Kansas City Southern through Central Missouri

[Dolby1000]

So, this Saturday, we are traveling through MO and going through Mexico, MO. I noticed that KCS has what appears to be a well used line through this area paralleled by Route 54 all the way to the IL border. The line continues to Springfield, IL.

Does anyone here know just how active this line is, and if KCS sends trains through here on a Saturday? Traveled through here 2 years ago and didn't see a thing and I would love to see come KCS power and trains.

Thanks for any advice on how to see a train along this line.

Dolby1000

 

[ecofreak]

The KCS only has a few trains per day each way on this line, but I believe that includes Saturdays. I have seen their westbound trains in Independence several times in the late afternoon. Good luck!

 

[B_Kosanda]

I've had really poor luck on that line, catching only a couple trains in many attempts. The NS Saint Louis District out in Mexico also has a low number of trains.

Bill

 

[stlgevo51]

The KCS sees two intermodal trains each way per day, the IVNKC and IKCVN "Schneider Flyer" trains. In addition, they also run MVNKC and MKCVN trains a couple of times per week each. The NS St. Louis District sees around 10 trains on average through Mexico.

 

[Dolby1000]

What we saw:

On the way down (Saturday, July 27)

At Laddonia, we were able to see a grain train, with KCS power, sitting in a siding waiting to go west. This was around 2 -3 PM. They were the nicely repainted units. We didn't wait to see what around to see if anything came through before I got clearance to leave.

On the way back (in heavy rain, Friday the 2nd), just short of Vandalia, a short stack job, going west, came through while we were lucky enough to have the tracks along the road, this train had 2 red CP units. It passed far to quickly to grab any pictures.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[stlgevo51]

CP Gevos in the Storm Light by stlgevo51, on Flickr
I'm guessing this was the train you saw. This shot was taken near Centralia that Friday as we were driving home from chasing another train on the line:

KCS 1 in the Storm by stlgevo51, on Flickr

Back in the Clouds by stlgevo51, on Flickr
This train preceded IVNKC with the CP Gevos by about an hour and a half. I didn't realize you were going to be out that day, or else I would have given you a heads up about it.

 

[Trainfanne54]

Nice catch stlgevo51!

 

[Dolby1000]

CP Gevos in the Storm Light by stlgevo51, on Flickr
I'm guessing this was the train you saw. This shot was taken near Centralia that Friday as we were driving home from chasing another train on the line:

KCS 1 in the Storm by stlgevo51, on Flickr

Back in the Clouds by stlgevo51, on Flickr
This train preceded IVNKC with the CP Gevos by about an hour and a half. I didn't realize you were going to be out that day, or else I would have given you a heads up about it.

Yep, that first pic certainly looks like the one we saw.

We didn't plan on being in the area on Friday, we had left from Lake of the Ozarks a day early due to the awful weather, it was very last minute. Now, if we had known, my DW (darling wife) who drools over the KCS scheme (a train loving wife, isn't my life great), seeing that train would have been awesome. Alas, we were well off the internet at the lake and had no access.

But, those are a couple of great pics, congrats! Thank you for sharing!