Pacing and Chasing BNSF Trains in Southwestern Missouri

I started the afternoon following the BNSF's Cuba Sub slowly working my way toward Springfield. I had almost gotten into Strafford Missouri when I found the first train of the day.

Strafford MO
Train 1: QLACSTL1 17A
BNSF: 5114-C44-9W
BNSF: 3902-ET44C4
BNSF: 6660-ES44C4

I then paced QLACSTL1 17A for a short time just east of Strafford. This was the first time I had been able to pace a train with myself driving.

I then raced ahead of QLACSTL1 17A and set up for another run by between Strafford MO and Northview MO.

Afterword I continued my journey into Springfield Missouri where I set up at the Jefferson Ave. Footbridge, which has been under some sort of safety inspection for most of if not all of the summer. I didn't see anything under the bridge for quiet some time till a light power move came up on me so fast that I only had time to grad the still camera and fire off a shot or two of the power move Photo of the move can be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/1006558.... About 15 minutes after that power move came by the second train I could get on video came by.

Springfield MO
Train 2: Southbound Intermodal
BNSF: 7832-ESS4DC
BNSF: 4039-C44-9W
BNSF: 5189-C44-9W
BNSF: 7112-ES44C4

Then off of the hunch that this train would go down the BNSF's Thayer Sub I fought through Springfield's rush hour traffic to try and get back ahead of it and just made it into Rodgersville MO with less than 30 seconds to spare. I shot another run by of the train there then continued my way south down the BNSF's Thayer Sub.

I had made it into Seymour Missouri when I saw a clue when the next train was coming. I had seen a green signal, but then saw an advanced approach further down so I knew there was likely a meet going to happen somewhere close. So again off of a hunch I headed south toward Cedar Gap Missouri hoping to find where the two trains would meet. And I found some lonely dirt road leading to what looked like a conservation area which just happened to be the bottom of a siding that the railroad calls South Cedar Gap. I set up there seeing a red signal. And about five to ten minutes later a manifest slowly comes around a sharp curve at this location and stops just short of the crossing I am set up on. Ten more minutes pass then the train the manifest was meeting shows up.

Cedar Gap MO
Train 3: Northbound Ballast Train
BNSF: 6959-ES44C4
BNSF: 8084 (DPU)-ES44C4

Meets

Train 4: Southbound Manifest
BNSF: 6540-ES44C4
BNSF: 4641-C44-9W
CREX: 1212-ES44AC

Thinking that was the ballast train was going to just head out the other end of the siding I continued south. I then just happened to glance over my shoulder just as I am about to get back on US 60 and I see containers moving south so I then get on US 60 and continue heading south and then pulled into Mansfield Missouri and set up on the outside of the curve in the middle of town and waited. About 15 minutes later the last train of the day rolls by.

Mansfield MO
Train 5: Southbound Intermodal
BNSF: 6942-ES44C4
BNSF: 5068-C44-9W

After this train passed I started moving back toward my starting point for that day. I don't get to railfan Southwest Missouri very often but when I do I enjoy every minute of it and can't wait till my next visit to this region of Missouri.

Hope you enjoy the video!