Shreveport (KCS/UP)

Shreveport's rail complex centers on Texas Junction, where CPKC's north-south main (Kansas City to the Gulf) crosses the east-west Meridian Speedway corridor at the north end of Deramus Yard. The junction forces trains to slow for crossovers and yard leads, typically down to 20-30 mph, giving railfans generous time to observe and photograph consists. A recommended viewing point is near Pecan Street off Cameron, which provides good sight lines to passing trains.

The 257-acre Deramus Yard, CPKC's principal classification facility, provides constant activity: road trains arriving and departing, local switchers working the bowl, and through freight threading the main tracks that bypass the yard. Union Pacific also runs through the area on its former Texas & Pacific line, adding variety to the parade. Expect to see a mix of CPKC maroon-and-grey units, UP Armour Yellow, and pooled power from BNSF, Norfolk Southern, and other roads. The sheer volume — 40 or more trains in a 24-hour period — means you rarely wait long between movements.

Shreveport sits on the west bank of the Red River in the piney hills of northwest Louisiana, at an elevation of roughly 170-220 feet. The rail corridor passes through a mix of urban and light-industrial terrain: warehouses, switching leads, and grade crossings framed by loblolly pines and hardwoods typical of the Red River valley. The climate is humid subtropical — summers are hot (regularly reaching the mid-90s °F) with hazy humidity, while winters are mild with occasional crisp mornings that offer clear air and warm-toned light. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable conditions for extended trackside sessions. Afternoon thunderstorms are common from May through September, occasionally producing dramatic cloud backdrops for photography.

Shreveport is the nerve center of the former Kansas City Southern system, now operated by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) following the 2023 merger. Five major corridors radiate from the city: north to Kansas City, west to Dallas/Fort Worth, east to Meridian, Mississippi via the 320-mile Meridian Speedway (a CPKC/Norfolk Southern joint venture), southeast to New Orleans, and southwest toward Beaumont and Houston.

On a typical weekday, railfans can expect 40 or more train movements, combining CPKC road freight (manifest, intermodal, unit grain, and coal trains), Union Pacific through traffic on the former Texas & Pacific line (merchandise, auto-racks, and mixed manifest), and several local switching and interchange jobs serving Shreveport's industrial belt. The Meridian Speedway corridor carries significant east-west intermodal traffic connecting West Coast origins with southeastern destinations via Norfolk Southern at Meridian. UP and NS interline stack trains have historically used this route, though operational changes following the CPKC merger have affected some traffic patterns.

Morning light favors shooting from the east side of the CPKC main, where southbound trains catch direct sun on their nose and flanks. By late afternoon, positioning west of the tracks can silhouette trains against the sky or capture warm backlighting. The area around Texas Junction provides compositions where trains on crossing routes can appear in the same frame — a telephoto lens in the 200mm range compresses the parallel and crossing mains effectively. Wide-angle shots (24-35mm) work well for capturing the full scope of Deramus Yard's bowl and ladder tracks. The multiple grade crossings in the Shreveport rail complex provide various legal public vantage points at street level. Yard property itself is off-limits — always shoot from public roads and sidewalks.

Shreveport's railroad heritage dates to the 1870s. The Texas & Pacific Railway completed its line from Dallas to Shreveport in 1873 and extended a through route to New Orleans by September 12, 1882, establishing Shreveport as a critical east-west rail junction. The Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf Railroad (predecessor to KCS) arrived in 1897, building a north-south corridor from Kansas City to Port Arthur, Texas, and constructing Shreveport Union Station that same year — the city's first passenger terminal.

KCS made Shreveport its operational headquarters. Deramus Yard, the railroad's principal classification facility, was officially dedicated on March 24, 1956, and named for longtime KCS president W. N. Deramus. A $75 million modernization later converted the flat yard into a computer-automated hump yard with 75 miles of track across 257 acres. Shreveport Union Station served KCS's flagship Southern Belle passenger train until November 2, 1969, when KCS ended passenger service; the station burned just two days later and only its concrete footprint remains today.

The Texas & Pacific merged into the Missouri Pacific system in 1976, which was absorbed by Union Pacific in 1997. In 2023, Canadian Pacific completed its acquisition of KCS, creating Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) — the first single-line railroad connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Shreveport's Deramus Yard remains the busiest facility on the former KCS system.

Shreveport's standout quality for railfans is its role as a multi-corridor hub. Few locations in the South offer five radiating mainline corridors from a single point — Kansas City, Dallas, Meridian, New Orleans, and Beaumont — all funneling through one yard complex. The dual-carrier presence of CPKC and Union Pacific ensures locomotive variety beyond what any single-railroad location can offer. The Meridian Speedway joint venture adds Norfolk Southern-originated intermodal traffic to the mix.

Deramus Yard's status as CPKC's busiest yard means constant activity: trains arrive, depart, and are classified around the clock. The junction geometry forces trains to slow significantly, giving railfans extended viewing time compared to open mainline locations. Shreveport also carries historical weight as KCS's operational headquarters for over a century — the city shaped the railroad, and the railroad shaped the city. The nearby Shreveport Railroad Museum at 142 N Common Street (free admission) offers a complementary indoor experience with artifacts and an HO-scale model of 1960s downtown Shreveport.