KCS revisited for 7-19-13

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 When it came to picking a shot for the cover of Rails Around Missouri that might best represent the Kansas City side of the state, the logical choice of railroad was the Kansas City Southern. Photographer Allen Maty spent a lot of time in Grandview shooting the KCS, and had provided quite a few shots to choose from. Here are a few samples above and below, along with what ended up being on the cover, plus a shot from Goodman Hill down south.

Above, KCS SD40s #s 629, 627 and an unidentified F7 lead a southbound freight past the Grandview depot in September, 1971. Below, KCS E8 #25 is stopped at the Grandview depot with train #2, the northbound Southern Belle in August, 1969, just 3 months prior to its discontinuance.

 

 Next we have the shot that was chosen for the KCS cover: southbound train #1, the Southern Belle, also in August 1969.

Finally, a selection from Chapter 4 – The Kansas City Southern:

 

“Goodman, at milepost 184.6, is just inside the McDonald County line in deep southern Missouri, and is the crest of Goodman Hill. The engineer has KCS SD40s 662, 650 & 666 in full throttle and dropping sand as they grind up the hill with a northbound freight on September 14, 1980. (Ken Albrecht)”

Rails Around Missouri was released on May 10, 2013, and is already over 60% sold out in 2 months. The book is 224-pages, hard cover, and contains over 500 all-color photos like the ones above. DON’T MISS OUT! Order your copy today for $47.95 plus shipping, and it will come signed by the author. Choose between the KCS or Frisco cover (contents identical).

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Revisiting the Rock Island

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Ten miles east of the Osage River bridge is the town of Meta, where the Rock Island had a depot with a train order office. Eastbound train #74 was scheduled out of Eldon at 10:35pm and due through Meta at 11:12pm. With bad track conditions, the train often passed through Meta in daylight hours. Such is the case on June 22, 1975, as GP40 #332 leads 2 other GP40s and a geep through Meta. Mark Nelson

This selection from “Rails Around Missouri” can be found in Chapter Seven – Central Missouri. “Rails Around Missouri” is a new 224-page hard cover book containing over 500 all-color photographs like the one above. Your copy is available for $47.95 plus shipping and will come signed by the author. Choose between the KCS or Frisco cover (contents identical).

With over 800 photos submitted, not all could be used. Continuing in our series of shots in & out of the book, the shot below is definitely worth being in print, much less sharing. A year and 1/2 after the shot above, the Nelsons returned to Meta and captured eastbound train #74 again passing through town, this time led by geep #4531 on January 22, 1977. Shot from the same vantage point, snow blankets the scene as the 4531 leads 3 other geeps and a GP40 through town. Mark Nelson

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‘Missouri’ Parting Shots 6-28-13

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The Bevier & Southern was a coal-hauling shortline in northern Missouri, and connected with the CB&Q at Bevier, 5 miles west of Macon. While the end of the line was only 9 miles away to the south at the Binkley mine, the B&S at one time operated 64 miles of track to local mines, employed 40 people and even provided passenger service in its early years to mine employees. The railroad’s slogan was “Have Train – Will Haul”, and by 1960 it was leasing a pair of 2-8-2s from the CB&Q to handle its trains.

With over 800 images submitted for consideration in “Rails Around Missouri”, not all would or could be used. Continuing our look at shots worthy of viewing but not included, we offer 2 shots this week. First is former CB&Q 2-8-2 #4963 switching near the Bevier water tank on November 28, 1960. Photo by Mike Haper. Compare this to the shot that was included and can be found on page 42.

Next is a shot by Gary Roe, taken at Ardmore on October 13, 1976. By this time, the B&S was leasing switchers from the Burlington Northern. The line was abandoned in 1982.

“Rails Around Missouri” is a new 224-page hard cover book filled with over 500 all-color images of Missouri railroads from 1946-1986. Your copy is available for $47.95 plus shipping, and will come signed by the author. Choose between the KCS or Frisco cover (contents identical).

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‘Missouri’ Parting Shots 6-21-13

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“Ladue is in the southern part of Henry County, milepost 273 of the MKTs Sedalia subdivision. At one time LaDue was a crew change point and home of the Eastern Division Superintendent. On January 24, 1976, GP7 #96 is in town on a local freight and is switching the grain elevator. Rick Morgan

This selection from “Rails Around Missouri” can be found in Chapter Four, which is mainly on the Kansas City Southern. This new hard cover book, released May 10, 2013, has 224 pages filled with over 500 all-color images like the one above. Order your copy now for $47.95 plus shipping, and it will come signed by the author. Choose between the KCS or Frisco cover (contents identical).

With over 800 images submitted for consideration, not all images could be used. Below are a pair of images taken at Lindale, Missouri, just southwest of Appleton City. Worth sharing because of the all-red consists and/or the large concrete coal dock, they were taken by JD Yoder in June of 1972.

 

“Rails Around Missouri” headed to Kansas City

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“Rails Around Missouri” hits the road this weekend, and will be available for sale at the Mid Continent NRMA meet in Overland Park. Held June 13-16, the dealer tables will be open to the public Saturday & Sunday, June 15-16 at the Overland Park International Trade Center, 6800 W 115th St, Overland Park, KS. Saturday 830am to 5pm, Sunday 830am until 2pm.

The author will be on hand to sign copies, so stop by and say hello!