Indiana Railroad Hiawatha-Palestine turn departs Sullivan, Indiana Indiana Railroad’s (INRD) 3002 leads the Hiawatha-Palestine turn HWPAT-05 as it pulls of the CSX CE&D Subdivision after making a pickup at Sullivan, Indiana and continuing it's run to Palestine, Illinois on the Indianapolis Subdivision on December 5th, 2020. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Railroad Hiawatha-Palestine turn departs Sullivan, Indiana

Indiana Railroad’s (INRD) 3002 leads the Hiawatha-Palestine turn HWPAT-05 as it pulls of the CSX CE&D Subdivision after making a pickup at Sullivan, Indiana and continuing it’s run to Palestine, Illinois on the Indianapolis Subdivision on December 5th, 2020.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Northbound high and wide load at Red River CSX W991-29 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision across the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee on December 5th, 2020 with a High and Wide load for General Electric at a steady 25mph. The GE high and wide load is carried on GECX 021155 a Heavy load, 16-axle, depressed center flat car, which is owned by General Electrical Gas Turbine division. The car is 147 feet 10 inches long and the load deck length is 38 feet according to what I find on the web. It Was built in May of 1995 and is used to transport heavy gas turbines built by General Electric. A Kasgro Rail Corporation (KRL) caboose 072 brings up the rear with a full crew. The caboose and engine crews kept a close eye on clearances as they made their way north! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Northbound high and wide load at Red River

CSX W991-29 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision across the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee on December 5th, 2020 with a High and Wide load for General Electric at a steady 25mph.

The GE high and wide load is carried on GECX 021155 a Heavy load, 16-axle, depressed center flat car, which is owned by General Electrical Gas Turbine division. The car is 147 feet 10 inches long and the load deck length is 38 feet according to what I find on the web. It Was built in May of 1995 and is used to transport heavy gas turbines built by General Electric. A Kasgro Rail Corporation (KRL) caboose 072 brings up the rear with a full crew. The caboose and engine crews kept a close eye on clearances as they made their way north!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

A three-way meet at the north end of Cedar Hill, Tennessee Crews on CSX W991-29 and E305 do a roll-by inspection during a three way meet with hot intermodal Q029-07 at the north end of Cedar Hill, Tennessee as it heads south along the Henderson Subdivision, on December 5th, 2020. W991-29 is carrying a GE high and wide load on GECX 021155 Heavy load, 16-axle, depressed center flat car, which is owned by General Electrical Gas Turbine division. The car is 147 feet 10 inches long and the load deck length is 38 feet according to what I find on the web. It Was built in May of 1995 and is used to transport heavy gas turbines built by General Electric. A Kasgro Rail Corporation (KRL) caboose 072 brings up the rear with a full crew. The caboose and engine crews kept a close eye on clearances as they made their way at 25mph! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

A three-way meet at the north end of Cedar Hill, Tennessee

Crews on CSX W991-29 and E305 do a roll-by inspection during a three way meet with hot intermodal Q029-07 at the north end of Cedar Hill, Tennessee as it heads south along the Henderson Subdivision, on December 5th, 2020.

W991-29 is carrying a GE high and wide load on GECX 021155 Heavy load, 16-axle, depressed center flat car, which is owned by General Electrical Gas Turbine division. The car is 147 feet 10 inches long and the load deck length is 38 feet according to what I find on the web. It Was built in May of 1995 and is used to transport heavy gas turbines built by General Electric. A Kasgro Rail Corporation (KRL) caboose 072 brings up the rear with a full crew. The caboose and engine crews kept a close eye on clearances as they made their way at 25mph!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Indiana Railroad Interchanges with CSX at Sullivan, Indiana Indiana Railroad’s (INRD) 3002 leads the Hiawatha-Palestine turn HWPAT-05 sits under the old C&EI coaling tower that was built in 1941 to service steam locomotives, at Sullivan, Indiana as it's conductors connects the train to a string of cars from CSX on the CE&D Subdivision before continuing it's run to Palestine, Illinois on December 5th, 2020. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles. This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road’s Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham. INRD also owns a former Milwaukee Road line from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Burns City, Indiana (site of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center), with trackage rights extending to Chicago, Illinois. INRD serves Louisville, Kentucky, and the Port of Indiana on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, through a haulage agreement with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC).

Indiana Railroad Interchanges with CSX at Sullivan, Indiana

Indiana Railroad’s (INRD) 3002 leads the Hiawatha-Palestine turn HWPAT-05 sits under the old C&EI coaling tower that was built in 1941 to service steam locomotives, at Sullivan, Indiana as it’s conductors connects the train to a string of cars from CSX on the CE&D Subdivision before continuing it’s run to Palestine, Illinois on December 5th, 2020.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles.

This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road’s Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham. INRD also owns a former Milwaukee Road line from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Burns City, Indiana (site of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center), with trackage rights extending to Chicago, Illinois. INRD serves Louisville, Kentucky, and the Port of Indiana on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, through a haulage agreement with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC).

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Northbound at McClure, Illinois on the UP Chester Sub Canadian National Illinois Central "Death Star" heritage unit 3008, rounds the curve under the signal bridge just past McClure, Illinois as it heads north on the Union Pacific Chester Subdivision with an empty tank train on December 2nd, 2020 Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200.

Northbound at McClure, Illinois on the UP Chester Sub

Canadian National Illinois Central “Death Star” heritage unit 3008, rounds the curve under the signal bridge just past McClure, Illinois as it heads north on the Union Pacific Chester Subdivision with an empty tank train on December 2nd, 2020

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200.

Canadian National IC Heritage Unit 3008 waits for a signal at Murphysboro, IL On December 2nd, 2020 Canadian National (CN) Illinois Central Heritage Unit 3008 sits at CP Huston with empty oil train; ONUCS-01, as it waits for a signal to proceed north on the UP Mount Vernon Subdivision, at Murphysboro, IL. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 500.

Canadian National IC Heritage Unit 3008 waits for a signal at Murphysboro, IL

On December 2nd, 2020 Canadian National (CN) Illinois Central Heritage Unit 3008 sits at CP Huston with empty oil train; ONUCS-01, as it waits for a signal to proceed north on the UP Mount Vernon Subdivision, at Murphysboro, IL.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 500.

Last shot on a cold winter night move on the CN We'll, technically it's not really winter yet, but it was a cold night as I did one last night shot after a day of chasing the CN IC Heritage unit, 3008 through Missouri and Illinois. On the way home we stopped off at CN's Chiles Junction and I caught a southbound Canadian National loaded coal train under a starry sky as it passed the LED signals the junction in West Paducah, Kentucky on the CN Bluford Subdivision on December 2nd. 2020. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 30 seconds, ISO 400.

Last shot on a cold winter night move on the CN

We’ll, technically it’s not really winter yet, but it was a cold night as I did one last night shot after a day of chasing the CN IC Heritage unit, 3008 through Missouri and Illinois.

On the way home we stopped off at CN’s Chiles Junction and I caught a southbound Canadian National loaded coal train under a starry sky as it passed the LED signals the junction in West Paducah, Kentucky on the CN Bluford Subdivision on December 2nd. 2020.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 30 seconds, ISO 400.

CN Illinois Central Heritage Unit at Dexter, MO Today fellow railfan Cooper Smith and I along with a lot more were blessed because as of the night before this unit was supposed to pass through our area in the darkness of night! Fortunately we got word from fellow railfan Terry Redeker down the line that the train got recrewed earlier than planned and it would be to us in daylight! Our first stop on this chase on December 2nd, 2020 we caught Canadian National (CN) Illinois Central Heritage Unit 3008 as it lead empty oil train; ONUCS-01 north on the Union Pacific's Chester Subdivision, past the Martin Grain Company grain silos at Dexter, Missouri. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

CN Illinois Central Heritage Unit at Dexter, MO

Today fellow railfan Cooper Smith and I along with a lot more were blessed because as of the night before this unit was supposed to pass through our area in the darkness of night! Fortunately we got word from fellow railfan Terry Redeker down the line that the train got recrewed earlier than planned and it would be to us in daylight!

Our first stop on this chase on December 2nd, 2020 we caught Canadian National (CN) Illinois Central Heritage Unit 3008 as it lead empty oil train; ONUCS-01 north on the Union Pacific’s Chester Subdivision, past the Martin Grain Company grain silos at Dexter, Missouri headed for Superior, WI.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

CSX K413-29 and Q026 meet at Nortonville, Ky As the first light snow of winter 2020 steaks trough the sky the Engineer and Conductor of loaded ethanol train CSX K413-29 (Kansas City Southern 4107 & Canadian Pacific 8849) do a roll-by inspection at Romney of CSX Q026-29 on November 30th, 2020 as it makes its way north on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 200.

CSX K413-29 and Q026 meet at Nortonville, Ky

As the first light snow of winter 2020 steaks trough the sky the Engineer and Conductor of loaded ethanol train CSX K413-29 (Kansas City Southern 4107 & Canadian Pacific 8849) do a roll-by inspection at Romney of CSX Q026-29 on November 30th, 2020 as it makes its way north on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 200.

Kansas City Southern leads CSX K413-29 at Crofton, Ky A light snow streaks trough the sky as loaded ethanol train CSX K413 heads south, with Kansas City Southern 4107 & Canadian Pacific 8849 leading, as it splits the signals on November 30th, 2020 as it makes its way south on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 400.

Kansas City Southern leads CSX K413-29 at Crofton, Ky

A light snow streaks trough the sky as loaded ethanol train CSX K413 heads south, with Kansas City Southern 4107 & Canadian Pacific 8849 leading, as it splits the signals on November 30th, 2020 as it makes its way south on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 400.

CN U700 Crew Change at Fulton, Ky A a crew member steps off Canadian National (CN) 3023, the new Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage locomotive, (EJ&E) leading loaded Pet coke train U700, during a crew change before heading on south on CN’s Fulton subdivision at CP South Oaks, south of Fulton, Kentucky on November 21st, 2020. CN 3023 of six locomotives representing the railways that have joined Canadian National Railway since their privatization, 25 years ago. The CN engines released in heritage paint so far are 3115 BC Rail; 8952 Grand Trunk Western; 8898 CN; 3008 Illinois Central; 3069 Wisconsin Central; and 3023 Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.

CN U700 Crew Change at Fulton, Ky

A a crew member steps off Canadian National (CN) 3023, the new Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage locomotive, (EJ&E) leading loaded Pet coke train U700, during a crew change before heading on south on CN’s Fulton subdivision at CP South Oaks, south of Fulton, Kentucky on November 21st, 2020.

CN 3023 of six locomotives representing the railways that have joined Canadian National Railway since their privatization, 25 years ago. The CN engines released in heritage paint so far are 3115 BC Rail; 8952 Grand Trunk Western; 8898 CN; 3008 Illinois Central; 3069 Wisconsin Central; and 3023 Elgin, Joliet & Eastern.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville Railway Shops A mixture of power sits around the shop area at the Paducah and Louisville Railway shop in Paducah, Kentucky. According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile (430 km) line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August, 1986. The 223-mile (359 km) main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with branch lines from Paducah to Kevil and Mayfield, Kentucky and another from Cecilia to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The PAL interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian National (CN), formerly Illinois Central Railroad, in Paducah. In Madisonville, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation (CSXT). In Louisville, the line interchanges with the Indiana Rail Road (INRD), CSX Transportation (CSXT) and Norfolk Southern (NS). Class III line connections are at Princeton with the Fredonia Valley Railroad (FVRR) and at Louisville with the Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC). The line today carries over 200,000 carloads of traffic on a CTC-controlled mainline with welded rail and even a section of double track nearly 20 miles (32 km) long between Paducah and just east of Calvert City. This is a huge improvement from the little amount of traffic and poor condition the line was in by the time the ICG had sold it. Today it is a big regional class II railroad connecting with four class I railroads (listed above), as well as the three shortline connections it makes which are also listed above. It has 270 route-miles of track, of which 233 miles (375 km) are its mainline running between its namesake towns of Paducah and Louisville, as well as branch lines to Mayfield, Kevil, and Elizabethtown. The railroad serves "many chemical plants and other manufacturing companies, several coal mines, numerous clay and stone quarries, lumber and propane distributors, farm [including a few large grain elevators] and mine equipment suppliers, warehouses, transloads, bulk terminals, riverports, and one military base." The parent company of the PAL, P&L Transportation, also operates the Evansville Western Railway and the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville Railway Shops

A mixture of power sits around the shop area at the Paducah and Louisville Railway shop in Paducah, Kentucky.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The 270-mile (430 km) line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August, 1986. The 223-mile (359 km) main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with branch lines from Paducah to Kevil and Mayfield, Kentucky and another from Cecilia to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The PAL interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian National (CN), formerly Illinois Central Railroad, in Paducah. In Madisonville, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation (CSXT).

In Louisville, the line interchanges with the Indiana Rail Road (INRD), CSX Transportation (CSXT) and Norfolk Southern (NS). Class III line connections are at Princeton with the Fredonia Valley Railroad (FVRR) and at Louisville with the Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC). The line today carries over 200,000 carloads of traffic on a CTC-controlled mainline with welded rail and even a section of double track nearly 20 miles (32 km) long between Paducah and just east of Calvert City. This is a huge improvement from the little amount of traffic and poor condition the line was in by the time the ICG had sold it.

Today it is a big regional class II railroad connecting with four class I railroads (listed above), as well as the three shortline connections it makes which are also listed above. It has 270 route-miles of track, of which 233 miles (375 km) are its mainline running between its namesake towns of Paducah and Louisville, as well as branch lines to Mayfield, Kevil, and Elizabethtown. The railroad serves “many chemical plants and other manufacturing companies, several coal mines, numerous clay and stone quarries, lumber and propane distributors, farm [including a few large grain elevators] and mine equipment suppliers, warehouses, transloads, bulk terminals, riverports, and one military base.”

The parent company of the PAL, P&L Transportation, also operates the Evansville Western Railway and the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Canadian National Fulton to Paducah (FUPD) Local L513 After completing it's interchange work with the Paducah and Louisville Railway, CN 5854 (GTW) leads the Fulton to Paducah, Ky local L513 long nose forward as it crosses over Maxon road on it's return trip to their yard in Fulton, Kentucky, as the light of the day fades from the sky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm, f/1.4, 1/100, ISO 6400.

Canadian National Fulton to Paducah, Ky Local L513

After completing it’s interchange work with the Paducah and Louisville Railway, CN 5854 (GTW) leads the Fulton to Paducah, Ky local L513 long nose forward as it crosses over Maxon road on it’s return trip to their yard in Fulton, Kentucky, as the light of the day fades from the sky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm, f/1.4, 1/100, ISO 6400.

CN Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage Unit at Chiles Junction Canadian National 3023, the new Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage unit, (EJ&E) leads loaded pet coke train U700 as it heads south on CN’s Bluford subdivision at Chiles Junction in West Paducah, Ky, on November 21st, 2020. According to a press release from CN: This is one of five locomotives representing the railways that have joined their team since their privatization, 25 years ago. Each one features the colors of the railway at the time it merged with CN as well as the logo specially created to commemorate the quarter century of our IPO. These acquisitions propelled our service farther than any other North American railway, similar to our IPO propelled CN to new heights. The engines release so far are BC Rail; Grand Trunk West; CN; Illinois Central; Wisconsin Central; and Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 200.

CN Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage Unit at Chiles Junction

Canadian National 3023, the new Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage unit, (EJ&E) leads loaded pet coke train U700 as it heads south on CN’s Bluford subdivision at Chiles Junction in West Paducah, Ky, on November 21st, 2020.

According to a press release from CN: This is one of five locomotives representing the railways that have joined their team since their privatization, 25 years ago. Each one features the colors of the railway at the time it merged with CN as well as the logo specially created to commemorate the quarter century of our IPO. These acquisitions propelled our service farther than any other North American railway, similar to our IPO propelled CN to new heights. The engines release so far are BC Rail; Grand Trunk West; CN; Illinois Central; Wisconsin Central; and Elgin, Joliet &Eastern.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 200.

BNSF 7477 and 4051 working TRRA, Venice, IL Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) crews work on dropping cars from a BNSF train at the St. Louis Madison yard at Venice, Illinois with BNSF 7477 and 4051 as power. According to the TRRA website: "Since 1889, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis has played a vital role in the railroad operations and growth of the St. Louis metropolitan area on November 7th, 2020. The Association was originally created to satisfy the need for an efficient, safe, and economical method of interchanging rail traffic at the railroad hub of St. Louis, Missouri: the "Gateway to the West." Over 120 years later, the employees of the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis make the same commitment to efficiency, safety, and value to our customers, owners, and the public with each new day." Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @220mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO 560.

BNSF 7477 and 4051 working TRRA, Venice, IL

Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) crews work on dropping cars from a BNSF train at the St. Louis Madison yard at Venice, Illinois with BNSF 7477 and 4051 as power.

According to the TRRA website: “Since 1889, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis has played a vital role in the railroad operations and growth of the St. Louis metropolitan area on November 7th, 2020.

The Association was originally created to satisfy the need for an efficient, safe, and economical method of interchanging rail traffic at the railroad hub of St. Louis, Missouri: the “Gateway to the West.”
Over 120 years later, the employees of the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis make the same commitment to efficiency, safety, and value to our customers, owners, and the public with each new day.”

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @220mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO 560.

Paducah and Louisville LG1 Northbound at Litchfield, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway's University of Kentucky Locomotive 4522 leads LG1, a northbound Louisville Gas and Electric load of coal past Scotty's Rock Yard rail operations at Litchfield, Kentucky on October 30, 2020, where a southbound PAL local waits in their yard for it to clear. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville LG1 Northbound at Leitchfield, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway’s University of Kentucky Locomotive 4522 leads LG1, a northbound Louisville Gas and Electric load of coal past Scotty’s Rock Yard rail operations at Leitchfield, Kentucky on October 30, 2020, where a southbound PAL local waits in their yard for it to clear.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

CN U700 waits for a northbound empty coal With a fresh crew on board, Canadian National 3023, the new Elgin Jolliet & Eastern Heritage unit, (EJ&E) waits for an incoming empty coal train to get into the siding at CP South Oaks in Fulton, Kentucky before heading on south with U700, a loaded Pet Coke Train, on CN’s Bluford subdivision at Fulton, Kentucky on November 21st, 2020. According to a press release from CN: This is one of six locomotives representing the railways that have joined their team since their privatization, 25 years ago. Each one features the colors of the railway at the time it merged with CN as well as the logo specially created to commemorate the quarter century of our IPO. These acquisitions propelled our service farther than any other North American railway, similar to our IPO propelled CN to new heights. The engines release so far are 3115 BC Rail; 8952 Grand Trunk Western; 8898 CN; 3008 Illinois Central; 3069 Wisconsin Central; and 3023 Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 400.

CN U700 meets a northbound empty coal, Fulton, Ky

With a fresh crew on board, Canadian National 3023, the new Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage unit, (EJ&E) waits for an incoming empty coal train to get into the siding at CP South Oaks in Fulton, Kentucky before heading on south with U700, a loaded Pet Coke Train, on CN’s Bluford subdivision at Fulton, Kentucky on November 21st, 2020.

According to a press release from CN: This is one of six locomotives representing the railways that have joined their team since their privatization, 25 years ago. Each one features the colors of the railway at the time it merged with CN as well as the logo specially created to commemorate the quarter century of our IPO. These acquisitions propelled our service farther than any other North American railway, similar to our IPO propelled CN to new heights. The engines release so far are 3115 BC Rail; 8952 Grand Trunk Western; 8898 CN; 3008 Illinois Central; 3069 Wisconsin Central; and 3023 Elgin, Joliet & Eastern.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 400.

CN SB Mixed freight crossing the Ohio River Canadian National locomotives 5768 and 2864 head south across the Ohio River from Metropolis, Illinois with a mixed freight as they head south on the CN Bluford Subdivision, on November 21st, 2020. According to the web: The Metropolis Bridge is a railroad bridge which spans the Ohio River at Metropolis, Illinois. Originally built for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, construction began in 1914 under the direction of engineer Ralph Modjeski. It has a single track jointly owned by Canadian National Railway, BNSF Railway and Paducah & Louisville Railway. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 200.

CN SB Mixed freight crossing the Ohio River at Metropolis, Illinois

Canadian National locomotives 5768 and 2864 head south across the Ohio River from Metropolis, Illinois with a mixed freight as they head south on the CN Bluford Subdivision, on November 21st, 2020.

According to the web: The Metropolis Bridge is a railroad bridge which spans the Ohio River at Metropolis, Illinois. Originally built for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, construction began in 1914 under the direction of engineer Ralph Modjeski. It has a single track jointly owned by Canadian National Railway, BNSF Railway and Paducah & Louisville Railway.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 200.

CN U700 Crew Change A topside view of Canadian National 3023, the new Elgin Jolliet & Eastern Heritage unit, (EJ&E) leading loaded coke train U700 during a crew change (cropped photo and drone wasn't over engine or crew during flight) before heading on south on CN’s Bluford subdivision at CP South Oaks at Fulton, Kentucky on November 21st, 2020. According to a press release from CN: This is one of six locomotives representing the railways that have joined their team since their privatization, 25 years ago. Each one features the colors of the railway at the time it merged with CN as well as the logo specially created to commemorate the quarter century of our IPO. These acquisitions propelled our service farther than any other North American railway, similar to our IPO propelled CN to new heights. The engines release so far are 3115 BC Rail; 8952 Grand Trunk Western; 8898 CN; 3008 Illinois Central; 3069 Wisconsin Central; and 3023 Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.

Canadian National 3023 Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage unit at Fulton, Ky

CN U700 Crew Change

A topside view of Canadian National 3023, the new Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage unit, (EJ&E) leading loaded coke train U700 during a crew change (cropped photo and drone wasn’t over engine or crew during flight) before heading on south on CN’s Bluford subdivision at CP South Oaks at Fulton, Kentucky on November 21st, 2020.

According to a press release from CN: This is one of six locomotives representing the railways that have joined their team since their privatization, 25 years ago. Each one features the colors of the railway at the time it merged with CN as well as the logo specially created to commemorate the quarter century of our IPO. These acquisitions propelled our service farther than any other North American railway, similar to our IPO propelled CN to new heights. The engines release so far are 3115 BC Rail; 8952 Grand Trunk Western; 8898 CN; 3008 Illinois Central; 3069 Wisconsin Central; and 3023 Elgin, Joliet & Eastern.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.

CN Elgin Jolliet Heritage Unit Canadian National 3023, the new Elgin Jolliet Heritage unit, (EJ&E) leads loaded coke train U700 under the old Illinois Central coaling tower, left over from the steam era, as it heads south on CN’s Bluford subdivision on a misty overcast day on CN’s Bluford Subdivision at Reevesville, Illinois. According to a press release from CN: This is one of five locomotives representing the railways that have joined their team since their privatization, 25 years ago. Each one features the colors of the railway at the time it merged with CN as well as the logo specially created to commemorate the quarter century of our IPO. These acquisitions propelled our service farther than any other North American railway, similar to our IPO propelled CN to new heights. The engines release so far are BC Rail; Grand Trunk West; CN; Illinois Central; Wisconsin Central; and Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. According to Wikipedia: A coaling tower, coal stage or coaling station was a facility used to load coal as fuel into railway steam locomotives. Coaling towers were often sited at motive power depots or locomotive maintenance shops. Coaling towers were constructed of wood, steel-reinforced concrete, or steel. In almost all cases coaling stations used a gravity fed method, with one or more large storage bunkers for the coal elevated on columns above the railway tracks, from which the coal could be released to slide down a chute into the waiting locomotive’s coal storage area. The method of lifting the bulk coal into the storage bin varied. The coal usually was dropped from a hopper car into a pit below tracks adjacent to the tower. From the pit a conveyor-type system used a chain of motor-driven buckets to raise the coal to the top of the tower where it would be dumped into the storage bin; a skip-hoist system lifted a single large bin for the same purpose. Some facilities lifted entire railway coal trucks or wagons. Sanding pipes were often mounted on coaling towers to allow simultaneous replenishment of a locomotive’s sand box. As railroads transitioned from the use of steam locomotives to the use of diesel locomotives in the 1950s the need for coaling towers ended. Many reinforced concrete towers remain in place if they do not interfere with operations due to the high cost of demolition incurred with these massive structures. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

CN Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage Unit

CN Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage Unit Canadian National 3023, the new Elgin Joliet & Eastern Heritage unit, (EJ&E) leads loaded coke train U700 under the old Illinois Central coaling tower, left over from the steam era, as it heads south on CN’s Bluford subdivision on a misty overcast day at Reevesville, Illinois on November 21st, 2020.

According to a press release from CN: This is one of six locomotives representing the railways that have joined their team since their privatization, 25 years ago. Each one features the colors of the railway at the time it merged with CN as well as the logo specially created to commemorate the quarter century of our IPO. These acquisitions propelled our service farther than any other North American railway, similar to our IPO propelled CN to new heights. The engines release so far are BC Rail; Grand Trunk West; CN; Illinois Central; Wisconsin Central; and Elgin, Joliet & Eastern.

According to Wikipedia: A coaling tower, coal stage or coaling station was a facility used to load coal as fuel into railway steam locomotives. Coaling towers were often sited at motive power depots or locomotive maintenance shops.

Coaling towers were constructed of wood, steel-reinforced concrete, or steel. In almost all cases coaling stations used a gravity fed method, with one or more large storage bunkers for the coal elevated on columns above the railway tracks, from which the coal could be released to slide down a chute into the waiting locomotive’s coal storage area. The method of lifting the bulk coal into the storage bin varied. The coal usually was dropped from a hopper car into a pit below tracks adjacent to the tower. From the pit a conveyor-type system used a chain of motor-driven buckets to raise the coal to the top of the tower where it would be dumped into the storage bin; a skip-hoist system lifted a single large bin for the same purpose. Some facilities lifted entire railway coal trucks or wagons. Sanding pipes were often mounted on coaling towers to allow simultaneous replenishment of a locomotive’s sand box.

As railroads transitioned from the use of steam locomotives to the use of diesel locomotives in the 1950s the need for coaling towers ended. Many reinforced concrete towers remain in place if they do not interfere with operations due to the high cost of demolition incurred with these massive structures.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.