High Plains Classics

Cinematographer Fred Crissey documented many railroads in the 1970s and 1980s. In this video, we feature more of his great collection, this time throughout the high plains of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. In this area, Fred concentrated on the ex-Rock Island Lines that were then operated by the SSW and KYLE featuring SP&S and BN Alco’s. Next is the operations on former Missouri Pacific Lines in Oklahoma and Kansas just after the UP/MoPac merger. Both UP yellow and MoPac blue locomotives are featured. Trains are seen rolling on the Kansas Oklahoma & Gulf and Union Pacific. Also shown are D&RGW trains that ran on MoPac tracks from Pueblo, Colorado to Osawatomie, Kansas enroute to Kansas City. Finally, we head east into the Midwest state of Iowa to view the operations on the Illinois Central Gulf. Orange and white along with orange and gray ICG locomotives are seen working trains of grain, coal and mixed freight along the rolling farm fields of the Hawkeye State prior to being sold off to the Chicago Central and Pacific. This is classic railroading at its best! Don’t miss any of the memories in High Plaines Classics.