KC Terminal Railway work?

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DaveKCMO
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KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by DaveKCMO »

does anyone know what they're doing along the northern edge of the kc terminal railway, behind union station? they've recently removed debris and are grading the soil. these views are looking west and east, respectively, from the pedestrian bridge.

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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by FangKC »

I think I recall hearing or reading they are preparing that right-of-way for landscaping.  It seems to me that they are also planning a large upgrading of storm drains in the freighthouse district to alleviate flooding, so it might be part of that as well.  OK Creek runs under there somewhere.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

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That area was a little overgrown with weeds. It would be nice to see some rehabilitation of the railbeds though.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by FangKC »

Maybe there are putting up bleachers and will be having locomotive drag races.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

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If they were going to trash the railbeds in this area they would have dismantled the rails that are sitting to the side of the earthwork. I believe that they are only rehabbing the railbed to place the rails back to get them fully operational again.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

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anniewarbucks wrote: If they were going to trash the railbeds in this area they would have dismantled the rails that are sitting to the side of the earthwork. I believe that they are only rehabbing the railbed to place the rails back to get them fully operational again.
No evidence of that really happening, but that would be great and progressive thing to do. Light rail or commuter rail is probably in Kansas City's future. I think that infrastructure work should be planned and done to accommodate such a future, and not hamstring it.

For example, both light and commuter rail will need a service facility. The open areas are in two principal places, the most convenient of which is just west along Turkey Creek between Cambridge and Rainbow. The connection point with easy access to the system on the streets or at Union Station is at Walnut. All of this is compatible with future planning.

My fingers are crossed.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

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Don't you think that light-rail and commuter trains will use Union Station itself?
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by advocrat »

FangKC wrote: Don't you think that light-rail and commuter trains will use Union Station itself?
I would like to see that.

Many others point out a myriad of reasons why it can't or shouldn't. Some have to do with route choices, devil theories about this organization, that corporation, a merchant issue, the Halls and Kempers and Nutters not wanting this or that, or phamtom railroad objections.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by FangKC »

It makes the most sense, thus why it will never be done.

Re-establishing Union Station as a transportation hub will only provide foot traffic for the businesses and museums there, as well as Crown Center shops.

The thing about democracy, thankfully, is that the voters can always overrule the Kempers, Halls, and Nutters of the world.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

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After inspecting the site here is my wild speculation.

They seem to be removing rail lines that are no longer used (the tops of the rails are rusty - the active lines do not exhibit rust on the top of the rail).

The purpose would seem to be to expand the parking areas on the north side of the tracks. Why? Maybe because the proposed hotel will eliminate a lot of parking spaces and they need to be replaced?
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by FangKC »

I wish they would build train sheds there, and place some historic trains under the canopy for display.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by anniewarbucks »

knucklehead wrote: After inspecting the site here is my wild speculation.

They seem to be removing rail lines that are no longer used (the tops of the rails are rusty - the active lines do not exhibit rust on the top of the rail).

The purpose would seem to be to expand the parking areas on the north side of the tracks. Why? Maybe because the proposed hotel will eliminate a lot of parking spaces and they need to be replaced?
Was the Rails fully removed when you were there or were they still assembled as in the pics? I would think that if they were to get rid of them they would have dissassembleld the rails before they did any earthwork. These Rails can always be resurfaced to bring back the silver. the silver look actualy comes with use and if they are getting new railbeds then the rails will get as silver looking as the trains use them.
Last edited by anniewarbucks on Tue Aug 28, 2007 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by DaveKCMO »

before this work began, there was just debris (weeds and stacks of uninstalled rail/ties) littering the area next to the rusting siding that's still there. i'm hoping they're just cleaning things up instead of giving up another 10-12 feet of terminal ROW.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by FangKC »

I wouldn't mind allowing them the ROW if they were using it to run commuter trains in and out of Union Station.  Can I hear a group "hello?"
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by advocrat »

FangKC wrote: I wouldn't mind allowing them the ROW if they were using it to run commuter trains in and out of Union Station.   Can I hear a group "hello?"
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by DaveKCMO »

advocrat wrote: Hello
ditto.
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by anniewarbucks »

HELLO
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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by DaveKCMO »

looks like they're just repairing and moving that dilapidated piece of track. so now the question is: what are they planning to do with it?

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Re: KC Terminal Railway work?

Post by anniewarbucks »

I thought it was Railbed rehabilitation. Now to get some use on this line.
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