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Description
The City of Wichita, BNSF, and UP spent what amounted to roughly 5 years and about 9 figures designing, planning, and constructing one of the largest civic projects in the city's history, in order to ease rail congestion and headaches for people traveling through the downtown area.

A joint-line dispatched through BNSF brings together the BNSF Ark City and Emporia subs, and Union Pacific's Lost Springs sub, to funnel traffic from the south side of town (notably named "South Junction") to the yards on the north side of town (BNSF and UP both have minor flat yards near the elevators up north).

While the line went from single to a double main, the biggest perks are obviously less grade-level crossings, and the ability to go through most of town without having to slow down between signals until 21st Street. It also made it a lot easier for MoW units to move up and down the right of way(as seen here) And it provides for some sweet angles in the downtown area, ironically close to where this photo was taken.

A Union Pacific empty grain shuttle makes its way southbound down the main on a slow order, en route to one of the largest grain elevators in the world near Haysville. A Maintenance-of-Way gang works on finishing up the last few cosmetic details of the elevated trackway to the side.

Canon EOS 30D
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
ISO 200 @ 1/800, f/9

Description
The City of Wichita, BNSF, and UP spent what amounted to roughly 5 years and about 9 figures designing, planning, and constructing one of the largest civic projects in the city's history, in order to ease rail congestion and headaches for people traveling through the downtown area.

A joint-line dispatched through BNSF brings together the BNSF Ark City and Emporia subs, and Union Pacific's Lost Springs sub, to funnel traffic from the south side of town (notably named "South Junction") to the yards on the north side of town (BNSF and UP both have minor flat yards near the elevators up north).

While the line went from single to a double main, the biggest perks are obviously less grade-level crossings, and the ability to go through most of town without having to slow down between signals until 21st Street. It also made it a lot easier for MoW units to move up and down the right of way(as seen here) And it provides for some sweet angles in the downtown area, ironically close to where this photo was taken.

A Union Pacific empty grain shuttle makes its way southbound down the main on a slow order, en route to one of the largest grain elevators in the world near Haysville. A Maintenance-of-Way gang works on finishing up the last few cosmetic details of the elevated trackway to the side.

Canon EOS 30D
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM
ISO 200 @ 1/800, f/9