6/28/2012 I was up early at 6:00 AM and after another light breakfast and checking the Internet, I walked to the rental car, taking Missouri Highway 156 west to Missouri Highway 3, to US Highway 36 where I turned right and went into Brookfield to fill the car with petrol. I then drove Missouri Highway 11 to the bridge over the BNSF mainline and parked off the bridge on the southeast access road before walking out onto the bridge.
The views from the bridge.
Union Pacific 7411 West at the Missouri Highway 11 bridge.
Union Pacific 4146 West.
I saw the headlight of the next train as a bird flew into my picture.
BNSF 6726 East with Canadian National 8890 in the consist. I went back north on Missouri Highway 11 and took Route E through Rothville to the crossing of the BNSF mainline and parked.
The views from the Route E grade crossing.
The crossing signal box here.
BNSF 7288 East. I went east on Route E then turned left on Route JJ which I took into Marceline and visited the Dollar General then stopped for a picture.
The old Santa Fe signal bridge in Marceline. From here I would return to La Plata via the bridge route I took last summer during the La Plata Railfan Event, driving over Bridge 4 and making it to Bridge 3, where I set up for pictures.
BNSF 5474 West at the third bridge west of Ethel. From here I drove to the second bridge west of Ethel.
Me and my shadow.
BNSF 4597 East. I drove over to the first bridge west of Ethel and arrived there just as a westbound was going by.
The rear end of the unknown westbound BNSF freight train.
With red signals at West Ethel, I returned to La Plata and relaxed for just a few minutes before going over to Trainparty.com and visiting with Bob Cox as we waited for the Southwest Chief to arrive at 2:11 PM.
The Southwest Chief arrived at La Plata.
Amtrak P42DC 87.
Amtrak P42DC 45.
Amtrak P32-8 (8-32BWH) 510.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner F59PHI 461. Amtrak 510 and 461 are along for positive train control testing.
The train stopped to do its station work.
The train with the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point behind the engines.
The Southwest Chief departed and resumed its journey for Chicago, running over three hours late. I returned to the Depot Inn & Suites and went into the pool then wrote today's story before relaxing. At 5:15 PM Bob Cox picked me up and we went to Walmart and then Colton's Steakhouse in Kirksville where I had a 12 ounce sirloin. Bob took me back to the Depot Inn & Suites and I obtained the keys to the golf cart and headed out to the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point.
My favorite path in the whole wide world!
The half moon was out this evening in the southern sky.
A quiet La Plata at this moment.
Conner and his grandmother came out tonight.
The westbound Southwest Chief arrived at La Plata.
Conner and Grandma wave at the train.
The train arrived at the station and I returned to the hotel for my last night here.
