Mainline Memories: Revisiting the former Katy Railroad in Missouri

[@nickklein6678]

Great video, very informative. Its funny as I grew up knowing about the NKT and often went on the Katy trail, yet I never knew that the trail was from this Railroad. Thanks for sharing!

[@spaceghost8995]

I plan on biking the Katy Trail next year! I did not know this segment was still active.

[@MainTrack]

Hi there! I love the trail! I’ve been on several hikes and rides over the years. Of course, it would be ideal if the trains were still running! Ha. But, a second-best is being able to enjoy it in a recreational sense.

[@tims2501]

Could of sworn video said this was an SD-40 in original form. That looks like an SD-45.

[@jimaz6532]

Nice. Appreciate the narrative too. 🚂

[@MainTrack]

Thanks for watching, Jim. I appreciate the kind words!

[@michaelmckenzie5232]

Well done with the historical narrative

[@richarddrum9970]

I wonder if that beautiful SD45 is still working that line in 2021? Nice to see those wonderful engines still being useful.

[@WhiteRiverRails]

Awesome video! I enjoyed the chase with 2726!

[@MainTrack]

BNSFguy617- thank you! I certainly got lucky catching this one!

[@arlingtontrains7]

awesome video!!! I loved it!!! hope that power plant stays in businesss!!!!

[@MainTrack]

arlingtontrains7- thank you for the compliment. Unfortunately, KCP&L says its plans to close the plant are still on. Since this video was released, a grain elevator in Clinton has returned to using rail service. So, that will be some extra traffic that could help keep the local trains rolling.

[@glennso47]

Was the KATYline ever across northern Illinois? As a little kid in the 50s I seem to remember a KATY line going through Chadwick in northwestern Illinois.

[@MainTrack]

Hi, Glenn. My apologies for the delayed reply as the channel was dormant for a few months. The Katy's tracks only went as far east at St. Louis. However, Katy locomotives did make "run throughs" on other railroads in Illinois to the Chicago such as Milwaukee Road, Soo Line, and others. So, it's very possible you did see some Katy locomotives through there.

[@zayed24]

Hey Mike what is this music that’s playing I love it. Can you tell me what it’s called? And is it true that mna comes to Clinton once a week

[@MainTrack]

Hey there! The music I use in this video is called Friction Looks by an artist called Silent Partner. It's royalty free music available in the KZbin creator studio. The MNA local does come up to Clinton once a week...generally on Saturday afternoons, but sometimes Sunday. They often make a second run each week, but usually that one only goes as far as La Due before turning around and heading back to Nevada. But yes, probably only one train per weeks makes it the whole way up to Clinton. It's good to see there is still plenty of business to keep the trains running on a regular basis.

[@TheMadRRConductor]

Good video. I'm from Clinton originally and recently as of last year moved away from there. Now in South Dakota, but I always liked to see the local come into town when i could. Sometimes it came at night and I could hear it loud and clear from my bedroom window, since I was only a couple blocks from the Rogers St. crossing. Makes me a little home sick now.

[@kcrailroader5297]

TheMadRRConductor Do I know you? Belton Grandview and KC mean anything to you?

[@TheMadRRConductor]

kcrailroader. I have ridden the grandview train before but I know I don't know you at all. I just like trains, and lived in Clinton.

[@MainTrack]

Thanks for watching! I appreciate the compliment. I felt lucky to have caught the train. The last time I managed to see one was in the year 2000! Granted, I am not in Clinton on a regular basis. Some of the local railfans tell me it usually comes to town on Saturday or Sunday afternoons- so, perhaps I can visit the line again sometime soon. It is nice to see the Farmer's Elevator has started regularly shipping by rail again. I have tried to catch one of the coal trains, but they've run so sporadically and I havent had any luck.. Now, a buddy of mine who lives near the plant says he believes the very last coal train has already operated. I recently put together a video promoting my new Katy book, and included some 1980s footage of trains in Clinton. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3_Xn5uNoMeJack

[@ethannixtrainschannel8806]

I saw a BN loaded coal train In Mammoth spring Arkansas! With SD70mac

[@stanleymaravelias1361]

My Grandfather worked for KATY in the 1930's He died in an accident with KATY

[@HoboRoadrunner]

I rode a on a old freight line in Eastern Arkansas I believe it was a old MoPac line that goes up to little rock

[@jjfisher327]

Great job as always Mr. Landis! As fate would have it, your timing of posting this is perfect... I went to Clinton yesterday for a memorial service, and made a point to spot signs of the old Frisco Highline along the way. Also made a few crossings of the old MKT line downtown. I was curious of the service frequency, so thank you. Is there a specific day of the week it runs? The friend I was there to mourn & celebrate was born at La Due and lived at Montrose then Clinton.

[@arlingtontrains7]

Is the plant still open?

[@no1reallycaresabout2]

Much as I enjoy the Katy Trail having grown up Mid Missouri, as a railfan I am sad to have missed the days of the Katy thru my area and to know that the Clinton line could be receding as well.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Nice video Mike.

[@BNSFFur]

Love that video mike

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

am not from this area, however i did make it to central Mo. back in 1983. saw the bridge at boonville, a train in franklin,a train in sedalia. just no time for much more.

[@MainTrack]

Thanks for watching! That's great you had luck catching some action. It was a challenge a lot of the time to see trains during the daylight hours. I was a kid in Sedalia at the time and didn't have the ability to travel to others spots up and down the line. I would have loved to have seen a train on the Boonville Bridge!

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

i was surprised that katy had an operator in the depot in sedalia. saw the mp shops. the wb katy train had a damn CR GP38-2 on point! i am from ohio, so i saw those things all the time.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

we followed the MP from STL to KC. this was just before big yellow screwed things up. this was mostly a MP trip with any thing else available.

[@williammain7281]

Where is this part of Ladue?

[@MainTrack]

Hi, William. This area is in Henry County, which is about an hour or so southeast of Kansas City near Truman Lake. There is also a suburb of Saint Louis called Ladue. I would say it’s confusing to have two towns of the same name in the same state, but I’ve had a few questions about that. I’ve never been to the Saint Louis-area one, so I’m not sure if any rail lines run through it or not. -Mike

[@mackenziezimmerer7926]

It amazes me how only a crossbucks sign is used to alert drivers while bells, whistles, lights and gates can't grab the attention of today's drivers.

[@beeble2003]

Here's what I don't understand. You put a red light at a road junction -- or even just a red sigh that says "stop" -- and the traffic stops. You put multiple flashing red lights, bells and gates at a railroad crossing, and have the train sound a deafeningly loud horn and people say, "Nah, that doesn't apply to me."

[@trainworldstudio7185]

what days do trains come thru clinton and whats the frequincy of that line

[@MainTrack]

Train World Studio - Hello! As of late, it seems like they’ve been making runs to Clinton on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Frequency is about once per week right now.

[@trainworldstudio7185]

Is there more trains on that line now because of the plant opening again?

[@MainTrack]

Hi, there. Have you heard anything about the plant reopening? I hadn't been made aware of that.

[@whiteknightcat]

@@MainTrack There are three generating units at the Montrose Power Plant near La Due. KCP&L retired units 2 and 3, but Unit 1 is still operating. If you look on Google maps you can see a coal train on the balloon track at the facility.

[@eddieknox9874]

believe it or not, there are 2 ladue Missouri towns, I didn't think this was possible, I followed Clinton tracks to ladue, but when I google earth it comes up to ladue in st louis county, mystery solved

[@MainTrack]

That's pretty interesting. Of course, La Due is a ghost of a community- and Ladue is a nice suburban area. The two are about as opposite as you can get!

[@spacecalander]

How did they get Katy out of MKTR?

[@byronbrownfield1041]

MKT stock abbreviation was "KT".

[@spacecalander]

Awesome thanks.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

Missouri Kansas Texas Railway =MKTR

[@eddieknox9874]

I think you got your towns mixed up, ladue is nowhere near Clinton,like over 200 miles apart

[@MainTrack]

Hi, Eddie, you're absolutely right! Ladue is nowhere near Clinton...but, La Due is! There are actually two "Ladues" in Missouri. La Due (space between) is the one l reference Henry County. Ladue (no space) is near St. Louis. It's a little confusing, I know. Thank you for watching!

[@brakie44820]

The 2726 started life as a SD45.

[@MainTrack]

brakie44820 thank you for clarifying that. I must have been confused. What you say makes perfect sense- I originally thought that long hood resembled an SD45 more than an SD40-2.

[@iceman6065]

MO seems to like having multiple towns with the same name. I know of at least one other occurrence like that.

[@timpriddy349]

You will NEVER guess who owned that yellow engine.......

[@trainworldstudio7185]

when do coal trains go thru

[@RailPreserver2K]

i subbed

[@eddieknox9874]

sorry

[@MainTrack]

No problem, Eddie! Being a western Missouri guy myself- I grew up hearing about the La Due near Clinton. I was surprised when I found out there was "another" one near St. Louis!