Unique Operations: The Springfield Underground

The Springfield Underground is a fascinating place to watch trains work. This video covers the BNSF local Y-SPM220, based out of Springfield Yard, as it works the underground. Trains work this spot Monday through Friday and tend to start about 5:30-6:30PM. The motive power assigned to this job may vary depending on the week or day. These video clips were shot on 3 separate days: April 14th, 15th, and 19th 2022. For more information about the Springfield Underground visit their website: www.springfiel...

[@Frankjc3rd]

Fun fact for no good reason, the Engine number that has 19154 on it is the same as a Philadelphia Pennsylvania ZIP code.

[@jimb1801]

Yes have seen videos before of trucks going in and out and saw how big it was ..first time seen train work thank you!!!

[@scottwdavis193]

I live 2 miles from this place

[@tomp8871]

Pretty cool

[@davidurban6813]

Interesting video! Thanks for posting it.

[@blauer2551]

Always interesting when you get a delivery to unique places like that.

[@johnthompson6656]

Have lived in Springfield Mo. Since 85 and have learned so much about The Underground in last 3 weeks. Heard a rumor there's an underground line to the Kraft plant in town but not sure about that.

[@iannarita9816]

Yes Kraft runs an underground cold storage, off Kearney St near The Schoolfield Expressway. It is a gated facility, and Kraft doesn't do tours.

[@wfvideos4099]

Very interesting operation. Nice video!

[@philliplee980]

Nice very cool

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

Coming at it from a mini/micro train layout perspective, that has a lot of operating potential in a small area. Looking at the tracks from Google Maps, you can get a lay of the land pretty easily. I believe Modern Marvels did a video segment on this facility if you want to get a glimpse inside.

[@timslager5966]

Excellent! Nice photography and narration. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@GoldPicard]

Delivered here many times in my two years driving and just like the underground in Carthage, MO there are two truck entrances(North& South, the entrance shown here is the Northern one) that service the buildings down there, thankfully I've never been held up by yard moves here but it is quite a thing to be driving a 13' 6" vehicle underground. Surprised you didn't walk up to the guard shack and asked for a map, numbers tell you the building and the letter tells you the dock.

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

Nice video!

[@Marks_Station]

This is awesome! I didn't even know that this place existed.

[@guymorris6596]

You should see what a bunkered computer complex Walmart has in Arkansas. It's been reported to be more secure than the Pentagon.

[@shamans6669]

This is where theyre hoarding all the food and starving humanity

[@todd0474]

There are quite a few of these. A couple in Kansas City, including the world's largest, at least that's what the sign says. 1 near St Louis, a couple near Carthage, MO.

[@chuckgilly]

Us energy slaves aren't supposed to know about geothermal properties.

[@AlexNunes-z6v]

❤

[@sernajrlouis]

Cool video and channel just subscribed

[@iannarita9816]

PS your video is still a neat subject. If you're a model railroader you can literally have a whole in the wall to switch. Kansas City underground cold storage is built into a bluff of the Kansas River. Another is built into the bluff of the Missouri River. The later also has an active gypsum mine in addition to the storage facility.

[@VirtualRailfan]

Great video, fascinating operations for sure!

[@georgesmith8113]

Good stuff. 👍👍👍👊👊

[@stephenhammer7357]

If you would like to see the inside, look for you tube vido by Riding Shotgun was just there 3 days ago, neet to see!

[@tomroise9426]

Fascinating operation How many days a week ?

[@alcosrarities]

The Job runs 5 days a week (Mon-Fri). Operations have changed a bit since I made this video, I believe they are running around noon-1 on those days now.

[@culcune]

Was this done to avoid all the gunshots? Maybe Chicago needs to build some underground industrial complexes, too.

[@mortenfrosthansen84]

Also seen a few videos, from UK, involving yarding and customer deliveries. Tracks are ancient and incompatible. It must be a nightmare, being neighbour to such noise

[@stepvanjoe3469]

Pretty cool! Looks like it had a turn table at one point was that the case?

[@alcosrarities]

I am not aware of there ever having been a turntable here. It would not quite make sense considering Springfield Yard only a few miles away has a turntable, having a second one here would be redundant.

[@MichaelSmith-ym2rz]

What specific rail commodities are stored in the caves?

[@iannarita9816]

Refrigerated foodstuffs.

[@BriankSmith181]

watched another vid said Kraft owns the facility

[@singalongwrudy8690]

And the drivers on the expressway are none the wiser ...

[@ourv9603]

I'm guessin the green loco is nat gas. !

[@GodsentMe.]

👀

[@todd0474]

I hate maneuvering my truck in these.

[@w124mercedes7]

I imagine you probably have to have clearance as a driver to pick up or deliver here. I would think allot of military freight passes through here. Being climate controlled. Underground and closed off it all sounds like military or govt freight.

[@iannarita9816]

Found this a driver shot inside: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqW0g5xuhriEaas

[@guymorris6596]

Oh yeah, the global elitists have all kinds of underground complexes like this one.

[@UrMomsChauffer]

Neat to see a unique operation like this. I would never have imagined this existing. I've heard of using salt mines for storage, but never limestone. Thank you for making and posting this video.

[@w124mercedes7]

Louisiana uses salt domes to store oil. Millions of barrels of oil. Its a reserve storage they are like massive underground storage tanks. The salt is the tank wall.

[@iannarita9816]

It is unique. It is also not the only underground storage facility. When I was an otr driver saw a few of these. The biggest was in Kansas City, near what is now BNSF's Argentine Yard. Also near Quincy, Il, Carthage, Mo, and Joplin, Mo. The Kansas City underground cold storage had a fire in it back in the 1970's or 80's. Rumor is the fire is still burning. When I was a driver, I talked to employees there. Several had lost cars in the fire. About a third to half of the facility was lost, I was told. Inside they had a rail dock that could load twenty 40' cars. It was kind of neat to see a couple of Santa Fe locomotives in there. Kraft Springfield I don't remember how long the rail dock was. The facility in the video was built in the 1990's I think. Kraft had done some major changes in their operations, and had some concerns. Carthage is an Americold operation(as was Kansas City). During my time as a driver I wished I could have had permission to take pictures of the facilities. I had asked at my trucking company and was told in no uncertain terms no pictures inside a customer facility. And on a number of occasions I got called to say that a facility had commented on my photography. This was real bad after 2001. One last note, most of these facilities are pretty sensitive about security, and if you trespass the security services WILL detain you until the police arrive. Further if they see you taking pictures they will call the police, and ask the police to investigate.

[@jackaction7077]

Is this one of the spots where the elite are going to hide out when the shit hits the fan soon? Looks like the set where they filmed Day of the Dead but that location is in Pennsylvania.

[@trainstractorscarsandtruck7362]

A runaway track!!! How does that work? If you have a runaway train, how would someone get off the train run ahead of the runaway train and throw the switch to the runaway track?

[@iannarita9816]

The switch normally is left in the derail position. If a runaway happens it just runs uphill to the bumper. When the cave is switched the crew first has to throw the switch to get in.

[@trainstractorscarsandtruck7362]

@Ian Narita Makes perfect sense. I was just joking, never heard of a train runaway ramp before. Very interesting and unique feature.

[@toddmccowen8206]

RIDING SHOTGUN has a good video of the inside and its huge .

[@TrainsOhio]

Great coverage! Thanks for sharing!

[@jonathansabatino3987]

Very well done Thank You

[@MrBillCNW]

That’s a pretty cool situation storing goods in a cave temperature controlled by nature. thank you for sharing.

[@garyharrall4002]

I've been to those caves and have seen that train in action firsthand. I've seen the white face BN locomotive switching cars in and out. Supposedly the railroads used to switch at the caves in Carthage as well but don't anymore.

[@dannybradley271]

Good video.I like the way it's done.

[@brucejones4512]

Hi there, how long are the tracks underground and how many tracks are there,???

[@ibbylancaster8981]

Pretty good video young man. Years ago I went to one of those places out in KC as a truck driver. Being from North Carolina, we have no such places. I’ve done a lot of welding in a Campbell’s Soup plant here and they have a spur that usually comes in 3 times a week. I always nerd out when they’re doing their thing. Nicely done.

[@Railfan124]

I found this on my recommended and wonder how it looks in there!

[@atw4321]

Have been there looks like a large mine inside with docks and warehouses

[@sharonycampbell6884]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqW0g5xuhriEaas

[@christianweagle6253]

But why does it all have to happen so g-d slowly?

[@redlight722]

“Cave” would be a natural void underground. Man made is a “Mine”

[@iannarita9816]

Everyone in the business calls them caves, even the manmade mines.

[@KatoOnTheTrack1]

Perfect layout idea, especially for my current situation

[@brandontanis388]

This location is featured (sans trains) in the book 48 Hours by William Forstchen