Recent Digital Photos
by Mike Condren

53 Years of Railroad Photography
1960-2013

Mike's Main Railroad Web Site

Sept. 13, 2013

Our car was coupled onto the Missouri River Runner in the middle of the night and we were shoved toward the station. The Texas Eagle snucked into the station when I was not looking.

This shot was taken during breakfast showing the reinforcements to the bridges of the overpass to protect them during earthquakes.

The Missouri River Runner is seen in the station awaiting departure.

Tony and Cimarron River 65th Birthday Celebration Trip

This year marks 65 years for both of us, and coincidentally, both of us “entered service” in May of that year (1948).  To celebrate, a western trip for our railroad friends.

Friday September 13
Amtrak train #311  “Missouri River Runner”
Leave St. Louis                                 Leave 9:15 AM
Arrive Kansas City                           Arrive 2:55 PM
Dinner in KC
Amtrak train #3  “Southwest Chief”
Leave KC                                            Leave  10:45 PM
Overnight across Kansas

Saturday September 14
Over Raton Pass
Leave Albuquerque            Leave 3:55 PM

Sunday September 15
Early morning over Cajon Pass
Arrive Los Angeles                          Arrive 8:15 AM
Free day in LA.  Spend night on car in LA Amtrak yard.

Monday September 16
Amtrak train #14  “Coast Starlight”
Leave Los Angeles                           Leave 10:10 AM
Along Pacific coast, Cuesta Pass, San Luis Obispo
Arrive Oakland                                 Arrive 9:24 PM

Riders:

  1. Tony Marchiando
  2. Andy Marchiando
  3. David Graham
  4. Bob Still
  5. John Beirne
  6. Ann Beirne
  7. Earl Harting
  8. Mike Condren (STL—KC only)
  9. Jan Condren (STL-KC only)

After 16 hours of sitting still beside our car, the unit coal train gets moving again.

This Amtrak loco was sitting under the 16th Street bridge as we pulled out of the station.

The Missori River Runner is seen leaving the Union Station area close to where the Cimarron River was parked overnight.

This NS freight was at the west end of the yard across from Union Station.

This UP freight was at the west end of the yard across from Union Station.

This is a spot where I have shot trains in the past. Little did I know that Tony worked in one of the buildings in the background here.

Our train is about to pass under Grand Ave as a Metrolink prepares to leave their station under the bridge.

These towers are part of the decorations for the Grand Ave bridge.

Also under the bridge is part of the work yard of Corrigan Company where Tony works.

Here we see the former Frisco tracks leaving the former Missouri Pacific tracks used by Amtrak.

This shot shows our engine and all four cars of our train.

Our train is now approaching the former Missouri Pacific station at Kirkwood, MO, our first stop.

While we were stopped at Kirkwood, our train met a loaded unit coal train.

As we left Kirkwood, we had our photo taken.

Shrotly thereafter we passed the National Museum of Transport in St. Louis County.

This view of Valley Park shows the double track of the former Frisco line.

One of our first clear views of the Missouri River.

The Osage River bridge is being replaced.

This Missouri State Prison is just west of the Osage River and east of Jefferson City.

This National Guard base is west of the prison but east of Jefferson City.

We see the US63 bridge over the Missouri River at Jefferson City, MO.

The former Missouri Pacific passenger station that we see here is no longer used by Amtrak.
Below is a eastbound train stopped at the station in 1967.

This is a view of the State Capitol in Jeff City.
I shot the photo below 3 years before Amtrak was formed.

This westbound empty unit coal train was at the west end of Jeff City.

Looking back we see the US63 bridge again.

We are paralleling US50 east of Sedalia, MO.

Next we pass the former backshops of the Missouri Pacific where the 1900 series steam locomotives were built.

Sedalia has a nice Amtrak depot.

Our next stop was at the nice Warrensburg station.

The next stop was Lee's Summit.

The last stop before Union Station was in Independence, MO.

The River Line is seen here at the "flyover" with a "brown worm" heading east.
This switcher was working a plant along side the "flyover".
The westbound main has a stack train on the "flyover".
This critter was working another plant.
This Kansas City Terminal Railroad GP20 was also along our ride under the "flyover".
The KCT tower at Shieffield Crossing was also under the "flyover".

We begin pacing the stack train at the west end of the "flyover".
The pacing begins.
We are finally in the lead
I had to shoot the Western Auto sign again.
The stack train caught us as we arrived at Union Station.

The late 1960 Rolla boys l to r: Mike Condren, John Beirne, and Tony Marchiando.
Mike and Jan Condren
The group who made the trip are l to r: John and Ann Beirne, Mike Condren, David Graham, Jan Condren, Tony Machiando, Bob Still, and Earl Harting.

With our ride over, we said our good byes and headed for the car, getting a few shots on the way.

After getting the car, I found some new cars on the track level of Union Station.

This is the lower level entrance to Union Station with the parking garage to the right.

This page was designed and is maintained by Mike Condren.
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