I had a wild weather night with loud thunder, sideways rain and heavy showers which lasted for about three hours and kept me awake. At 5:30 AM I put the corrections from yesterday into my story then showered and prepared myself for the day ahead. I checked out of the Sands Inn & Suites in Woodward, Oklahoma and went to McDonald's for hot cakes and sausage then headed east on US 60, seeing two BNSF trains in the pre-dawn light, taking that road to US 281 north to Waynoka, my first stop of the morning.
Waynoka Santa Fe Station complex built in 1910. It once included the rail yards, roundhouse, depots, a reading room, maintenance and repair shops, ice plant, stock yards, elevators, Harvey House and the TAT (Transcontinental Air Transport) airport. Santa Fe Railway made the city a major railroad center when it built Oklahoma's largest rail yard in Waynoka, ultimately employing a thousand machinists, boiler makers, sheet metal mechanics, fire builders, car men, switchmen and engineers. After the coming of diesel-powered locomotives, the railroad moved its maintenance operations from Waynoka but continued train crew changes there until 1986. At the turn of the twenty-first century, 50 to 100 trains still passed daily near downtown Waynoka on Oklahoma's fastest and busiest rail line.
Hudson Bay Railway GP10 2511, ex. Central Kansas Railway 2511, nee Illinois Central GP9 9227 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1957 on display in Waynoka. From here I headed north on US 241 into Kansas, stopping first at Medicine Lodge.
Victoria Southern Railroad SW900 1001, ex. Hutchinson and Northern 6, nee Fernwood Columbia and Gulf 900 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1957.
The Medicine Lodge Santa Fe station built in 1886.
A Medicine Lodge railroad scene. From here I headed north to Pratt.
The Santa Fe station in Pratt built in 1913. I continued on my journey on US 400 eastbound to Cunningham.
The Cunningham Santa Fe station built in 1886. My next stop was Kingman where I found more than expected.
The Santa Fe Kingman station built in 1910.
The Kingman Missouri Pacific station.
Missouri Pacific box car 33211 built by American Car and Foundry in 1942 was behind the station. Now for the unexpected.
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad power in Kingman.
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad GP40-2LW 4029, nee Canadian National 9501 built by General Motors Division in 1974.
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad GP38-3 3824, ex. Bangor and Aroostook 350, nee Bangor and Aroostook 85 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1967. My next stop would be at the Souder Farm Museum in Cheney; I approached the gate, called and was told how to get in.
The Santa Fe Garden Plain station built in 1884.
The Cheney Santa Fe station built in 1884. I drove out, locked the gate then called to thank them for letting me see the two unique stations they have saved. I then stopped for petrol in Augusta where there are also two stations.
St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad station built in 1909.
The Santa Fe station built in 1917. I took US 400 to Kansas 77 north to El Dorado.
The Missouri Pacific station built in 1918. From here it was east on US 54 then north on Kansas 177 and when I reached the bridge over the BNSF, there was a train coming.
I love clouds!
BNSF 6688 West at the Kansas 177 bridge after which I called Let's Talk Trains. My next stop was Cassoday.
KCS 3910 West at FA Route 88 grade crossing.
KCS SD70MAC 3910, nee Kansas City Southern of Mexico 1610 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1999.
This train was in perfect light. I went to find the station here in Cassoday.
The Cassoday Santa Fe station built in 1910. Next was the trip to Flint Hills.
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