March 9, 2015
Bill - THANKS for your tutorial on West Bottoms, the KCT roundhouse and how
the area has been transformed. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In a message dated 3/9/2015 1:11:40 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
CBQ@yahoogroups.com writes:
Louis,
The photo of S3 No. 2955 is taken in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City
which is just west of downtown KC in a low lands area adjacent to the
confluence of the Kansas River and the Missouri River. This area, which was
prone to flooding, was an industrial area and the location of the stockyards
as well as the original Union Station. There was a yard located there which is
now reduced in size. The bridge behind the 2955 is the 12th street viaduct to
the south. Attached is a satellite photo of the area, today. The photo of 2955
was taken just to the east of the the intersection of Union Ave. and Santa Fe
St.
The KCT roundhouse was and is located south of this point and south east
of Union Station. along Southwest Blvd. Today, the roundhouse has been
remodeled as a rather unique office building, I believe part of Westside
Business Park, complete with it's turntable, half a dozen tracks radiating
from it and a KCS car on t he table. At one time, they had a B unit painted in
KCS colors on the table, but I think it is now a baggage car. Attached is a
satellite view of the area showing today with the station at the upper right
and the roundhouse toward the lower right. In the hey days of passenger
service, the roundhouse was part of a coach yard and shop complex that served
the depot. It even included a balloon track around the roundhouse to turn
entire trains. Attached is a photo copied from Jeffery Spivak's excellent book
titled Kansas City Union Station, that shows the station and yard complex.
This was all KCT property at that time.
Bill Barber
Gravois Mills, MO
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Posted by: LZadnichek@aol.com
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