BNSF 976 leads a intermodal across the bridge at Diablo Canyon, Arizona as they head east on the BNSF Seligman Subdivision, through the Navajo Reservation in north central Arizona. From what I recall this slide was shot in the mid-1990s.

According to Wikipedia: Canyon Diablo is a ghost town in Coconino County, Arizona, United States on the edge of the arroyo Canyon Diablo. The community was settled in 1880 and died out in the early 20th century.

The ramshackle camp of railroad workers originated in 1880, due to the construction of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad bridge over a large canyon named Canyon Diablo. The temporary community assumed the name of the canyon that stood in the way of the railroad construction - Canyon Diablo. The bridge construction took six months, during which many regular railroad construction workers were encamped and waiting to recommence their work once the canyon had been spanned. After the bridge was completed, construction resumed and the camp was largely abandoned.

When the railroad bridge was completed, the town quickly died. The original railroad bridge was replaced in 1900 with a new bridge to carry heavier locomotives and cars. By 1903, the only thing remaining in the town was a Navajo trading post. A new double track railroad bridge was completed across the Canyon in 1947. What remains today at Canyon Diablo are a few building foundations, the grave marker and grave of Herman Wolfe, the ruins of the trading post, a railroad siding and a double track railroad bridge.

Tech Notes: Nikon F3 Film Camera, Nikon 70-300mm lens at 200mm, f/stop and shutter speed not recorded

#railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography

BNSF 976 leads a intermodal across the bridge at Diablo Canyon, Arizona

BNSF 976 leads a intermodal across the bridge at Diablo Canyon, Arizona as they head east on the BNSF Seligman Subdivision, through the Navajo Reservation in north central Arizona. From what I recall this slide was shot in the mid-1990s.

According to Wikipedia: Canyon Diablo is a ghost town in Coconino County, Arizona, United States on the edge of the arroyo Canyon Diablo. The community was settled in 1880 and died out in the early 20th century.

The ramshackle camp of railroad workers originated in 1880, due to the construction of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad bridge over a large canyon named Canyon Diablo. The temporary community assumed the name of the canyon that stood in the way of the railroad construction – Canyon Diablo. The bridge construction took six months, during which many regular railroad construction workers were encamped and waiting to recommence their work once the canyon had been spanned. After the bridge was completed, construction resumed and the camp was largely abandoned.

When the railroad bridge was completed, the town quickly died. The original railroad bridge was replaced in 1900 with a new bridge to carry heavier locomotives and cars. By 1903, the only thing remaining in the town was a Navajo trading post. A new double track railroad bridge was completed across the Canyon in 1947. What remains today at Canyon Diablo are a few building foundations, the grave marker and grave of Herman Wolfe, the ruins of the trading post, a railroad siding and a double track railroad bridge.

Tech Notes: Nikon F3 Film Camera, Nikon 70-300mm lens at 200mm, f/stop and shutter speed not recorded

BNSF 1093 and 1005, in H1 paint scheme, lead loaded potash train CSX B207 as they pass the old L&N Depot at Henderson, Kentucky on their way north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on September 9th, 2023.

I am told that Railmark Holdings, Inc has purchased the depot and is currently continuing restoration on the station. I have not been able to find out what their plans for the depot include yet.

According to their website: Railmark, its brands, and subsidiaries are leaders in the railroad industry in North America and around the world. An accomplished provider of railroad transportation, rail services, and rail systems development, Railmark provides a complete and fully integrated program for rail network improvement and rail management services to railroads, governments, municipalities, and industrial clients.

Railmark also owns and operates railroads in North America and sponsors philanthropic initiatives through its Railmark Foundation Limited. Together the Railmark group of rail service companies work around the world each day to make rail transportation better by improving economies and the quality of human life.


Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 120.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #csxt #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone

BNSF 1093 and 1005 northbound at the old L&N Depot, Henderson, Ky

BNSF 1093 and 1005, in H1 paint scheme, lead loaded potash train CSX B207 as they pass the old L&N Depot at Henderson, Kentucky on their way north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on September 9th, 2023.

I am told that Railmark Holdings, Inc has purchased the depot and is currently continuing restoration on the station. I have not been able to find out what their plans for the depot include yet.

According to their website: Railmark, its brands, and subsidiaries are leaders in the railroad industry in North America and around the world. An accomplished provider of railroad transportation, rail services, and rail systems development, Railmark provides a complete and fully integrated program for rail network improvement and rail management services to railroads, governments, municipalities, and industrial clients.

Railmark also owns and operates railroads in North America and sponsors philanthropic initiatives through its Railmark Foundation Limited. Together the Railmark group of rail service companies work around the world each day to make rail transportation better by improving economies and the quality of human life.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 120.

On June 28th, 2023, I tried to count the locomotives stored on the Black Hills Subdivision at the BNSF Donkey Creek Yard at Rozet, Wyoming in the two lines of locomotives from this picture, but there’s too many and seem to go on forever. The trains on the far left are coal trains, loaded and empty, waiting on crews.

BNSF Deadline at Donkey Creek Yard, Rozel, Wyoming

On June 28th, 2023, I tried to count the locomotives stored at the BNSF Donkey Creek Yard at Rozel, Wyoming in the two lines of locomotives from this picture, but there’s too many and seem to go on forever. The trains on the far left are coal trains, loaded and empty, waiting on crews.

According to news reports I found online, this yard was scheduled to close June 5th, 2022, affecting 38 jobs, but from what I could see there were people working in the yard, so I’m not sure if that happened or not. The reported layoff was due to the tough market for coal. It has been a bit over a year and perhaps things have changed since then.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

A westbound BNSF intermodal passes the old depot at Chillicothe, Illinois as the light of day begins to fade on the Chillicothe Subdivision on June 30th, 2023.

According to Wikipedia: Chillicothe was an Amtrak stop in Chillicothe, Illinois; a suburb of Peoria. The station was a stop on the Southwest Chief between Chicago Union Station and Los Angeles Union Station before the alignment was changed to go via Burlington Northern Santa Fe's Mendota Subdivision in 1996.

Amtrak service at Chillicothe began on May 1, 1971, with the Chicago-Houston Texas Chief, a service previously run by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. This route was renamed the Lone Star in 1974 and discontinued in 1979.

For most of Amtrak's first quarter-century, it was Peoria's only link to the national rail system. The short-lived Prairie Marksman ran to East Peoria in 1980 and 1981.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/15, ISO 120.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #IllinoisTrains #BNSF

Westbound BNSF intermodal passes the old depot at Chillicothe, Illinois

A westbound BNSF intermodal passes the old depot at Chillicothe, Illinois as the light of day begins to fade on the Chillicothe Subdivision on June 30th, 2023.

According to Wikipedia: Chillicothe was an Amtrak stop in Chillicothe, Illinois; a suburb of Peoria. The station was a stop on the Southwest Chief between Chicago Union Station and Los Angeles Union Station before the alignment was changed to go via Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s Mendota Subdivision in 1996.

Amtrak service at Chillicothe began on May 1, 1971, with the Chicago-Houston Texas Chief, a service previously run by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. This route was renamed the Lone Star in 1974 and discontinued in 1979.

For most of Amtrak’s first quarter-century, it was Peoria’s only link to the national rail system. The short-lived Prairie Marksman ran to East Peoria in 1980 and 1981.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/15, ISO 120.

A loaded BNSF loaded coal train passes the siding at Dawson Springs, Kentucky as it heads south on the Paducah and Louisville Railway from Warrior coal mine loop at Madisonville, Ky on May 1st, 2023.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 130.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #BNSFtrains #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #coaltrain #BNSF #Dawsonspringsky

Southbound BNSF Coal at Dawson Springs, Ky on the Paducah and Louisville Railway

A loaded BNSF loaded coal train passes the siding at Dawson Springs, Kentucky as it heads south on the Paducah and Louisville Railway from Warrior coal mine loop at Madisonville, Ky on May 1st, 2023.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 130.

BNSF 5050 leads the BNSF local as pulls out of P&I Junction in Paducah, Kentucky after making its drop-off and pickup at the Paducah & Louisville Railway on November 23rd, 2022.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 140, -.3 stop.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #kentuckytrains #bnsfrailway #bnsf

BNSF 5050 leads the BNSF local as pulls out of P&I Junction in Paducah, Kentucky

BNSF 5050 leads the BNSF local as pulls out of P&I Junction in Paducah, Kentucky after making its drop-off and pickup at the Paducah & Louisville Railway on November 23rd, 2022.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 140, -.3 stop.

BNSF 8211 and NS 1075 bring up the rear of a loaded Norfolk Southern coal train as it heads north on the Paducah and Louisville Railway line at Madisonville, Kentucky on January 24th, 2023. The line and train is crossing over the location referred to as Monarch on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville. 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 140.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trainsfromtheair #csxhendersonsubdivision #kentuckytrains

BNSF 8211 and NS 1075 bring up the rear of a loaded Norfolk Southern coal train at Madisonville, Ky

BNSF 8211 and NS 1075 bring up the rear of a loaded Norfolk Southern coal train as it heads north on the Paducah and Louisville Railway line at Madisonville, Kentucky on January 24th, 2023. The line and train is crossing over the location referred to as Monarch on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 140.

February 8, 2020 - BNSF 6353 & CN 2126 lead a northbound empty coal train, 7,400ft (135 car), with BNSF 5997 as the trailing DPU. Here it makes it's way north through the valley approaching Caneyville, Kentucky where it will meet up with a fresh crew to take the train on to Louisville.

Photography/Art Challenge – Day 6 of 10

My Railroad Photography as Art

My niece Kelly R Gates has nominated me to share my artwork for 10 days and to nominate another artist to do the same. My take on this challenge is to create what I consider photographic Art pieces from some of my railroad photography.

Now, I realize there are now AI programs out there these days that can create just about any type of art pieces for you with just words, but as most of you know I’m a visual person and all the pieces I post over the next 10 days will be created in Photoshop by me from photographs I have shot, not with AI Software.

I know that this type of art isn’t for everyone, but I do like to get outside the box and my comfort zone from time to time, as I think it’s good for my creative eye. I’d appreciate your constructive thoughts and comments!

For today’s digital photographic art piece, I’ve selected this shot from September 4, 2019 – A BNSF local works on picking up cars at BNSF’s Rices Point Yard in Duluth, Minnesota.

On Day 6 I nominate fellow railfan photographer Travis Dewitz to share his art (whatever type he wants to share) ~ I know he has plenty as he hopefully joins in on the 10-day art challenge!!!!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @550mm, f/7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, Available for purchase in my store at https://pixels.com/featured/digital-art-bnsf-6353-leads-coal-train-jim-pearson.html

A Digital Art Piece - September 4, 2019 - A BNSF local works on picking up cars at BNSF's Rices Point Yard in Duluth, Minnesota.

Photography/Art Challenge – Day 5 of 10

Day 5 of 10 – Photography/Art Challenge

My Railroad Photography as Art

My niece Kelly R Gates has nominated me to share my artwork for 10 days and to nominate another artist to do the same. My take on this challenge is to create what I consider photographic Art pieces from some of my railroad photography.

Now, I realize there are now AI programs out there these days that can create just about any type of art pieces for you with just words, but as most of you know I’m a visual person and all the pieces I post over the next 10 days will be created in Photoshop by me from photographs I have shot, not with AI Software.

I know that this type of art isn’t for everyone, but I do like to get outside the box and my comfort zone from time to time, as I think it’s good for my creative eye. I’d appreciate your constructive thoughts and comments!

For today’s digital photographic art piece, I’ve selected this shot from September 4, 2019 – A BNSF local works on picking up cars at BNSF’s Rices Point Yard in Duluth, Minnesota.

On Day 5 I nominate fellow railfan photographer Fredrick Simon to share his art (whatever type he wants to share) ~ I know he has plenty as he hopefully joins in on the 10-day art challenge!!!!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @600mm, f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 1000, Available for purchase in my store at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-digital-art-piece-a-bnsf-local-works-rice-yard-jim-pearson.html

In this week's Saturday Infrared view, we catch an eastbound, with 4 BNSF units leading, as it heads away from downtown Kansas City, Missouri past the famous Santa Fe Junction on June 29th, 2022.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 200.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #BNSFrailway #infrared #infraredtrainphotography

4 BNSF units leading a eastbound freight at Santa Fe Junction at Kansas City, Mo

In this week’s Saturday Infrared view, we catch an eastbound, with 4 BNSF units leading, as it heads away from downtown Kansas City, Missouri past the famous Santa Fe Junction on June 29th, 2022.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO 200.

Still in green and black paint, BNSF 2749 heads up a string of power as it sits at BNSF Argentine Yard at Kansas City, Kansas, on June 30th, 2022 while waiting for its next assignment.

According to Wikipedia: The Argentine Yard is a BNSF Railway marshalling yard in Kansas City, Kansas. With 60 tracks and an area of about 2miles, it is the largest marshalling yard in the BNSF network. It lies between the Kansas River to the north and the eponymous Argentine borough of Kansas City, Kansas, to the south, about six miles west of downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Argentine Yard is one of several major rail yards in the Kansas City metropolitan area operated by the Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Kansas City Southern, in addition to BNSF. The Kansas City metropolitan area is the largest railroad hub in the United States in terms of freight volume; more than 300 freight trains reach or leave the metropolitan region every day (2016).
The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC's Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.

BNSF 2749 heads up a string of power as it sits at BNSF Argentine Yard at Kansas City, Kansas

Still in green and black paint, BNSF 2749 heads up a string of power as it sits at BNSF Argentine Yard at Kansas City, Kansas, on June 30th, 2022 while waiting for its next assignment.

According to Wikipedia: The Argentine Yard is a BNSF Railway marshalling yard in Kansas City, Kansas. With 60 tracks and an area of about 2miles, it is the largest marshalling yard in the BNSF network. It lies between the Kansas River to the north and the eponymous Argentine borough of Kansas City, Kansas, to the south, about six miles west of downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Argentine Yard is one of several major rail yards in the Kansas City metropolitan area operated by the Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and Kansas City Southern, in addition to BNSF. The Kansas City metropolitan area is the largest railroad hub in the United States in terms of freight volume; more than 300 freight trains reach or leave the metropolitan region every day (2016).
The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.

BNSF 7298 heads up 5 units with a manifest train as they pass over the diamonds at Santa Fe Junction on June 30th, 2022.

Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.

The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 120.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

BNSF 7298 heads up 5 units with a manifest train as they pass over the diamonds at Santa Fe Junction…

BNSF 7298 heads up 5 units with a manifest train as they pass over the diamonds at Santa Fe Junction on June 30th, 2022.

Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.

The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 120.

An eastbound BNSF Intermodal heads toward downtown Kansas City, Missouri on the Kansas Highline at Santa Fe Junction on June 29th, 2022 as the sun begins to cast long shadows and rich golden light from the sunset.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

BNSF Intermodal heads toward downtown Kansas City, Missouri on the Kansas Highline

An eastbound BNSF Intermodal heads toward downtown Kansas City, Missouri on the Kansas Highline at Santa Fe Junction on June 29th, 2022 as the sun begins to cast long shadows and rich golden light from the sunset.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Union Pacific 8897 brings up rear as DPU on a grain train as it heads across Santa Fe Junction on the Kansas City Terminal Railroad (KCT) High Line, while BNSF 7767 and 3947 lead a westbound train past Tower #3 on June 30th, 2022.

Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing in addition to Tower 3, which is used by maintenance of way these days. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.

The Kansas City Terminal Railway Company (KCT) is a Class III railroad located in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. KCT serves as a terminal railroad for its five Class I railroad owners (Union Pacific, BNSF, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific).  Amtrak also operates over the KCT providing passenger service to and from Union Station. Currently the second largest rail hub in the United States, KCT owns and dispatches 95 miles of track spanning Missouri and Kansas.

According to the website railfanguides.us Santa Fe Junction Interlocking is easily the busiest location for trains in Kansas City and trains from any of the five railroads which jointly own KCT can be seen here. Tower #3 was closed in 1969 when a central dispatching center replaced it and all the other towers KCT had at the time.

The black bridge is KCT’s double deck, double track crossing of the Kansas River. The odd-looking silver towers on the bridge are lift mechanisms to raise the bridge in the event of flooding and are not connected most of the time. The upper deck line was primarily used by passenger trains from UP and Rock Island, moving to and from Kansas through the KC Union Station. Today primarily freight trains use this bridge. 

The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Union Pacific and BNSF pass tower #3 at Santa Fe Junction at Kansas City, KS

Union Pacific 8897 brings up rear as DPU on a grain train as it heads across Santa Fe Junction on the Kansas City Terminal Railroad (KCT) High Line, while BNSF 7767 and 3947 lead a westbound train past Tower #3 on June 30th, 2022.

Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing in addition to Tower 3, which is used by maintenance of way these days. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.

The Kansas City Terminal Railway Company (KCT) is a Class III railroad located in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. KCT serves as a terminal railroad for its five Class I railroad owners (Union Pacific, BNSF, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific). Amtrak also operates over the KCT providing passenger service to and from Union Station. Currently the second largest rail hub in the United States, KCT owns and dispatches 95 miles of track spanning Missouri and Kansas.

According to the website railfanguides.us Santa Fe Junction Interlocking is easily the busiest location for trains in Kansas City and trains from any of the five railroads which jointly own KCT can be seen here. Tower #3 was closed in 1969 when a central dispatching center replaced it and all the other towers KCT had at the time.

The black bridge is KCT’s double deck, double track crossing of the Kansas River. The odd-looking silver towers on the bridge are lift mechanisms to raise the bridge in the event of flooding and are not connected most of the time. The upper deck line was primarily used by passenger trains from UP and Rock Island, moving to and from Kansas through the KC Union Station. Today primarily freight trains use this bridge.

The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KC’s Busiest locations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.