Fast Amtrak train?

[attendee]

Driving back to work today (1:20pm) an Amtrak appeared on the adjacent rail line headed south. This was a short train, maybe 1 engine and 2 cars. I was driving about 10 over the 45mph speed and the Amtrack was still pulling ahead. Normally there are freights on these tracks at 35 mph, haven't seen this train before. This is on the set of tracks on the west side of Olathe KS, any idea on what this could be?

 

[Rafi]

Driving back to work today (1:20pm) an Amtrak appeared on the adjacent rail line headed south. This was a short train, maybe 1 engine and 2 cars. I was driving about 10 over the 45mph speed and the Amtrack was still pulling ahead. Normally there are freights on these tracks at 35 mph, haven't seen this train before. This is on the set of tracks on the west side of Olathe KS, any idea on what this could be?

That's really odd... In looking at the rail lines in Google Earth, that line is nowhere near the regular line that the SWC chief operates on. It must have been a special train, perhaps—gasp!—testing track between KCS and Oklahoma City? Although, the last I heard about a Heartland Flyer extension was going to put it into Newton and not KCS.

Again, PURE CONJECTURE.

-Rafi

 

[DaveKCMO]

if i'm not mistaken, this is the BNSF "coal line"...