kcrailfan.com

Railfan Headquarters for the Greater Kansas City Area

Suburban Kansas Hotspots

Lenexa

Vantage Points:
Santa Fe Trail Drive - This is the main street through "Old Town" Lenexa. Public parking is available across the street from the tracks in between Noland Rd and Pflumm Rd. This is a double track main line that once was the Katy line to Texas and the Frisco line to Oklahoma and Springfield, MO. It is shared by Union Pacific and BNSF.

Train Frequency:
30-50 trains daily

What You'll See:
Union Pacific:  coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains.

BNSF: coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains.

Security Concerns:
Not a problem in the daytime. The area is well lighted after dark. There are a few parking areas along Walnut Street on the east side of the tracks that belong to local businesses. I would not suggest parking there without permission.

GPS Address
13512 W 95th St - Lenexa, KS

How to Get There:
From I-35 - Exit on 95th st (Exit 224) and go west on 95th St to Pflumm Road (less than a mile). Turn right and proceed to the tracks. Santa Fe Trail Drive is just over the tracks, turn right to parking.

Olathe

 
Northbound empty coal train on new flyover at Ridgeview Rd. in Olathe

Vantage Point:
1. Frisco Lake Park- This area is near the south end of the recently-completed flyover to cross several busy grade crossings in Olathe. The lake has a walking path all the way around it and has many good photo spots available. This is a double track main line that once was the Katy line to Texas and the Frisco line to Oklahoma and Springfield, MO and is the same trackage that runs through Lenexa.

Train Frequency:
30-50 trains daily

What You'll See:
Union Pacific:  coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains.

BNSF: coal trains, stack trains, intermodal and manifest trains.

Security Concerns:
Not a problem in the daytime. The area is not well lighted after dark.

GPS Address
1000 E Dennis Ave - Olathe, KS

How to Get There:    
From I-35 - Old Hwy 56 Exit (Exit 217 southbound only) and turn right at Church Street (first right) and then turn right on Dennis Ave and go one block to the entrance of the park. At the north end of the park is a small parking area also. It is accessed by passing the park entrance to Sunset St. Take a left and go to Sheridan St. (at the 4-way stop) and turn left.

Books about the Katy and Frisco

Eastbound  Manifest freight in downtown Olathe

 Vantage Point:

2. Downtown Olathe - The City of Olathe has several public parking lots along the BNSF Transcon Line that runs through the downtown area of Olathe. One of the best is the parking lot at East Santa Fe St. and Kansas Ave.

Train Frequency:
80-90 trains daily

What You'll See:
BNSF:  stack trains, grain, intermodal and manifest trains, only an occasional coal train

Security Concerns:
Not a problem in the daytime. The area is not well lighted after dark.

GPS Address
200 W Santa Fe - Olathe, KS

How to Get There:
From I-35 - East Santa Fe (Exit 218) and go west on East Santa Fe to N. Kansas Ave, turn right at Kansas and the parking lot will be on your left.