Train Watching in Kansas City
(TW18)
John Szwajkart
Format: 2 DVD set
Length: 2 1/2 hours
Time Period: Late 1980′s- early 1990′s
Locations: Missouri side+ Kansas side
Source: John Szwajkart
Kansas City has historically been a very important hotspot for trains. There are only 2 routes through the city. Combining a central US location with a high concentration of trains, this area offers a paradise for railfans. John Szwajkart took his videos in the late 10980′s and the early 1990′s. He had included a KC tape with his Train Watcher’s Guide to Kansas City.
The timeframe in which this was shot, still shows a nice variety, before many of the mega mergers took place. There is a big supply of trains, spread across the two DVD’s. The program is action packed! All of the variance makes for interesting trainwatching.
As usual, this production is for hardcore railfans. Other than location graphics, there are no extra features, of any kind at all. No narration, no maps, no sound enhancements etc.. It is a tape to DVD format transfer. The audio is everything that was picked up by the microphone, on location. Wind noise is the most common sound that is present. Train sounds are the actual, environmental sounds, as heard.
Camera shake is also present. This is because the videographer does not use a tripod. It does get distracting at times. A few wait times run a little long and should have been edited. This is an amateur level of production. Interesting material is what creates the need to see the video. We are going to be seeing raw video footage. The show is very watchable.
The great idea of this show, is how to divide up the discs. The 1st one features the Kansas City, Missouri side of the city. The 2nd disc is the Kansas side of the city.
Disc 1 runs at 75 minutes. Part 1 has the Missouri side of Kansas City. All of the usual suspects are present and accounted for, in Kansas City. Santa Fe leads things off with a bunch of assorted freight moves. Union Pacific and Gateway Western trains enter the proceedings. Missouri Pacific ‘canary’ UP merger repaints are seen on this disc.
Kansas City Terminal fields some unique looking, customized EMD switchers. Conrail pool power is on some Santa Fe trains. Southern Pacific SD40T, tunnel motors and DRGW units pull even more trains.
Kansas City Southern has it’s white diesels in service. Union Pacific, and some Missouri Pacific engines,put on a good show. Burlington Northern is viewed with coal trains.
The pace drags a little on Part 1. Things pickup considerably on Part 2.
Disc 2 runs at 75 minutes. Part 2 features Kansas City, Kansas. The initial batch of freights are on the ground level trackage. Santa Fe is a big player. Classic ATSF cupola cabooses are still in service. Burlington Northern and Southern Pacific are seen. Norfolk Southern as well. The airhorns reverberate around the area. They are loud!
Union Pacific crosses on an elevated line. Amtrak also appears on the high line.
Kansas City Southern has a pair of white, SW1500′s on a transfer move. Really, SP and BN have some switcher led trains too. There is a mix of local and through freight road traffic.
An example of a scene with a graphic reads as: UP(MKT)-BN(SLSF) To Paoli. The town is likely a suburb. An MKT SD40-2 unit creeps forward…slowly. It is #636 and on the lead,with a lashup of some BN C30-7 units. A BN unit coal drag passes by. Relocated, this train is seen again. A BN caboose brings up the rear. When was the last time, that you saw that?
By the way, Union Pacific has a pair of GP50 units, on ground level tracks, west of KC. Cotton Belt rolls with a doublestack COFC train. More Santa Fe, with additional kodachrome locomotives. Another UP freight even has a Missouri Pacific transfer caboose. Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt units are mixed with Rio Grande locos. A Rio Grande caboose can be found operating. A classic SP bay window caboose is seen. Find an old DRGW GP30 in a lashup, on a priority, doublestack move. There is a ton of more action away from the city. Very enjoyable, ultra long sequence of nonstop action!
This is a good collection of Kansas City area trains. The years in which the footage was shot, has become a vintage assortment itself. Cabooses are a nice inclusion on some trains. Locations abound, and that keeps the show rolling along. It is a refreshing visit to another bygone time. Recommended for railfans, who are going to be satisfied with viewing, the wide array of trains here. No ups, no extras, just a whole lotta trains.
Rating: 3 Stars
