KCS Heavener Sub in Oklahoma

A southbound grain train takes the siding at CP North Watts after coming off the Illinois River br

The northbound M train, 94 cars of it, is in the siding at Watts. Besides the head end power, he has a pair of GEs pushing.

A TFM GE leads this southbound G KCMX bound for Laredo and Mexico into Watts.

KCS modified and painted its MOW power in a bright yellow scheme, seen here at Stilwell. This is obvously a remote control unit!!

The power for the dodger passes the MOW train as it works in Stilwell.

The north end of the MOW train also has a GP 10, this one without a number. Maybe it carries the same number as the unit on the south end??

A southbound AEPX train rolls across Baron Creek, seen from US 59, its DPUs giving 127 cars a push south

Before there was the Q train, there was the M train. This is it, behind a mix of EMD and GE power, crossing Baron Creek with 51 cars and 8 stack platforms.

This northbound sits in the siding at Watts, waiting on a southbound.

A northbound H train waits at the 7th St crossing for a southbound as the light fades. Power was typical for the time.

A remkte control GP 10 sits on the industrial lead at Stilwell with several gons.

A loaded AEP train rolls through Westville behind UP and EMD power. The EMD unit would become a KCS unit shortly aiter this. UP 6780 and KCS 4010 bring up the rear of the 127 car train.

A pair of UP units lead one of the three SD70ACe demonstrators south on an AEPX coal train. The three units, EMDX 71-73, would go to KCS as their 3997-3999, ahead of the first order.

One of the better looking station on the Heavener Sub is at Stilwell, where it has been preserved.

A southbound Texas Utilities train rolls past the Langley feed mill in Westville with 125 cars

Well, there was a lot of it then. Seems like I would see three or four coal trains most times I went out. This one is headed to Texas with 125 cars.

A pair of Grinstein scheme BNSF units approach the Illinois River bridge southbound in last light of day with a TXUX coal train.

The Belles were just starting to come on line at this time, and gray units were the rule, as here on the DPU of the train with the Grinsteins. The GEs in this shot would be among the last to get the Belle scheme; seemed the KCS was going to paint every last EMD first. Among them, the third unit in this set, now lettered for TFM. It would get a 3900 series number, and KCS lettering, red on gray, before being painted into the Belle scheme, all before the GEs got painted. Go figure...

KCS 6101, a rebuilt SP unit, leads a train of second generation power at past the grain bins for Bakery Feeds in Watts.

With the new Belle units coming on line, the SD 60s will not be in regular service for much longer, and will soon find themselves stored, or used on ballast extras and such like. This one is leading the pack on a southbound M train, trailing 57 freight and 24 stack platforms.

A trio of units rolls north at the north end of the siding at Watts. Theyll wait here for a southbound to clear.

They must have gotten it from Athearn, the undecorated model. KCS received most of its Belles in primer-they run just as well, regardless of how theyre painted, right??-and had them painted as they had time. Some went quite a while in the primer scheme, most were painted fairly quickly. We see 4696 trailing a lite power move, still in its skivvies.

A two tone blue TFM leader is in charge of H SHKC at the north end of Watts, waiting on a southbound.

A 75 car southbound grain train rolls into Watts behind a pair of gray units.

Several steer watch as a southbound grain train rolls past their grazing land north of Westville. Bet theyre wishing they had some of that!!

The DPU on this southbound grain train pushes its 77 cars past some steer who would only be too happy to help lighten the tonnage.

A southbound H train rolls off the Illinois River Bridge and through the interlocking at North Watts.

A 125 car TXUX coal train led by one of BNSFs many GEs rolls through Stilwell in the golden sun of dusk.

At the time I took this, the whole PTC plan had yet to emerge. These old searchlight signals were everywhere, a classic look that was still functional. Who knew that in four years, there would be not a one of these left on the Heavener Sub. A southbound grain train splits the pair at MP 249 in Baron, behind one of the first order of SD70ACes.

Theres a big curve at the north end of Stilwell, and trains approach it at reduced speed, which is a help to us chasers. At the time I took this, it was a good shot, but has since become grown over. The late afternoon sun catches a southbound grain train as it rolls into town.

One all dressed up, the other still in its skivvies. The EMDs came from the plant already painted, while the GEs arrived in primer, and were painted as they had time. I recall when NS did the same thing, and there were a lot of "undecorated" units rolling around the system in the early years of the millennium. I like the painted power better, but, they all run!! These two are pushing a grain train south at the north end of Stilwell.

I always liked the across the field shots, showing trains in the world they ran in. When Id get a field with cows in it, that was even better. I always felt it made the shot. A southbound grain train rolls along a field next to US 59 as the cows take in the action.

A southbound grain train rolls into the late day sun as it swings around the curve into Stilwell with 75 cars led by the class unit of the then plentiful TFM SD70MACs.

An empty grain train rolls across the Illinois River behind SD70ACe class unit 4000 and three more with 101 cars.

A trio of SD 40s leads the northbound H train at Watts.

TFM 1661/1645 and two GP 40s, local power picked up from the yard going to Heavener for servicing, split the signals at CP South Watts

The pair of TFM units on H KCSH has picked up local power au Watts and is taking it south for servicing at Heavener, seen here approaching Stilwell.

KCS 4690 leads a gray GE just north of Stilwell with 70 cars of H KCSH.

A pair of BNSF GEs lead a 121 car TXUX train toward Texas. A pair of KCS units are tucked in about 85 cars deep, with a BNSF SD70ACe bringing up the rear.

This one in the middle. Nose to nose units provide the mid train exertion to keep this 121 car loaded TXUX train rolling south.

A northbound H train waits short of the crossing at Watts, its 57 cars easily fitting into the siding.

A southbound H train passes the grain bins at Bakery Feeds as it prepares to work the small Watts yard. The KCS office is to the left of the train, on the old station site.

A southbound 80 car grain train rolls around the curve leading into Stilwell behind a new Belle.

KCS 4118 leads a southbound 80 car grain train as it takes the curve entering Stilwell. DPU was KCS 4609.

A northbound empty grain train rolls past the Bakery Feeds sign as it heads out of Watts.

A southbound H train rolls off the Illinois River bridge, seen in the distance, and toward the north end of the Watts siding.

The H train takes to the siding, allowing it access to the yard when it gets down to the south end. It will set off and pick up here.

A TXUX coal train roll past some fencing at a farm equipment dealer as it approaches Stilwell.

An AEPX coal train rolls down the single track toward Westville. Just ahead is the Tyson plant, called Hudson by KCS, giving a clue as to the previous owner, Hudson Foods.

A southbound AEPX train rolls past a couple of hay bales as it passes through Westville