There’s something electric about watching a mighty Union Pacific train thunder through a small town like Paola, Kansas. It’s more than just steel on steel — it’s a living link between the past and the present, where the echoes of old steam engines mix with the hum of modern locomotives. This stretch of rail is a crossroads, where the Union Pacific’s mighty network meets the sprawling BNSF mainline, connected by the legendary “long track” beside the historic interlocker.
For railfans, Paola is a hotspot — offering some of the best views in the region. But it’s not all smooth sailing: some folks who own the high ground nearby, prized for its panoramic views, have put up no trespassing signs, limiting access for those who want to watch the trains roll by. Luckily, there are still other spots around town that keep the rails open to fans and photographers alike.
In this blog, we’ll follow that journey — diving into the rail lines, subdivisions, and stories that make this corridor a vital artery of America’s freight rail system.
A glimpse of the flag and railcar near the Paola, Kansas corridor — where history and today’s railroading intersect.
🏗️ The Rail Crossroads of Paola: A Rich History from Tower Days to Modern Operations
The railroad saga in Paola kicked off in 1870, when the Kansas City–Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad laid its tracks through the town — later absorbed into the Missouri Pacific system and now UP and BNSF territory Reddit+1eBay+1Wikipedia+5City of Paola+5American-Rails.com+5. By the early 1900s, Paola had become a key junction point where Missouri Pacific, Frisco (St. Louis–San Francisco Railway), and Missouri–Kansas–Texas (Katy/MKT) lines crossed, making it a critical hub for freight and passenger traffic American-Rails.com+1Kansas Memory+1.
In the mid‑1900s, the intersection was managed from a manually operated signal tower (known as PB Tower), located near milepost 43.1, where switchmen used levers and semaphores to manage train movements into and out of Paola’s depots and yards kshs.orgKansas Memory. A classic signal tower photo dated September 1, 1956, still exists in the Kansas Historical Society archive Kansas Memory+6Kansas Memory+6kshs.org+6.
As rail traffic spiked during the mid-20th century, the manual control gave way to a modern, automated interlocking system. Today, the system handles both UP’s Coffeyville Subdivision and BNSF’s Fort Scott Subdivision, coordinating dozens of trains daily — including movements across the essential “long track” connection that links the two mainlines with modern efficiency.
Although never officially the busiest in America, Paola’s interlocker ranked among the busiest in eastern Kansas, managing high volumes of merging and crossing traffic from multiple major carriers. It stands as a powerful blending of traditional railroad craftsmanship and modern railroading tech — a living history channel powered by rails, signals, iron, and timing.
Union Pacific President’s Train Powers Through Paola, Kansas
In this rare sighting, Union Pacific’s executive business train — known as the President’s Train — rolls through Paola, Kansas, proudly draped in red, white, and blue and led by the iconic UP heritage fleet. This train passes over a historic rail junction once controlled by the PB Tower, which managed crossings of key railroads vital to the Midwest’s economy.
Though the PB Tower is gone, the crossing remains a bustling, automated interlocker connecting Union Pacific and BNSF lines via the famous “long track.” Today, dozens of trains pass through here daily, making it a critical artery for America’s freight network. This video captures the blend of railroading tradition and modern technology in action.
See It Today, Remember It Tomorrow
Paola’s rail corridor isn’t just a route for trains; it’s woven into the town’s very identity, marked by landmarks like the old hail and water tower standing sentinel from across town. Today, dozens of trains still rumble through this busy crossing daily, making it a vital artery for freight traffic in the region. Looking to the future, detailed plans exist to modernize the junction by installing a double crossover shared between Union Pacific and BNSF, which would replace the historic interlocker and improve traffic flow. Though these upgrades are ready on paper, the biggest challenge remains funding. Until then, Paola’s rails keep humming—a living testament to the town’s enduring role in America’s freight network. So get your eyes on it today before it becomes history.
About Paola:
Paola, Kansas, once nicknamed Boomtown during the railroad expansion era for its rapid growth, remains an important railroad community today. While the water tower pictured is a modern replacement, it still marks Paola’s long-standing connection to the rails and the vital role the town has played in supporting train operations over the decades.
