September 26, 2020 - CSXT 3159 leads northbound CSX Q648 past the old Louisville and Nashville (L&N) depot in downtown Hopkinsville, Ky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision. According to Wikipedia: The L & N Railroad Depot in the Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District of Hopkinsville, Kentucky is a historic railroad station on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1892. The year 1832 saw the first of many attempts to woo a railroad to Hopkinsville. This first attempt was to connect Hopkinsville to Eddyville, Kentucky. In 1868 Hopkinsville finally obtained a railroad station, operated by the Evansville, Henderson, & Nashville Railroad. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad acquired the railroad in 1879. The Hopkinsville depot is a single-story frame building with a slate roof. It has six rooms: a Ladies Waiting room (the room closest to the street), a General Waiting Room, a Colored Waiting Room, a baggage room (the furthest room from the street), a ticket office (the only room which connected to all three waiting rooms), and a ladies' restroom. Immediately outside were warehouses for freight, usually tobacco. Its last long distance train was the Louisville and Nashville's Georgian, last operating in 1968. During its operating years, the Hopkinsville depot was a popular layover spot for those traveling by train. It was the only Louisville & Nashville station between Evansville, Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee where it was legal to drink alcohol. Hopkinsville got the nickname "Hop town" due to train passengers asking the conductors when they would arrive at Hopkinsville, so they could "hop off and get a drink". The Hopkinsville L & N Railroad Depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1975. It was last used by the Pennyrile Arts Council and from what I last heard it is empty. CSX, which bought out the Louisville & Nashville, still run trains on the tracks next to the depot, but do not stop. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 320, ISO 100.

CSX Q648 NB past the old L&N depot, Hopkinsville, Ky

September 26, 2020 – CSXT 3159 leads northbound CSX Q648 past the old Louisville and Nashville (L&N) depot in downtown Hopkinsville, Ky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision.

According to Wikipedia: The L & N Railroad Depot in the Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District of Hopkinsville, Kentucky is a historic railroad station on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1892.

The year 1832 saw the first of many attempts to woo a railroad to Hopkinsville. This first attempt was to connect Hopkinsville to Eddyville, Kentucky. In 1868 Hopkinsville finally obtained a railroad station, operated by the Evansville, Henderson, & Nashville Railroad. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad acquired the railroad in 1879.

The Hopkinsville depot is a single-story frame building with a slate roof. It has six rooms: a Ladies Waiting room (the room closest to the street), a General Waiting Room, a Colored Waiting Room, a baggage room (the furthest room from the street), a ticket office (the only room which connected to all three waiting rooms), and a ladies’ restroom. Immediately outside were warehouses for freight, usually tobacco.

Its last long distance train was the Louisville and Nashville’s Georgian, last operating in 1968.

During its operating years, the Hopkinsville depot was a popular layover spot for those traveling by train. It was the only Louisville & Nashville station between Evansville, Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee where it was legal to drink alcohol. Hopkinsville got the nickname “Hop town” due to train passengers asking the conductors when they would arrive at Hopkinsville, so they could “hop off and get a drink”.

The Hopkinsville L & N Railroad Depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1975. It was last used by the Pennyrile Arts Council and from what I last heard it is empty. CSX, which bought out the Louisville & Nashville, still run trains on the tracks next to the depot, but do not stop.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 320, ISO 100.

September 22, 2020 - CSXT 290 leads K997 across Trident as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

CSXT 290 leads K997 across Trident at Madisonville, Ky

September 22, 2020 – CSXT 290 leads K997 across Trident as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky.

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

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south across the bridge over the Red River as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Adams, Tennessee. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south at Adams, TN

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south across the bridge over the Red River as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Adams, Tennessee.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 3439 and 275 lead loaded coal train CSX N040 south on the Henderson Subdivision as it approaches the John Rivers Rd. crossing at south Casky in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

CSXT 3439 and 275 lead loaded coal train CSX N040…

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 3439 and 275 lead loaded coal train CSX N040 south on the Henderson Subdivision as it approaches the John Rivers Rd. crossing at south Casky in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 3439 and 20 lead CSX Q026-16 across the Sulfur Creek Trestle, north of Springfield, TN as they lead the hot intermodal north on the Henderson Subdivision to Chicago, IL from Jacksonville, FL. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

CSX Q026-16 crosses Sulfur Creek Trestle, Springfield, TN

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 3439 and 20 lead CSX Q026-16 across the Sulfur Creek Trestle, north of Springfield, TN as they lead the hot intermodal north on the Henderson Subdivision to Chicago, IL from Jacksonville, FL.

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

September 15, 2020 - CSX Q513-15 sits at the south end of Howell Yard after making a pickup as it waits for CSX Q028, 648 and 512 to clear his location so it can continue its move south on the Henderson Subdivision, with United States Army 4607 and 1869 running dead in tow as its last two units. Both Army units look to be freshly painted and perhaps refurbished, although I've not been able to find out much details on them. Anyone have a clue? Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Q513-15 sits at the south end of Howell Yard with two Army Units…

September 15, 2020 – CSX Q513-15 sits at the south end of Howell Yard after making a pickup as it waits for CSX Q028, 648 and 512 to clear his location so it can continue its move south on the Henderson Subdivision, with United States Army 4607 and 1869 running dead in tow as its last two units.

Both Army units have been refurbished and I found out that 4607 is heading to Hopkinsville, KY (Ft. Campbell) and 1869 is heading to Leland, NC.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

September 12, 2020 - CSX K811 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision as it passes the old Louisville & Nashville Depot at Henderson, Kentucky. From various sources on the web: The first L&N depot in Henderson, at Fourth and Adams streets, was constructed in 1875. The two-story, wood-framed passenger depot for the L&N cost $2,000 to erect and contained five offices and two waiting rooms. The Ohio Valley Railroad was built in 1892 between Hopkinsville and Gracey, who had built a depot at Ninth Street. The Ohio Valley was acquired by the IC in 1897. A replacement depot, built of brick and granite, was constructed by the local firm Bailey & Koerner opened at the cost of $25,000 on July 1, 1902. The Union Station replaced the separate stations for the L&N and the IC. The former L&N depot was converted into the residence for the local yard foreman while the former IC station was used until it was demolished in November 1942. By 1922, Union Station was handling 24 passenger trains daily, but the advent of the automobile and the construction of the interstate highway system and parkways in the region decimated passenger trains. The IC ceased passenger operations on February 13, 1941, and the station was closed by the L&N after it ceased passenger trains in 1971. In 2015, the city requested bids to either demolish or restore Union Station. 7 Two companies placed bids to tear down the building while Architectural Renovators of Evansville, Indiana submitted the only bid to restore the depot. The city awarded the contract to Architectural Renovators in December and agreed to pay $80,000 towards restoring the building: Additionally, the city deeded the building over to Architectural Renovators, who were required to begin construction within six months and to complete exterior restoration within 36 months or be forced to give up the deed to the building. Work to restore the building began almost immediately although the restoration company found the inside in worse condition than expected. A new roof was installed by the conclusion of 2016, with all exterior work mostly finished by February 2017. There's been no visible work on the depot since then. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

CSX K811 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision…

September 12, 2020 – CSX K811 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision as it passes the old Louisville & Nashville Depot at Henderson, Kentucky.

From various sources on the web: The first L&N depot in Henderson, at Fourth and Adams streets, was constructed in 1875. The two-story, wood-framed passenger depot for the L&N cost $2,000 to erect and contained five offices and two waiting rooms. The Ohio Valley Railroad was built in 1892 between Hopkinsville and Gracey, who had built a depot at Ninth Street. The Ohio Valley was acquired by the IC in 1897.

A replacement depot, built of brick and granite, was constructed by the local firm Bailey & Koerner opened at the cost of $25,000 on July 1, 1902. The Union Station replaced the separate stations for the L&N and the IC. The former L&N depot was converted into the residence for the local yard foreman while the former IC station was used until it was demolished in November 1942.

By 1922, Union Station was handling 24 passenger trains daily, but the advent of the automobile and the construction of the interstate highway system and parkways in the region decimated passenger trains. The IC ceased passenger operations on February 13, 1941, and the station was closed by the L&N after it ceased passenger trains in 1971.

In 2015, the city requested bids to either demolish or restore Union Station. 7 Two companies placed bids to tear down the building while Architectural Renovators of Evansville, Indiana submitted the only bid to restore the depot. The city awarded the contract to Architectural Renovators in December and agreed to pay $80,000 towards restoring the building: Additionally, the city deeded the building over to Architectural Renovators, who were required to begin construction within six months and to complete exterior restoration within 36 months or be forced to give up the deed to the building.

Work to restore the building began almost immediately although the restoration company found the inside in worse condition than expected. A new roof was installed by the conclusion of 2016, with all exterior work mostly finished by February 2017. There’s been no visible work on the depot since then.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

September 12, 2020 - CSXT 945 leads Q503 south as it makes its way up the final leg of the viaduct to the bridge across the Ohio river at Henderson, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on the dog days of summer! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

CSXT 945 leads Q503 south at Henderson, Ky

September 12, 2020 – CSXT 945 leads Q503 south as it makes its way up the final leg of the viaduct to the bridge across the Ohio river at Henderson, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on the dog days of summer!

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

September 7, 2020 - CSXT 872 heads up loaded grain train G419 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Kentucky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm (24mm Equivalent), f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

CSXT 872 heads up loaded grain train G419…

September 7, 2020 – CSXT 872 heads up loaded grain train G419 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm (24mm Equivalent), f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

September 7, 2020 - CSXT 3244 leads loaded ethanol train K423-05 off the Earlington Cutoff track at Mortons Junction as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on a beautiful summer afternoon. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

CSXT 3244 leads loaded ethanol train K423-05…

September 7, 2020 – CSXT 3244 leads loaded ethanol train K423-05 off the Earlington Cutoff track at Mortons Junction as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on a beautiful summer afternoon.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

September 7, 2020 - A topside view of the hottest intermodals on the CSX system, Q025 passes through Mortons Junction as it heads south on the the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Kentucky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

A topside view of the hottest intermodals on the CSX system…

September 7, 2020 – A topside view of the hottest intermodals on the CSX system, Q025 passes through Mortons Junction as it heads south on the the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Kentucky.

I’ll also point out that this is a cropped image from high up and the drone was moved out of the way before the train moved directly under it.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

September 7, 2020 - CSXT 3350 heads up Q028-06 as it passes under the Paducah and Louisville Railway line at Monarch as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Ky. My goal is to one day catch a train on both tracks at this spot! Now that I have a new vantage point, it will eventually happen! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm lens, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

CSXT 3350 heads up Q028-06 as it passes…

September 7, 2020 – CSXT 3350 heads up Q028-06 as it passes under the Paducah and Louisville Railway line at Monarch as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Ky. My goal is to one day catch a train on both tracks at this spot! Now that I have a new vantage point, it will eventually happen!

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

August 17, 2020 - Canadian National 5735, 2138 and Union Pacific 5446 head up CSX K421, a loaded ethanol train, as it makes its way off the Earlington Cutoff at Mortons Junction in Mortons Gap, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, f/8, 1/800, ISO 180.

Canadian National 5735, 2138 and Union Pacific 5446 at Mortons Gap, KY

August 17, 2020 – Canadian National 5735, 2138 and Union Pacific 5446 head up CSX K421, a loaded ethanol train, as it makes its way off the Earlington Cutoff at Mortons Junction in Mortons Gap, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, f/8, 1/800, ISO 180.

January 30, 2010 - CSXT #1 passes through Nortonville, Ky on a snowy day as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a loaded intermodal. Tech Info: Full Frame D700, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @ 80mm, f/16, 1/640, ISO 640.

CSXT #1 passes through Nortonville, Ky

January 30, 2010 – CSXT #1 passes through Nortonville, Ky on a snowy day as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a loaded intermodal.

Tech Info: Full Frame D700, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @ 80mm, f/16, 1/640, ISO 640.

August 20, 2020 - CSXT 973 leads CSX Q500 north on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Ky with a mixed freight on track 1. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 250mm, f/11, 1/1250, ISO 800.

CSXT 973 leads CSX Q500 north at Nortonville, Ky

August 20, 2020 – CSXT 973 leads CSX Q500 north on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Ky with a mixed freight on track 1.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 250mm, f/11, 1/1250, ISO 800.

July 28, 2020 - CSX W024 makes its way through switch at Mortons Junction from the Earlington Cutoff, with a loaded rail train with CSXT 4046 (EMD SD40-3) leading long hood forward as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 250mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 360.

CSX W024 makes its way through switch at Mortons Junction…

July 28, 2020 – CSX W024 makes its way through switch at Mortons Junction from the Earlington Cutoff, with a loaded rail train with CSXT 4046 (EMD SD40-3) leading long hood forward as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 250mm, f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 360.

August 20, 2020 - CSXT 3182 heads up CSX E040-16 as it heads through the cross-over from track 2 to track 1 as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Kentucky. It set on track 2 as it waited for CSX Q025 to pass and its counterpart, loaded coal train N040-20 was also waiting for Q025 on the same track about 1/4 mile away from the cross-over. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 250mm, f/11, 1/1250, ISO 900.

CSXT 3182 heads up CSX E040-16 at Nortonville, Ky

August 20, 2020 – CSXT 3182 heads up CSX E040-16 as it heads through the cross-over from track 2 to track 1 as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Kentucky. It set on track 2 as it waited for CSX Q025 to pass and its counterpart, loaded coal train N040-20 was also waiting for Q025 on the same track about 1/4 mile away from the cross-over.


Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 250mm, f/11, 1/1250, ISO 900.

August 17, 2020 - Canadian National 5735, 2138 and Union Pacific 5446 head up CSX K421, a loaded ethanol train, as it makes its way down the main at the south end of the siding at Slaughters, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/7.1, 1/640, ISO 100.

Canadian National 5735, 2138 and Union Pacific 5446 head up CSX K421…

August 17, 2020 – Canadian National 5735, 2138 and Union Pacific 5446 head up CSX K421, a loaded ethanol train, as it makes its way down the main at the south end of the siding at Slaughters, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/7.1, 1/640, ISO 100.

August 17, 2020 - CSXT 5113 leads CSX W992 as it passes the approach lit signals in downtown Earlington, Ky with a load of windmill housings and motors, with a load of grain cars tagged onto the end of its train as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 340mm, f/22, 1/200, ISO 100.

CSXT 5113 leads CSX W992 northbound, Earlington, Ky

August 17, 2020 – CSXT 5113 leads CSX W992 as it passes the approach lit signals in downtown Earlington, Ky with a load of windmill housings and motors, with a load of grain cars tagged onto the end of its train as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision.


Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 340mm, f/22, 1/200, ISO 100.

August 13, 2020 - BNSF 5954 leads CSX intermodal Q028-12 (Atlanta, GA - Chicago, IL) as it tops the rise while passing CSX Q647 in the siding at Kelly, Kentucky, as 28 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 370mm, f/9, 1/1250, ISO 900.

BNSF 5954 leads CSX intermodal Q028-12 NB at Kelly, Ky

August 13, 2020 – BNSF 5954 leads CSX intermodal Q028-12 (Atlanta, GA – Chicago, IL) as it tops the rise while passing CSX Q647 in the siding at Kelly, Kentucky, as 28 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 370mm, f/9, 1/1250, ISO 900.