CSX I025 heads south at Kelly, Kentucky, where it meets M648 in the siding with the third unit being newly rebuilt Metra 506, dead in tow on the Henderson Subdivision, waiting to move on north to Chicago, Illinois, on May 25th, 2023. According to The Diesel Shop website this unit is a SD70MAC that was rebuilt by Progress Rail. It is one of 14 units being rebuilt by Progress with AC traction, geared for 80 mph, HEP, microprocessor-control braking and Tier 3 emissions. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #CSXtrains #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #Metra #CSXHendersonsubdivision #KellyKy

Metra 506 heads north on CSX M648 at Kelly, Ky

CSX I025 heads south at Kelly, Kentucky, where it meets M648 in the siding with the third unit being newly rebuilt Metra 506, dead in tow on the Henderson Subdivision, waiting to move on north to Chicago, Illinois, on May 25th, 2023.

According to The Diesel Shop website this unit is a SD70MAC that was rebuilt by Progress Rail. It is one of 14 units being rebuilt by Progress with AC traction, geared for 80 mph, HEP, microprocessor-control braking and Tier 3 emissions.

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

Northbound CSX 648 with Metra #97 passing L&N Depot at Madisonville, Ky The late afternoon sunlight rakes across the scene as newly refurbished Metra passenger engine #97 trails behind CSXT 749 and 345 on CSX Q648 passes the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot in downtown Madisonville, as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on June 14th, 2021. This depot was originally dedicated in 1929 and last saw passenger service about 1968 when L&N built an office at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville and the passenger train service was moved to that location. Currently the station is owned by the city of Madisonville and houses one of the hubs of the Kentucky Innovation Stations, which helps courageous entrepreneurs, creative business founders, high-growth startups, and savvy investors star in their own success stories. According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is a commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific and BNSF Railways. The system operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Northbound CSX 648 with Metra #97 passing L&N Depot at Madisonville, Ky

The late afternoon sunlight rakes across the scene as newly refurbished Metra passenger engine #97 trails behind CSXT 749 and 345 on CSX Q648 passes the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot in downtown Madisonville, as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on June 14th, 2021.

This depot was originally dedicated in 1929 and last saw passenger service about 1968 when L&N built an office at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville and the passenger train service was moved to that location. Currently the station is owned by the city of Madisonville and houses one of the hubs of the Kentucky Innovation Stations, which helps courageous entrepreneurs, creative business founders, high-growth startups, and savvy investors star in their own success stories.

According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is a commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific and BNSF Railways. The system operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Northbound CSX 648 with Metra #97 trailing at Mortons Gap, Ky The late afternoon sunlight rakes across the landscape a newly refurbished Metra passenger engine #97 trails behind CSXT 749 and 345 on CSX Q648 as it heads north through Mortons Junction on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Ky on June 14th, 2021. One of the many things I enjoy about railfanning the Henderson Subdivision is all interesting and unusual moves we get through here, such as this Metra unit. The subdivision currently sees about 20-30 trains a day, with foreign power mixed in, such as CP, CN, rebuilds, BNSF, KCS and from time to time even NS. According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is a commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific and BNSF Railways. The system operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Northbound CSX 648 with Metra #97 trailing at Mortons Gap, Ky

The late afternoon sunlight rakes across the landscape a newly refurbished Metra passenger engine #97 trails behind CSXT 749 and 345 on CSX Q648 as it heads north through Mortons Junction on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Ky on June 14th, 2021.

One of the many things I enjoy about railfanning the Henderson Subdivision is all interesting and unusual moves we get through here, such as this Metra unit. The subdivision currently sees about 20-30 trains a day, with foreign power mixed in, such as CP, CN, rebuilds, BNSF, KCS and from time to time even NS.

According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is a commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific and BNSF Railways. The system operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Emergency, Emergency, Emergency CSX Q648, with Metra rebuilt unit 213, went into emergency about 7 miles after I captured this scene at Trenton, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. I first caught this train at Guthrie and got ahead of it for this shot at Trenton. I was hoping to get another shot at Casky Yard, but unfortunately the train went into emergency under stormy skies and after the conductor walked the train he found a broken air hose that caused the problem. I had hoped to catch it at the north end of Casky when it got underway, but I left them searching for a replacement hose in the yard as I figured it was going to be dark before they got moving again! It's the way it goes sometime, but I'm very pleased how this shot turned out! A big shout out to fellow railfans down the line for the heads up on this move! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

CSX Q648, with Metra rebuilt unit 213…

Emergency, Emergency, Emergency

CSX Q648, with Metra rebuilt unit 213, went into emergency about 7 miles after I captured this scene at Trenton, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision.

I first caught this train at Guthrie and got ahead of it for this shot at Trenton. I was hoping to get another shot at Casky Yard, but unfortunately the train went into emergency under stormy skies and after the conductor walked the train he found a broken air hose that caused the problem.

I had hoped to catch it at the north end of Casky when it got underway, but I left them searching for a replacement hose in the yard as I figured it was going to be dark before they got moving again! It’s the way it goes sometime, but I’m very pleased how this shot turned out! A big shout out to fellow railfans down the line for the heads up on this move!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

February 20, 2020 - A northbound Metra train crosses the 21st Street Lift Bridge over the old Pennsylvania RR Drawbridge 463, as it heads north to Union Station in downtown Chicago at dusk. This lift bridge is one of only a few still in operation in Chicago, Illinois. According to Patrick McBriarty, a former business person and consultant who over a decade ago discovered a new focus and fascination for Chicago bridges. The bridge was Designed by engineers J.A.L. Wadell and John Harrington. It is the second vertical-lift bridge ever built crossing the Chicago River, and only one still standing. It's near Chinatown over the South Branch of the river and was completed in 1915 for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The bridge is now owned by Amtrak and carries Metra and Norfolk Southern train traffic in and out of Chicago.

A northbound Metra train crosses…

February 20, 2020 – A northbound Metra train crosses the 21st Street Lift Bridge over the old Pennsylvania RR Drawbridge 463, as it heads north to Union Station in downtown Chicago at dusk. This lift bridge is one of only a few still in operation in Chicago, Illinois.

According to Patrick McBriarty, a former business person and consultant who over a decade ago discovered a new focus and fascinati… See More

February 22, 2020 - Metra engine 418 crosses over the CSX Elsdon Subdivision as it heads along the Metra Joliet Sub District at Blue Island, Illinois. I spent a good part of the morning and afternoon here at Blue Harbor today and ever caught a single train on the Elsdon Subdivision, but some days are like that!

Metra engine 418 crosses over…

February 22, 2020 – Metra engine 418 crosses over the CSX Elsdon Subdivision as it heads along the Metra Joliet Sub District at Blue Island, Illinois. I spent a good part of the morning and afternoon here at Blue Island today and ever caught a single train on the Elsdon Subdivision, but some days are like that!

February 20, 2020 - Metra's Milwaukee Road heritage Unit 405 waits to depart from Union Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois. According to a Metra January 25, 2019 press release: The Milwaukee Road locomotive is the second locomotive to be painted in heritage colors after an earlier one painted in a color scheme of the old Rock Island Line. The locomotives have been recently rebuilt and getting a new coat of paint – either in the regular Metra scheme or in heritage colors.

Metra’s Milwaukee Road heritage Unit 405…

February 20, 2020 – Metra’s Milwaukee Road heritage Unit 405 waits to depart from Union Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

According to a Metra January 25, 2019 press release: The Milwaukee Road locomotive is the second locomotive to be painted in heritage colors after an earlier one painted in a color scheme of the old Rock Island Line. The locomotives have been recently rebuilt and getting a new coat of paint – either in the regular Metra scheme or in heritage colors.