BNSF 6872 heads up a train as they head out of the yard toward Santa Fe Junction on June 16th, 2023, at Kansas City, MO. Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit. The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of Kansas City’s Busiest locations. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @600mm, f/6.3, 1/560, ISO 800. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #BNSFtrains #NikonD800

BNSF 6872 heads up a train as they head out of the yard toward Santa Fe Junction, Kansas City, MO

BNSF 6872 heads up a train as they head out of the yard toward Santa Fe Junction on June 16th, 2023, at Kansas City, MO.

Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.

The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of Kansas City’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @600mm, f/6.3, 1/560, ISO 800.

In this week's Saturday Infrared view, we catch an eastbound, with 4 BNSF units leading, as it heads away from downtown Kansas City, Missouri past the famous Santa Fe Junction on June 29th, 2022. Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 200. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #BNSFrailway #infrared #infraredtrainphotography

4 BNSF units leading a eastbound freight at Santa Fe Junction at Kansas City, Mo

In this week’s Saturday Infrared view, we catch an eastbound, with 4 BNSF units leading, as it heads away from downtown Kansas City, Missouri past the famous Santa Fe Junction on June 29th, 2022.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 200.

Kaw River Railroad lease unit WAMX 6033 slowly moves across the Kansas River into at Santa Fe Junction with a daily mixed freight on June 29th, 2022. According to Wikipedia: The Kaw River Railroad (reporting mark KAW) is a Kansas City, Missouri railroad, established in June 2004. Twelve miles of original track served the Kansas City Southern Railroad and its customers in Kansas City and Union Station. The original KAW was a Kansas City Southern Railway Company property and was the first shortline Watco began operating for KCS, serving customers in the Greater Kansas City area and interchanges with the BNSF, KCS, and Union Pacific. The April 2005 expansion was a BNSF property serving customers in Clay County, Missouri and interchanges with the BNSF at Birmingham, Missouri. The KCTL interchanges with the BNSF, ICE, KCS, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific at Kansas City. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Kaw River Railroad lease unit WAMX 6033 slowly moves across the Kansas River at Kansas City, MO

Kaw River Railroad lease unit WAMX 6033 slowly moves across the Kansas River into at Santa Fe Junction with a daily mixed freight on June 29th, 2022.

According to Wikipedia: The Kaw River Railroad (reporting mark KAW) is a Kansas City, Missouri railroad, established in June 2004. Twelve miles of original track served the Kansas City Southern Railroad and its customers in Kansas City and Union Station. The original KAW was a Kansas City Southern Railway Company property and was the first shortline Watco began operating for KCS, serving customers in the Greater Kansas City area and interchanges with the BNSF, KCS, and Union Pacific.

The April 2005 expansion was a BNSF property serving customers in Clay County, Missouri and interchanges with the BNSF at Birmingham, Missouri. The KCTL interchanges with the BNSF, ICE, KCS, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific at Kansas City.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.

BNSF 7298 heads up 5 units with a manifest train as they pass over the diamonds at Santa Fe Junction on June 30th, 2022. Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit. The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 120. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

BNSF 7298 heads up 5 units with a manifest train as they pass over the diamonds at Santa Fe Junction…

BNSF 7298 heads up 5 units with a manifest train as they pass over the diamonds at Santa Fe Junction on June 30th, 2022.

Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.

The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 120.

An eastbound BNSF Intermodal heads toward downtown Kansas City, Missouri on the Kansas Highline at Santa Fe Junction on June 29th, 2022 as the sun begins to cast long shadows and rich golden light from the sunset. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

BNSF Intermodal heads toward downtown Kansas City, Missouri on the Kansas Highline

An eastbound BNSF Intermodal heads toward downtown Kansas City, Missouri on the Kansas Highline at Santa Fe Junction on June 29th, 2022 as the sun begins to cast long shadows and rich golden light from the sunset.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Amtrak 144 and 14 pass through Santa Fe Junction as it heads for Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri on June 30th, 2022, from Chicago, Illinois. Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing in addition to Tower 3, which is used by maintenance of way these days. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit. The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 110. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Amtrak 144 and 14 pass through Santa Fe Junction as it heads for Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri

Amtrak 144 and 14 pass through Santa Fe Junction as it heads for Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri on June 30th, 2022, on its way to Chicago, Illinois.

Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing in addition to Tower 3, which is used by maintenance of way these days. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.

The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 110.

After spending a couple days railfanning the Kansas City areas, myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott of SteelRails started our trip back home and decided to railfan our way back which brought us to this scene at Marshall, Missouri on the afternoon of June 30th, 2022. We came here to try and catch something coming through the flyover here where the UP and KCS cross each other, but never made it to the location because we heard from a fellow railfan, Drew Davison, there was a westbound Kansas City Southern fright headed to Marshall. We decided to wait here to get a shot of it passing the old Chicago and Alton Depot here at Marshall. Now, we didn’t expect a 3-4 hour wait, but that’s what it turned out to be, but the shot was well worth it! According to the website roadtrippers.com, The Chicago and Alton Depot, also known as the Illinois Central Gulf Depot, is a historic train station located at Marshall, Saline County, Missouri. It was designed by the noted architect Jarvis Hunt and built in 1906 by the Chicago and Alton Railroad. It is a one-story, brick and stone building with Jacobethan Revival and Mission Revival style design elements. The building measures approximately 113 feet 2 inches in length and 42 feet 11 inches wide. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Kansas City Southern fright westbound past the old Chicago and Alton Depot at Marshall, MO

After spending a couple days railfanning the Kansas City areas, myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott of SteelRails started our trip back home and decided to railfan our way back which brought us to this scene at Marshall, Missouri on the afternoon of June 30th, 2022.

We came here to try and catch something coming through the flyover here where the UP and KCS cross each other, but never made it to the location because we heard from a fellow railfan, Drew Davison, there was a westbound Kansas City Southern fright headed to Marshall. We decided to wait here to get a shot of it passing the old Chicago and Alton Depot here at Marshall. Now, we didn’t expect a 3-4 hour wait, but that’s what it turned out to be, but the shot was well worth it!

According to the website roadtrippers.com, The Chicago and Alton Depot, also known as the Illinois Central Gulf Depot, is a historic train station located at Marshall, Saline County, Missouri. It was designed by the noted architect Jarvis Hunt and built in 1906 by the Chicago and Alton Railroad. It is a one-story, brick and stone building with Jacobethan Revival and Mission Revival style design elements. The building measures approximately 113 feet 2 inches in length and 42 feet 11 inches wide. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Progress Rail EMDs 7223 and 7218 head up strings of locomotives that are stored on the tracks at just outside the KCS East St. Louis, MO yard as downtown St. Louis and the Arch looms in the background a misty rainy day on May 21st, 2022. According to Wikipedia: Progress Rail Services Corporation (reporting mark PRLX), a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar since 2006, is a supplier of railroad and transit system products and services headquartered in Albertville, Alabama. Founded as a recycling company in 1982, Progress Rail has increased the number of its product and service offerings over time to become one of the largest integrated and diversified suppliers of railroad and transit system products and services in North America. Progress Rail markets products and services worldwide and maintains 110 facilities in the United States, 34 in Mexico, four in Canada, two in Brazil, five in UK, one in Italy, and one in Germany. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 500mm, f/6, 1/500, ISO 500. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Progress Rail EMDs 7223 and 7218 head up strings of locomotives at East St. Louis, IL

Progress Rail EMDs 7223 and 7218 head up strings of locomotives that are stored on the tracks at just outside the KCS East St. Louis, IL yard as downtown St. Louis and the Arch looms in the background a misty rainy day on May 21st, 2022.

According to Wikipedia: Progress Rail Services Corporation (reporting mark PRLX), a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar since 2006, is a supplier of railroad and transit system products and services headquartered in Albertville, Alabama. Founded as a recycling company in 1982, Progress Rail has increased the number of its product and service offerings over time to become one of the largest integrated and diversified suppliers of railroad and transit system products and services in North America. Progress Rail markets products and services worldwide and maintains 110 facilities in the United States, 34 in Mexico, four in Canada, two in Brazil, five in UK, one in Italy, and one in Germany.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 500mm, f/6, 1/500, ISO 500.

Two Union Pacific Railroad freights meet on the MacArthur Bridge on the TRRA MacArthur Subdivision in downtown St. Louis, Missouri on May 21st, 2022, under stormy skies. I really wanted to fly my drone for this shot, but unfortunately this area was a FAA no fly zone for drones. According to Wikipedia: The MacArthur Bridge is a truss bridge that connects St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois over the Mississippi River. The bridge was initially called the "St. Louis Municipal Bridge" and known popularly as the "Free Bridge" due to the original lack of tolls. Tolls were added for auto traffic beginning in 1932. In 1942, the bridge was renamed for Douglas MacArthur. Upon completion, the structure was the largest double-deck steel bridge in the world. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 40mm, f/3.5, 1/640, ISO 125. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Union Pacific Railroad freights meet on the MacArthur Bridge at St. Louis, Missouri

Two Union Pacific Railroad freights meet on the MacArthur Bridge on the TRRA MacArthur Subdivision in downtown St. Louis, Missouri on May 21st, 2022, under stormy skies. I really wanted to fly my drone for this shot, but unfortunately this area was a FAA no fly zone for drones.

According to Wikipedia: The MacArthur Bridge is a truss bridge that connects St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois over the Mississippi River. The bridge was initially called the “St. Louis Municipal Bridge” and known popularly as the “Free Bridge” due to the original lack of tolls. Tolls were added for auto traffic beginning in 1932. In 1942, the bridge was renamed for Douglas MacArthur.

Upon completion, the structure was the largest double-deck steel bridge in the world.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 40mm, f/3.5, 1/640, ISO 125.

Amtrak 4632 leads train 313, Missouri River Runner, as pulls west to Kansas City, MO, out of the 12th Street Yard on the TRRA Merchants Subdivision after departing the Gateway Transportation Center in downtown St. Louis Missouri on May 21st, 2022. On the right we have a Union Pacific intermodal snaking its way east on the UP Jefferson City Subdivision. According to Wikipedia: The Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center, also known as Gateway Station, is a rail and bus terminal station in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Opened in 2008 and operating 24 hours a day, it serves Amtrak trains and Greyhound and Burlington Trailways interstate buses. Missouri's largest rail transportation station. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 18-300 @ 50mm, f/4.8, 1/500, ISO 1400. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Amtrak 4632 leads train 313, Missouri River Runner at St. Louis, MO

Amtrak 4632 leads train 313, Missouri River Runner, as pulls west to Kansas City, MO, out of the 12th Street Yard on the TRRA Merchants Subdivision after departing the Gateway Transportation Center in downtown St. Louis Missouri on May 21st, 2022. On the right we have a Union Pacific intermodal snaking its way east on the UP Jefferson City Subdivision.

According to Wikipedia: The Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center, also known as Gateway Station, is a rail and bus terminal station in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Opened in 2008 and operating 24 hours a day, it serves Amtrak trains and Greyhound and Burlington Trailways interstate buses. Missouri’s largest rail transportation station.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 18-300 @ 50mm, f/4.8, 1/500, ISO 1400.

An infrared photograph of Union Pacific's 4014, Big Boy as it backs into the static display area at Popular Bluff, Arkansas on UP's Hoxie Subdivision, on August 27th, 2021, during its overnight stop on their month-long tour around the United States. The Big Boy is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York in 1941. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one. According to Wikipedia: “The locomotive operated in revenue service until 1959, when it was donated to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in late 1961 and thereafter displayed in Fairplex at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California. In 2013, UP re-acquired the locomotive and launched a restoration project at their Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In May 2019, No. 4014 was operated for the first time after sitting dormant for almost six decades. It ran its first excursion, double-headed with Union Pacific 844, three days later on May 4, 2019. Now part of the Union Pacific's heritage fleet, it now operates in excursion service, in addition to hauling revenue freight during ferry moves.” Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 12-24 @24mm, f/4.5, 1/500, ISO 200.

Union Pacific 4014 at Poplar Bluff, MO

An infrared photograph of Union Pacific’s 4014, Big Boy as it backs into the static display area at Popular Bluff, Missouri on UP’s Hoxie Subdivision, on August 27th, 2021, during its overnight stop on their month-long tour around the United States.

The Big Boy is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York in 1941. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.

According to Wikipedia: “The locomotive operated in revenue service until 1959, when it was donated to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in late 1961 and thereafter displayed in Fairplex at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California.

In 2013, UP re-acquired the locomotive and launched a restoration project at their Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In May 2019, No. 4014 was operated for the first time after sitting dormant for almost six decades.

It ran its first excursion, double-headed with Union Pacific 844, three days later on May 4, 2019. Now part of the Union Pacific’s heritage fleet, it now operates in excursion service, in addition to hauling revenue freight during ferry moves.”

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 12-24 @24mm, f/4.5, 1/500, ISO 200.

CN IC Heritage Unit 3008 at Scott City, MO on the UP Chester Sub Canadian National Illinois Central "Death Star" heritage unit 3008, passes the searchlight and dwarf signals as it heads north on the Union Pacific Chester Subdivision with an empty tank train on December 2nd, 2020 at Scott City, Missouri. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 240mm, f/5.3, 1/1000, ISO 200.

CN IC Heritage Unit 3008 at Scott City, MO on the UP Chester Sub

Canadian National Illinois Central “Death Star” heritage unit 3008, passes the searchlight and dwarf signals as it heads north on the Union Pacific Chester Subdivision with an empty tank train on December 2nd, 2020 at Scott City, Missouri.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 240mm, f/5.3, 1/1000, ISO 200.

CN Illinois Central Heritage Unit at Dexter, MO Today fellow railfan Cooper Smith and I along with a lot more were blessed because as of the night before this unit was supposed to pass through our area in the darkness of night! Fortunately we got word from fellow railfan Terry Redeker down the line that the train got recrewed earlier than planned and it would be to us in daylight! Our first stop on this chase on December 2nd, 2020 we caught Canadian National (CN) Illinois Central Heritage Unit 3008 as it lead empty oil train; ONUCS-01 north on the Union Pacific's Chester Subdivision, past the Martin Grain Company grain silos at Dexter, Missouri. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

CN Illinois Central Heritage Unit at Dexter, MO

Today fellow railfan Cooper Smith and I along with a lot more were blessed because as of the night before this unit was supposed to pass through our area in the darkness of night! Fortunately we got word from fellow railfan Terry Redeker down the line that the train got recrewed earlier than planned and it would be to us in daylight!

Our first stop on this chase on December 2nd, 2020 we caught Canadian National (CN) Illinois Central Heritage Unit 3008 as it lead empty oil train; ONUCS-01 north on the Union Pacific’s Chester Subdivision, past the Martin Grain Company grain silos at Dexter, Missouri headed for Superior, WI.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Over the Hump! With darkness fast approaching MetroLink 110 heads down their overpass at the Alton Southern Railway in East St. Louis, Missouri as their train set heads to their barn from Lambert Airport. According to Wikipedia: MetroLink (reporting mark BSDA) is the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan mass transit system serving Missouri and the Metro East area of Illinois. The system consists of two lines (Red Line and Blue Line) connecting St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Shrewsbury, Missouri with Scott Air Force Base near Shiloh, Illinois, Washington University, Forest Park, and Downtown St. Louis. The system features 38 stations and is the only light rail system in the country to cross state lines. As of the first quarter of 2015, it is second only to Minneapolis Metro Transit's Blue and Green lines in the Midwestern United States in terms of ridership, and is the 11th-largest light rail system in the country. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @600mm, f/6.3, 1/160, ISO 2,800.

MetroLink 110 at East St. Louis, Missouri

Over the Hump!

With darkness fast approaching MetroLink 110 heads down their overpass at the Alton Southern Railway in East St. Louis, Missouri as their train set heads to their barn from Lambert Airport.

According to Wikipedia: MetroLink (reporting mark BSDA) is the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan mass transit system serving Missouri and the Metro East area of Illinois. The system consists of two lines (Red Line and Blue Line) connecting St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Shrewsbury, Missouri with Scott Air Force Base near Shiloh, Illinois, Washington University, Forest Park, and Downtown St. Louis.

The system features 38 stations and is the only light rail system in the country to cross state lines. As of the first quarter of 2015, it is second only to Minneapolis Metro Transit’s Blue and Green lines in the Midwestern United States in terms of ridership, and is the 11th-largest light rail system in the country.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @600mm, f/6.3, 1/160, ISO 2,800.

November 17, 2018 - A Union Pacific Railroad work train passes through Valley Park, MO with UP 7271 & 6000 leading, as it heads east toward Kirkwood, MO on the Jefferson City Subdivision. - #jimstrainphotos #missourirailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #up #uprailroad

November 17, 2018 – A Union Pacific Railroad work train…

November 17, 2018 – A Union Pacific Railroad work train passes through Valley Park, MO with UP 7271 & 6000 leading, as it heads east toward Kirkwood, MO on the Jefferson City Subdivision. – #jimstrainphotos #missourirailroads #trains #nikond800 #railroad #railroads #train #railways #railway #up #uprailroad