One of the first spaces that I have had my eye out for since arriving here at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas has been a place to watch trains. It is my understanding that I can expect to see 30-40 trains a day while I am here at Fort Leavenworth, so I wanted to make sure that I found the perfect spot to see these trains. Accomplished this after my arrival at Leavenworth Landing Park on the riverside in Downtown Leavenworth, KS.
Once parking in the parking lot, the entrance is a quick walk over the railroad tracks. There are Railroad crossing signs and drop down barriers that signal when a train is about to pass. The live tracks are bordered by two other tracks and an area of grass on either side of the racks before the fence line, so the trains have plenty of room to safely roll through. Along the side of the tracks is a safety fence that is well placed to keep people safe, as well as providing a place to truly experience the passing of the locomotives.
As with any good railfanning spot, the best experience is a little distance away from the tracks—and this park facilitates this distance very well. Inside the park area are picnic areas and benches to enjoy the trains as they pass as well as the river. The park also includes a nice winding walkway to enjoy the park and the passing trains. I was very impressed at the landscaping of the park which makes the spot even more enjoyable.
Midway through the park is an old railroad building, as well as the site of the former bridge crossing. These scenic additions make the time spent here even more enjoyable while you wait for another train to pass. At the end of the trail you will reach Three Mile Creek, as it flows into the Missouri River. You will also find a nice bench to rest and look over the bridge crossing. This bench provides one of the best vantage points to observe the northbound trains pulling into the park.
The entire Leavenworth Landing Park is a superior place for railfanning. I look forward to showing you more and more photos from this park over the next year.