😂went to work for the Union Pacific in 1972 out of Salina Kansas as a Switchman/Brakeman/ eventually Conductor. Started interdivisional runs from Salina to Kansas City in 1971. Made many trips to Kc finally retiring in 2018 as a conductor on this route. Sure brings back good & bad memories. Sure do miss those caboose"s. Deregulation ended the railroad I went to work for & it became a business to the railroad then. Mergers began in the 80's & all the little railroads were grabbed up by a few of the big ones the others were abandoned. Been to every part of this video. Thks for keeping history alive.
I've lived in KC for the last 2 years and have come to appreciate its rich railroad heritage. Not as many roads, but still a lot of action for the railfan!
THIS, would have been the era of railroading I wished I could have worked in. So many of these now, "Fallen Flags" were struggling, but I would have loved to have worked for any of them during this time frame. This video is gold. Even tho I was a kid during this time, what a time to be alive. Thank you for this iconic video.
Best damn days of railroading! Growing up in the 60’s I wish now that I had a camera at that time to preserve the memories. The rail inspector going out on the Fairmont speeder to inspect the tracks and the smoke rolling from the old style axle bearings that had to be oiled.
thank you. I was a little too young to visit many of these locations growing up in KC at this time. I visit these locations now but seeing any surviving film from back then is a gem.
I say this a lot, but... the VARIETY back then. Not sure I'd ever seen a Santa Fe U30CG until this video (17:29). Also the framing in some of these shots (mainly 4:29 and 5:26) is pure art
I make an effort to go to Santa Fe Junction every time I'm in KC for family, and I can only image what I would see if I had a time machine at my disposal. This is an amazing glimpse into a melting pot of dozens of railroads interchanging, whereas today its almost exclusively BNSF and UP. I'm just glad the interlocking tower and searchlight signals are still there, for now... seeing the original Union Station platforms was fascinating too, its very hard to find video of it. Even the "modern" and "temporary" metal platform walkway they have now is rusting so bad one of the staircases is closed. Although, it's much better there than where I'm from. St. Louis Union Station is just a shopping mall now, and now that malls are dying I'm wondering what disfigured form it will take next. My dad grew up seeing scenes similar to this in Webster Groves, I wish I could've seen what he's seen but I'm glad I live in the information age where these videos are all available. I recognize so many of these locations, and it's nice to be able to see back in time for the first time. Thank you for uploading this
By my count there were 14 railroads running into Kansas City in the mid 1970s (if you include Amtrak): - Amtrak - Burlington Northern - Frisco (merged with BN in 1980) - Kansas City Southern - Chicago & North Western - Illinois Central Gulf - Milwaukee Road - Missouri-Kansas Texas - Missouri Pacific - Norfolk & Western - Santa Fe - Union Pacific - Rock Island - Kansas City Terminal It really wasn't until the 1990s mega mergers would that number drop. Southern Pacific would enter Kansas City as a result of the Rock Island liquidation in 1980. Rio Grande would have trackage rights to KC beginning in 1983 as a result of the WP-MP-UP merger. Milwaukee became SOO in 1985. And Gateway Western was a newcomer when Illinois Central (by that point minus the Gulf) retrenched from its core routes in the late 80s.
@@RailroadMediaArchive it's crazy they let the 80-90's merger ever happen, going from 14 railroads in the KC area to the current count of 4. BNSF UP CPKC NS (+Amtrak) I can't even imagine what it would've been like to be an employee of a railroad around the time of merger fever. I'm sure some employees went through 3 or more railroads in their career. If someone started working for Frisco right before the merger, they could've retired as a BNSF employee.
Currently a KC area resistant and it's amazing how many of these railroads here have been condensed down to just 4, not counting KCT and Amtrak. The CPKC merger will really make things here seem even more monotone in the near future.
A tough time for lots of railroads. That's some knotty looking track - looks flat worn out. Classic timepiece of a video. I've watched it several times.
U50-D (four powered trucks with span bolsters), close resemblance to Alco C855.there were only 3 Alco produced, I think 2 A units and 1 B, all retired too early
More technology, less competition destroyed the railroads and what it once was. Workers paid the price; there's fewer of them with less work to do, (at lower wages). We'll never see short freight trains manned by a crew of three (or more) guys again.
@@johnalder6028 grew up in those days, also couldn't discontinue unprofitable traffic, couldn't cut cost, couldn't offer cheaper more competitive options, the pendulum swings both ways from robber barons it was meant to prevent to where little guy was a captive shipper, I was kid in 60s and couldn't understand why old timers hated the railroads so much but I've see it both ways
😂went to work for the Union Pacific in 1972 out of Salina Kansas as a Switchman/Brakeman/ eventually Conductor. Started interdivisional runs from Salina to Kansas City in 1971. Made many trips to Kc finally retiring in 2018 as a conductor on this route. Sure brings back good & bad memories. Sure do miss those caboose"s. Deregulation ended the railroad I went to work for & it became a business to the railroad then. Mergers began in the 80's & all the little railroads were grabbed up by a few of the big ones the others were abandoned. Been to every part of this video. Thks for keeping history alive.
Its a shame we didn't have smartphones back then to easily document all this greatness.
Incredible footage!
I've lived in KC for the last 2 years and have come to appreciate its rich railroad heritage. Not as many roads, but still a lot of action for the railfan!
thanks ! this is one of your top ten videos ! lots of freights and freightcars - almost like being there. so great !
THIS, would have been the era of railroading I wished I could have worked in. So many of these now, "Fallen Flags" were struggling, but I would have loved to have worked for any of them during this time frame. This video is gold. Even tho I was a kid during this time, what a time to be alive. Thank you for this iconic video.
This is a gem of a collection. Thanks for uploading this!
Best damn days of railroading! Growing up in the 60’s I wish now that I had a camera at that time to preserve the memories. The rail inspector going out on the Fairmont speeder to inspect the tracks and the smoke rolling from the old style axle bearings that had to be oiled.
I'm only part way in to the video but thanks so much for NOT putting the fake loco sound effects in.
I worked in SFJ on W 25th street for over 20 years . I do miss the trains, not always waiting on them to get to and from work, but I do miss them.
Wow, great collection. Thanks 👍
thank you.
I was a little too young to visit many of these locations growing up in KC at this time.
I visit these locations now but seeing any surviving film from back then is a gem.
The lack of graffiti on the rolling stock... I'd like to go back to that era.
I miss the art work. They looked naked back then.
Amazing ! Rolling stock that hasnt been trashed with graffiti ! What changed since then? Any ideas?
I say this a lot, but... the VARIETY back then. Not sure I'd ever seen a Santa Fe U30CG until this video (17:29).
Also the framing in some of these shots (mainly 4:29 and 5:26) is pure art
45:00 That N&W GP9 still exists today. N&W 885 became Elk River Railroad number 5 in West Virginia.
I make an effort to go to Santa Fe Junction every time I'm in KC for family, and I can only image what I would see if I had a time machine at my disposal. This is an amazing glimpse into a melting pot of dozens of railroads interchanging, whereas today its almost exclusively BNSF and UP. I'm just glad the interlocking tower and searchlight signals are still there, for now...
seeing the original Union Station platforms was fascinating too, its very hard to find video of it. Even the "modern" and "temporary" metal platform walkway they have now is rusting so bad one of the staircases is closed. Although, it's much better there than where I'm from. St. Louis Union Station is just a shopping mall now, and now that malls are dying I'm wondering what disfigured form it will take next. My dad grew up seeing scenes similar to this in Webster Groves, I wish I could've seen what he's seen but I'm glad I live in the information age where these videos are all available. I recognize so many of these locations, and it's nice to be able to see back in time for the first time. Thank you for uploading this
By my count there were 14 railroads running into Kansas City in the mid 1970s (if you include Amtrak):
- Amtrak
- Burlington Northern
- Frisco (merged with BN in 1980)
- Kansas City Southern
- Chicago & North Western
- Illinois Central Gulf
- Milwaukee Road
- Missouri-Kansas Texas
- Missouri Pacific
- Norfolk & Western
- Santa Fe
- Union Pacific
- Rock Island
- Kansas City Terminal
It really wasn't until the 1990s mega mergers would that number drop. Southern Pacific would enter Kansas City as a result of the Rock Island liquidation in 1980. Rio Grande would have trackage rights to KC beginning in 1983 as a result of the WP-MP-UP merger. Milwaukee became SOO in 1985. And Gateway Western was a newcomer when Illinois Central (by that point minus the Gulf) retrenched from its core routes in the late 80s.
@@RailroadMediaArchive it's crazy they let the 80-90's merger ever happen, going from 14 railroads in the KC area to the current count of 4.
BNSF
UP
CPKC
NS
(+Amtrak)
I can't even imagine what it would've been like to be an employee of a railroad around the time of merger fever. I'm sure some employees went through 3 or more railroads in their career. If someone started working for Frisco right before the merger, they could've retired as a BNSF employee.
OMG, that was Santa Fe junction I railfan there a lot but never would I think that all those fallen flags would ever run there
Currently a KC area resistant and it's amazing how many of these railroads here have been condensed down to just 4, not counting KCT and Amtrak. The CPKC merger will really make things here seem even more monotone in the near future.
No it makes it better.. They are a beast.
KC the king of tonnage.
A tough time for lots of railroads. That's some knotty looking track - looks flat worn out. Classic timepiece of a video. I've watched it several times.
At 2:34 what kinds of locomotives are those Union Pacifica ? I don’t think they are U-50s I’m thinking maybe Alcos but not sure. Thanks for any info
U50s
@@jeffreymcfadden9403 Thank you for some reason I was thinking of the U-50C and forgot about the original U-50
U50-D (four powered trucks with span bolsters), close resemblance to Alco C855.there were only 3 Alco produced, I think 2 A units and 1 B, all retired too early
Your guess was right. That was a U50. I miss those GE units!
What’s the mechanism on the bridge?
This area was a huge ttraffic bottleneck for the ATSF Transcon
KC still the tonnage King!
Anyone remember the UP turbine that used to sit in the bottoms? Not sure where it ended up.
It's at the Illinois Railway Museum
How many railroads still exist in kc? There is the UP, BNSF, NS, KCS (which is now the KCCP), KCT.
More technology, less competition destroyed the railroads and what it once was. Workers paid the price; there's fewer of them with less work to do, (at lower wages). We'll never see short freight trains manned by a crew of three (or more) guys again.
True
Remember government regulations that prevented railroads from raising rates even when their costs rose. Thats a policy that assures bankruptcy.
@@johnalder6028 grew up in those days, also couldn't discontinue unprofitable traffic, couldn't cut cost, couldn't offer cheaper more competitive options, the pendulum swings both ways from robber barons it was meant to prevent to where little guy was a captive shipper, I was kid in 60s and couldn't understand why old timers hated the railroads so much but I've see it both ways
How bout new England railroading in 1970s