the Passenger Service, yet understand.

[@slycat1939]

I see these and all types pass by my home daily . I live by 13 tracks in kcks and its really interesting at times.

[@irelandbloke]

Awesome videos !

[@RailfanJason]

Thanks!

[@fnava1987]

Thats not a KCS van, its a PTI van, we take train crews wherever they need to go

[@844Train]

Awesome Shots Jason! Love that K5LLA on that last one. and... shiny!

[@RailfanJason]

Thanks Chris! I just wish you could have been out there for at least the second one too. That was fun.

[@shnimmuc]

Good get. I like the mixed power. Robert.

[@Cnw8701]

Those old CNW hoppers look like they've been sitting in storage for awhile, that might be the reason why they had brake issues!

[@FXE4089-Railfan]

Good video and nice catches. greetings from Mexico!!

[@RailfanJason]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dacuzzz]

PEP boys is having a sale on brake jobs...LOL... another great video vinny

[@RailfanJason]

I'm sure they'd take the business! Thanks Vinny.

[@legaciesontherails3878]

Sweet!

[@aliciahessenflow4013]

John, that was really a neat video of the two trains out in Blue Springs, MO

[@davidedel5228]

Thanks Jason, luv the KCS belle schemes.

[@RailfanJason]

David Edel Thanks for watching David, glad you enjoyed it!

[@SantaFe19484]

Awesome video!

[@christopherlovelock9104]

Being in the UK I have to rely on chaps like you to see anything decent about US trains, - although I have a layout in HO gauge based purely on your trains. I have always admired KCS,, - I think their livery is superb, - do they keep all their loco's immaculate even the Ferromex ones - if they do I think it is a credit to them and their staff. Some of the other 'class 1' carriers could well take note or are they just after the 'quick buck'. Over here the operators (bus, coach, and truck)who have immaculate fleets are the most sought after and never short of customers...............

[@thebrakeman17]

Looks like you had some fun. hope that track is working for you. Shane

[@RailfanJason]

Yes I did. Always fun to see stuff like this go down. :D We're about to start changing some things up in my yard, and yeah the track work out just fine. Thanks again Shane!

[@douglaskirk2543]

KCS runs Right By me, Love the Sounds of LCD . . M

[@TheACman42]

Excellent catches Jason!

[@davidallen6333]

Nice catch !

[@larryrwendelljr4465]

Really! a very nice catch :o)

[@RailfanJason]

Thanks guys!

[@CMBMedia]

Cool catches!

[@RailfanJason]

Thanks!

[@arthurhouston3]

Sorry would not want that driver of van hauling me around.

[@LanternSignals]

GREAT CATCH

[@RailfanJason]

LanternSignals Thanks!

[@a.m.creativ]

No wonder you could hear the morning train. The horns on those EMD SD70M-2's are wicked loud!

[@RailfanJason]

Yeah, they are very loud. However, those are SD70ACes. Kansas City Southern doesn't roster the M-2. I think that's only the NS, MRL and... CSX? But yeah, these early ACes of KCS's have some ear splittingly loud horns.

[@a.m.creativ]

Sorry on the incorrect model listing, I'm not that much of an in-depth fan. I know very basic knowledge. I'm used to seeing SD70M-2's here in Ontario, Canada on CN's line. However, they are starting to roster SD70ACEes and ES44AC. CN was always mostly DC power from what I understand

[@RailfanJason]

Adam Correia No worries. I didn't realize you were up in Canada, yeah the M-2 is actually not common at all in the States. NS has the biggest lot of them, but they are only a small percentage of the number of ACes here.

[@CNSD75I]

***** NS, CN and FEC are the ones that own M-2's. :) CSX and MRL also own ACe's.

[@yarragongoats]

those two locos must be powerful

[@RailfanJason]

Yarragon Goats The lead unit has 4300 horsepower, the second has 4400.

[@CNSD75I]

Great catches!! How many trains does this line get a day?

[@RailfanJason]

CNSD75I Thanks! Not many. On average 4-6 a day.

[@CNSD75I]

Is this the only KCS line in the KC area? Dang, that stinks. I wish it were busier.

[@RailfanJason]

CNSD75I No, KCS has two lines. This one runs east/west across the state while their busier line runs north/south out of KC. KCS is actually a north/south railroad for the most part, this line running east/west was acquired 10-15 years ago when they bought out the regional railroad Gateway Western.

[@CNSD75I]

How busy is their north/south line outta KC? Sorry for all the questions. Heh. :P

[@RailfanJason]

I honestly don't know. I rarely get to railfan that line so I don't keep up with it. But it does get a lot more traffic than this one.

[@Railfanable]

You mean Mexico, Missouri, yes?

[@RailfanJason]

Well, this stretch of KCS track is called the Mexico Subdivision. It originates in Mexico, MO, and terminates in Kansas City, MO. The city I'm in, Blue Springs, is along this Sub.

[@Railfanable]

Ah! I live in Mexico, MO, so this video is cool!:)