I'm interested in learning more about how the Rosedale and 19th Street Yards in Kansas City functioned after the end of passenger service. I've been told that one was an inbound and the other was an outbound yard. There had to be plenty of transfers of cars between the two. Was this a regular job or something that was called as needed? Also, the Garvey Elevator and the Cereal Processing Plant are physically close to Rosedale. If there was a local job that switched these two which yard did it work out of? Incidentally, some things on the prototype never change. Last Friday I watched a crew switch Cereal Processing with BNSF SW1500 #3401. When I got home I realized that 3401 is an ex-Frisco unit, I believe it's SLSF 317, still on the job in its old neighborhood. Thanks, Jim Senese Claremore, OK
I've always wondered the same thing. How these two yards worked after passenger service was over and done with?
What I know I have learned mostly from operating on Rick McClellan's Northern Division. As far as I know these two yards have always followed this model: 1) Incoming traffic on the Frisco went directly to 19th Street Yard. There the engines and caboose were pulled, the cabooses went to a separate track and the power went to the engine service facilities there. The yard crew then separated freight cars into three categories: Transfers from the Frisco to other railroads Freight cars to be delivered to industries in the immediate vicinity of the 19th Street Yard on the Frisco and to the "Hill" or Fairgrounds Branch. The area including Schutte Lumber and on up the hill to the south. All of these were on the south side of Southwest Boulevard. Freight cars destined to industries served by Rosedale yard, including Garvey and a few others. All of these were on the north side of Southwest Boulevard. 2) Outgoing freight cars started at Rosedale consisting of the these two basic categories: Transfers to the Frisco from other railroads Frisco - originated freight cars from industries served by the Frisco locally. I hope that Rick or Mark Davidson will chime in if I've made any errors or have more detail to offer.
Jim, Keith did a good summary of operations in Kansas City. There are only a couple of points I would add. Rosedale was considered the outbound yard. Trains were built here for points south and southeast. Outbound crews reported to work at 19th Street Yard. They would pick up their engine(s), a caboose and run light to Rosedale. In route they would cross over the Kansas City Terminal (KCT) Railway at Tower 4. As they approached the north end of Rosedale Yard they would drop their caboose. The engines would then proceed to the south end of the yard to set over to their outbound train. On the north end, a yard switcher would set the caboose over to the rear of the outbound train consist. The crew would obtain necessary paperwork (clearance card, orders) and waybills before departure. After an air brake test the crew would contact the dispatcher for the signal up Lenexa hill and out of the Turkey Creek bottoms. Rosedale was also the main car department operations area in Kansas City. Here they maintained a covered 4 track Repair in Place (RIP) service facility at this station. There was a company supply warehouse for equipment and parts needed for maintaining and repairing cars. In addition, the Kansas City wrecker was stationed here. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
Good information, gentlemen. Ah, the joys of prototype modeling. Mark's precise descriptions of outbound crews/southbound freights matches up exactly with what I got to experience at Rick's last year with a magnificent lash up of black and yellow F-units. I only wish I had room for a visible 19th Street and Rosedale in our garage, but what was it that Doris Day sang? Best Regards,
Keith, Mark, Just got to read your fine responses to my question on Rosedale and 19th Street. Thanks very much for sharing your wealth of Frisco prototype history. I hunted around on Bing.com maps, the "Birds-Eye aerial perspective, and can sense the trackage patterns behind Schutte Lumber. I think that's what you refer to as the Fairgrounds. Looks like it must have been a decent size industrial district at one time. I bet that the regular crossing of Southwest Blvd. got to be a real pain for the motorists. Thanks again for the info. I'm going to try to incorporate as much of what you've said as possible on the latest iteration of my KCT. Jim Senese Claremore, OK PS, dodged another tornado bullet last night -- but oh what rain!
Excellent thread. Thanks to those that have contributed factual information. Being raised a short distance from Rosedale Yard in the 50's and early 60's, I have some good memories concerning Rosedale and Southwest Blvd. In fact, the Soutwest Blvd crossing was only a 1/2 block away from the playground of Whitmore Elementary, the school where I attended K through part of 3rd grade. (1957-1959) How well I remember being on the playground during a recess, and hearing the unmistakeable sound of a Leslie 5-chime. My next actions were very predictable. Yup, in my mind I can still hear the sound of my high-top tennis shoes flip-flapping on the pavement as I would run across the playground to cling to the chainlink fence and watch Frisco and Katy trains cross SW Blvd. Man, I've seen Frisco EMD F's out the wazzoo, Alco FA's, Geeps, and of course, these were ALL in the Black & Yellow schemes. It was a great time to be a kid. Andre Ming
Don't quote me, but I believe any remnants of track in Schutte Lumber was removed after the massive fire and subsequent rebuilding of the site. I drive past the 31st crossing and often wonder what that line would have been like - seems like very steep grades. I also know this is almost indefinitely not true, but if you look at the Frisco line on a map it almost looks like it could have connected with the KCPS line if they had extended towards each other.
Tracks are still in place across Southwest Blvd and into the Schutte yard. They no longer cross 31st Street. Follow this link to a more detailed description by Mark Davidson and a large, high-res composite aerial photo I created. http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=3570
This is a bit of an add on to the original questions, but where exactly was Coburg Yard? I know it was just NW of Sheffield, but where in that maze was it? What purpose did it serve? I know nothing about it, haha. Matt
Coburg Yard was originally part of the Kansas City, Osceola, and Springfield operations (Frisco Highline), but was later sold to the Milwaukee Road. I found some more info here: http://www.kansascitysub.info/aboutkcsub.php and here: http://members.tripod.com/~martin_t/hyline.html Apparently the location was near the old Montgomery Ward warehouse east of the southern end of Chouteau Trafficway. See the aerials I have included with Coburg centered in both. I added one with what I understand to be Coburg Yard Highlighted.
