Norfolk Southern 4013 prepares to move south from the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Madisonville, Ky on the evening of March 2nd, 2024, as it heads to the Warrior Coal loop at Nebo, Ky to pick up another load of coal.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/5.6, 8 seconds, ISO 100.
Denver and Rio Grande Western Silverton Station sits under the stary skies, with the Milky Way to the left, at Silverton, Colorado on October 16th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 30 seconds, ISO 800.
Denver and Rio Grande Western Silverton Station sits under the stary skies, with the Milky Way to the left, at Silverton, Colorado on October 16th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 30 seconds, ISO 800.
On October 19th, 2024, D&RGW 463 sits at the water tank in Antonito, Colorado on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, as it takes on water after a day of work, during the night photoshoot hosted by Dak Dillion Photography during a two-day photo charter, between Antonito and Osier, CO.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @31mm, f/3.5, 1/10 ISO 4000.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway 168 and 488 sit outside the engine house at Antonito, Colorado after a day of work. Night is a magical time to capture images anywhere, but this was during photoshoot hosted by Dak Dillion Photography on a two-day photo charter, between Antonito and Osier, CO, on October 19th, 2023.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @20mm, f/8, 20 seconds, ISO 64.
On October 19th, 2024, D&RGW 463 pulls up to the water tank at Antonito, Colorado on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, as it prepares to take on water after a day of work, during the night photoshoot hosted by Dak Dillion Photography during a two-day photo charter, between Antonito and Osier, CO.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @31mm, f/8, 15 seconds, ISO 64.
J. Neils Lumber Company Shay number 5 sits in the station at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) at night as they wait to depart with a pull, push, caboose train, with Commonwealth Edison 4 on the other end, on September 16th, 2023, during the museum’s 70th anniversary celebration weekend at Union, Illinois.
According to the IRM Website: J. Neils Lumber Company 5 is the museum’s only geared locomotive. It is a Shay, designed with three cylinders mounted vertically on the engineer’s side that power a drive shaft running the length of the engine alongside the wheels. This allows all wheels to be powered using bevel gears. Shays were extremely slow but were powerful and could negotiate uneven track and sharp curves, making them popular with logging and mining companies.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 24mm, f/3.5, 30 seconds, ISO 160.
Steam Railroading Institute’s 25-ton switcher “Mighty Mouse” diesel sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it waits to begin a day of work at Owosso, Michigan on December 16th, 2023.
According to their website, built in the 1940’s by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania, this type of locomotive was used in light switching at industrial plants and elevators. The locomotive was last used by an elevator at Shelby, Ohio before being purchased by the Steam Railroading Institute at an auction in 2008. It is the primary switching locomotive in the museum’s yard, and for pulling the 1225 onto the turntable when not under steam. “Mighty Mouse” gets its nickname from a previously added decal on the hood of the locomotive.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/160, ISO 12,800.
Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 passes the Carland Elevator at Carland, Michigan, as they run their last North Pole Express passenger train between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley, Michigan, for their Ashley Country Christmas, on December 17th, 2023. This is considered one of the top locations to photograph the train and thanks to Scott Shields, who set up his lights, we were able to capture the scene at night! The only thing missing was the snow! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!
According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 36mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 8000.
Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan at dusk with the last North Pole Express excursion between Owosso and the Village of Ashley Country Christmas for the year, on December 17th, 2023.
According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 4500.
Pere Marquette 1225 prepares to pull onto the turntable to start their day North Pole Express excursions between Owosso and the Village of Ashley Country Christmas in Michigan, on December 17th, 2023. While I’d normally shoot this scene as a RAW file on my Nikon D810, on this day I was concentrating on video and drone shots. Still, I think my iPhone 14 Pro held up pretty good, all things considered!
According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!
Tech Info: iPhone 14 Pro, 6.9 (24mm), f/1.8, 1/1/40, ISO 3200, in 4K video Mode.
The hostler on Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway 463 works on the engine at dusk as it, along with 168 and 488 rest outside the engine house at Antonito, Colorado after a day of work. Dusk is a magical time to capture images anywhere, but this was during photoshoot hosted by Dak Dillion Photography during a two-day photo charter, between Antonito and Osier, CO.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @52mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO 900.
Stars fill the sky on the night of October 19th, 2023, as the crew on Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway 463 takes on water at the yards water tank at Antonito, Colorado, during the night photoshoot on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, hosted by Dak Dillion Photography during a two-day photo charter, between Antonito and Osier, CO.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @36mm, f/8, 3 seconds, ISO 1400.
The conductor on G419, with the latest CSX Heritage Unit L&N 1850 leading his loaded grain train, conducts a roll-by inspection on hot intermodal I028 at the south end of the siding at Slaughters, Kentucky on October 5th, 2023, on the Henderson Subdivision.
According to CSXT: CSX has introduced the sixth locomotive in its heritage series, a freshly painted unit honoring the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. Designated CSX 1850, the locomotive will be placed into service, carrying the L&N colors across the 20,000-mile CSX network.
The paint scheme was designed and applied at the CSX Locomotive Shop in Waycross, Georgia, which has produced all six units in the heritage series celebrating the lines that came together to form the modern CSX. Like the other heritage locomotives, the L&N unit combines the heritage railroad’s iconic logo and colors on the rear two-thirds of the engine with todays CSX colors and markings on the cab end.
Chartered by the State of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N grew into a vital transportation link between the Gulf Coast and the nations heartland. The railroad was absorbed by the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, which subsequently became part of the Chessie System and, ultimately, today’s CSX.
The CSX heritage series is reinforcing employee pride in the history of the railroad that continues to move the nations economy with safe, reliable, and sustainable rail-based transportation services.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/60, ISO 360.
Colorful light from signals along with the smoke from Steam locomotive Frisco 1630 help provide a dramatic night photo as it sits in the station at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) during their 70th anniversary weekend in Union, Illinois, waiting to depart on the evening of September 16th, 2023.
According to IRM website: St. Louis – San Francisco Railroad (Frisco) 1630 is the museum’s most famous steam engine. A Russian Decapod, it was built in 1918 for export to Russia but was embargoed when the Bolshevik Revolution took place. Instead, the newly completed engine was sold to the Frisco, which used it in both freight and passenger service into the 1950s. The Frisco later sold it to Eagle-Picher Mining, where it saw use hauling freight and aggregate trains until the mid-1960s. It arrived at the IRM in 1967.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @15mm, f/4, 30 Seconds, ISO 100.
Digital Photo Art – Illinois Terminal interurban coach 101 sits on the main next to the depot at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) in the dark on September 16th, 2023, as it waits for a green signal to proceed at Union Illinois, during the IRM 70th Anniversary celebration where the museum ran trains continuously from 11am Saturday morning to 5pm Sunday afternoon, which gave a rare opportunity to photograph much of their equipment during nighttime hours.
According to the IRM website: Illinois Terminal 101 is a rare example of a center-entrance interurban coach. It operated its entire service life between St. Louis, Missouri and Alton, Illinois. These cars were built for high-speed operation and were known as “Yellowhammers” and “Alton High-speeds.” The car has been restored to its appearance in the mid-1950s.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @24mm, f/4.5, 30 Seconds, ISO 100.
Indiana Railroad 65 Interurban Car sits at the west end of the station platform, ahead of Illinois Terminal interurban coach 101 and Frisco 1530 steam locomotive as it waits to depart the depot at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) on the wet and rainy evening of September 16th, 2023, during the IRM 70th Anniversary at Union, Illinois.
According to the IRM website: Indiana Railroad 65 was the first piece of equipment IRM ever acquired, becoming the museums “mother car” when the museum purchased it for preservation in 1953. When it was new in 1931 it was among the most modern interurban cars in the world, a lightweight coach designed for high-speed operation across the Indiana Railroad interurban network. Car 65 was one of the last interurban cars in use when IRR closed out operations in 1941. Museum volunteers have completely restored car 65 to its appearance while in service in Indiana in the 1930s.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @18mm, f/4.5, 30 Seconds, ISO 100.
Commonwealth Edison 4 sits in the station at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) at night as they wait to depart with a pull, push, caboose train, with Shay #5 on the other end, on September 16th, 2023, during the museums 70th anniversary celebration weekend at Union, Illinois.
According to the IRM Website: Commonwealth Edison 4 is a “steeplecab” electric locomotive. It is the oldest preserved electric locomotive with articulated trucks, a design where the truck frames are connected together and carry all buffering forces. It hauled coal trains around the Northwest Generating Station in Chicago for 50 years until acquired by IRM in 1962.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 24mm, f/4.5, 30 seconds, ISO 100.
Illinois Terminal interurban coach 101 waits to depart as another Interurban puts on a light show as it pulls from the depot at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) on the wet and rainy evening of September 16th, 2023. Behind 101 is Frisco 1630 waiting to pull forward after 101 departs, during the IRM 70th Anniversary at Union, Illinois.
According to the IRM website: Illinois Terminal 101 is a rare example of a center-entrance interurban coach. It operated its entire service life between St. Louis, Missouri and Alton, Illinois. These cars were built for high-speed operation and were known as “Yellowhammers” and “Alton High-speeds.” The car has been restored to its appearance in the mid-1950s.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @18mm, f/4.52, 30 Seconds, ISO 100.
The color from the red signal gives the look of fall color as Illinois Terminal interurban coach 101 sits on the main next to the depot at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) in the dark on September 16th, 2023. It waits for a green signal to proceed at Union Illinois, during the IRM 70th Anniversary celebration where the museum ran trains continuously from 11am Saturday morning to 5pm Sunday afternoon, which gave a rare opportunity to photograph much of their equipment during nighttime hours.
According to the IRM website: Illinois Terminal 101 is a rare example of a center-entrance interurban coach. It operated its entire service life between St. Louis, Missouri and Alton, Illinois. These cars were built for high-speed operation and were known as “Yellowhammers” and “Alton High-speeds.” The car has been restored to its appearance in the mid-1950s.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @24mm, f/4.5, 30 Seconds, ISO 100.
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Bathed in the light from a red signal, Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” sits at the depot at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023, as it waits for its next night run as part of the museum’s 70th Anniversary celebration. The IRM ran trains continuously from 11am on Saturday until 5pm Sunday during the event.
According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today.
When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.”
Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/4, 15 seconds, ISO 100.