There was a lot of luck that went into making this image of Steam locomotive Frisco 1630 at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) during their 70th anniversary weekend in Union, Illinois. In between the spitting rain on Saturday night, September 16th, 2023, I along with many other photographers were working on photographing the 1630 as it sat at the depot at IRM waiting for its next run. I was working with my D800 on a tripod shooting available light shots at 30 seconds each at f/4 with my Nikon 10-24mm lens, when several things happened. I started the 30 second exposure and about 20 seconds into the exposure the train started to depart the station, resulting in the streaks you see of the headlight and marker lights on 1630. At the same time, I had a trolly come to a stop, which you see in the circle of smoke and the headlight star in the distance is from the Nebraska Zephyr waiting to enter the station after the Frisco departs. The headlight from the Zephyr illuminated the steam surrounding the scene, providing an effect that would be hard replicate, let along plan! Sometimes, I just get lucky! 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/5.6, 30 Seconds, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #UPtrains #NikonD800 #IllinoisRailwayMuseum #Frisco1630 #trainsatnight #illinoistrains #steamtrains

A lucky late night shot!

There was a lot of luck that went into making this image of Steam locomotive Frisco 1630 at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) during their 70th anniversary weekend in Union, Illinois.

In between the spitting rain on Saturday night, September 16th, 2023, I along with many other photographers were working on photographing the 1630 as it sat at the depot at IRM waiting for its next run. I was working with my D800 on a tripod shooting available light shots at 30 seconds each at f/4 with my Nikon 10-24mm lens, when several things happened.

I started the 30 second exposure and about 20 seconds into the exposure the train started to depart the station, resulting in the streaks you see of the headlight and marker lights on 1630. At the same time, I had a trolly come to a stop, which you see in the circle of smoke and the headlight star in the distance is from the Nebraska Zephyr waiting to enter the station after the Frisco departs. The headlight from the Zephyr illuminated the steam surrounding the scene, providing an effect that would be hard replicate, let along plan! Sometimes, I just get lucky!

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/5.6, 30 Seconds, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville 3811, 2121 and 2100 head up a southbound military train loaded with armor from Ft. Knox, Ky, at West Yard in Madisonville, Ky as the last light of the day fades on April 4th, 2023. A new crew onboard prepares their train for departing for Paducah, Ky where I’m told the equipment will be picked up by BNSF or CN to continue its move. In the yard you can see a lot of RJ Corman equipment where they have been working on redoing the yard tracks for the past week or so. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1 second, ISO 210. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #kentuckytrains #csx #csxrailway #MadisonvilleKy #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #PaducahandLouisvilleRailway, PALrailway #militarytrain

Paducah and Louisville 3811 leads a military train southbound at Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville 3811, 2121 and 2100 head up a southbound military train loaded with armor from Ft. Knox, Ky, at West Yard in Madisonville, Ky as the last light of the day fades on April 4th, 2023. A new crew onboard prepares their train for departing for Paducah, Ky where I’m told the equipment will be picked up by BNSF or CN to continue its move.

In the yard you can see a lot of RJ Corman equipment where they have been working on redoing the yard tracks for the past week or so.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1 second, ISO 210.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #kentuckytrains #csx #csxrailway #MadisonvilleKy #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #PaducahandLouisvilleRailway, PALrailway #militarytrain

Cass Scenic Railway Shay locomotive number 11, (C-90-3) sits outside the engine house during the Rail Heritage Photography Weekend night photo shoot at Cass, West Virginia on November 5th, 2022. According to Wikipedia: Cass Scenic Railroad, is an 11-mile (18 km) long heritage railway owned by the West Virginia State Rail Authority and operated by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. The park also includes the former company town of Cass and a portion of the summit of Bald Knob, the highest point on Back Allegheny Mountain. Founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (now WestRock), Cass was built as a company town to serve the needs of the men who worked in the nearby mountains cutting spruce and hemlock for the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company, a subsidiary of WVP&P. At one time, the sawmill at Cass was the largest double-band sawmill in the world. It processed an estimated 1.25 billion board feet (104,000,000 cu ft; 2,950,000 m3) of lumber during its lifetime. In 1901 work started on the 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge railroad, which climbs Back Allegheny Mountain. The railroad eventually reached a meadow area, now known as Whittaker Station, where a logging camp was established for the immigrants who were building the railroad. The railroad soon reached the top of Gobblers Knob, and then a location on top of the mountain known as 'Spruce'. The railroad built a small town at that location, complete with a company store, houses, a hotel, and a doctor's office. Work soon commenced on logging the red spruce trees, which grew in the higher elevations. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 3sec exposure, +0.3 stops, ISO 200. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #cassscenicrailway #trainsfromtheair #steamtrains

Cass Scenic Railway Shay locomotive number 11 night shot at Cass, WV

Cass Scenic Railway Shay locomotive number 11, (C-90-3) sits outside the engine house during the Rail Heritage Photography Weekend night photo shoot at Cass, West Virginia on November 5th, 2022.

According to Wikipedia: Cass Scenic Railroad, is an 11-mile (18 km) long heritage railway owned by the West Virginia State Rail Authority and operated by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. The park also includes the former company town of Cass and a portion of the summit of Bald Knob, the highest point on Back Allegheny Mountain.

Founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (now WestRock), Cass was built as a company town to serve the needs of the men who worked in the nearby mountains cutting spruce and hemlock for the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company, a subsidiary of WVP&P. At one time, the sawmill at Cass was the largest double-band sawmill in the world. It processed an estimated 1.25 billion board feet (104,000,000 cu ft; 2,950,000 m3) of lumber during its lifetime. In 1901 work started on the 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge railroad, which climbs Back Allegheny Mountain.

The railroad eventually reached a meadow area, now known as Whittaker Station, where a logging camp was established for the immigrants who were building the railroad. The railroad soon reached the top of Gobblers Knob, and then a location on top of the mountain known as ‘Spruce’. The railroad built a small town at that location, complete with a company store, houses, a hotel, and a doctor’s office. Work soon commenced on logging the red spruce trees, which grew in the higher elevations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 3sec exposure, +0.3 stops, ISO 200.

Cass Scenic Railway Shay locomotives 2, (C-80-3), and 11, (C-90-3) sit outside the engine house during the Rail Heritage Photography Weekend at Cass, West Virginia on the night of November 5th, 2022. According to Wikipedia: Cass Scenic Railroad, is an 11-mile (18 km) long heritage railway owned by the West Virginia State Rail Authority and operated by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. The park also includes the former company town of Cass and a portion of the summit of Bald Knob, highest point on Back Allegheny Mountain. Founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (now WestRock), Cass was built as a company town to serve the needs of the men who worked in the nearby mountains cutting spruce and hemlock for the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company, a subsidiary of WVP&P. At one time, the sawmill at Cass was the largest double-band sawmill in the world. It processed an estimated 1.25 billion board feet (104,000,000 cu ft; 2,950,000 m3) of lumber during its lifetime. In 1901 work started on the 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge railroad, which climbs Back Allegheny Mountain. The railroad eventually reached a meadow area, now known as Whittaker Station, where a logging camp was established for the immigrants who were building the railroad. The railroad soon reached the top of Gobblers Knob, and then a location on top of the mountain known as 'Spruce'. The railroad built a small town at that location, complete with a company store, houses, a hotel, and a doctor's office. Work soon commenced on logging the red spruce trees, which grew in the higher elevations. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 4sec exposure, -1.3 stops, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #cassscenicrailway #trainsfromtheair #steamtrains

Cass Scenic Railway Shay locomotives 2 and 11 at Cass, WV

Cass Scenic Railway Shay locomotives 2, (C-80-3), and 11, (C-90-3) sit outside the engine house during the Rail Heritage Photography Weekend at Cass, West Virginia on the night of November 5th, 2022.

According to Wikipedia: Cass Scenic Railroad, is an 11-mile (18 km) long heritage railway owned by the West Virginia State Rail Authority and operated by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. The park also includes the former company town of Cass and a portion of the summit of Bald Knob, highest point on Back Allegheny Mountain.

Founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (now WestRock), Cass was built as a company town to serve the needs of the men who worked in the nearby mountains cutting spruce and hemlock for the West Virginia Spruce Lumber Company, a subsidiary of WVP&P. At one time, the sawmill at Cass was the largest double-band sawmill in the world. It processed an estimated 1.25 billion board feet (104,000,000 cu ft; 2,950,000 m3) of lumber during its lifetime. In 1901 work started on the 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge railroad, which climbs Back Allegheny Mountain.

The railroad eventually reached a meadow area, now known as Whittaker Station, where a logging camp was established for the immigrants who were building the railroad. The railroad soon reached the top of Gobblers Knob, and then a location on top of the mountain known as ‘Spruce’. The railroad built a small town at that location, complete with a company store, houses, a hotel, and a doctor’s office. Work soon commenced on logging the red spruce trees, which grew in the higher elevations.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 4sec exposure, -1.3 stops, ISO 100.

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 pose next to the coaling tower and water tank in the year during the museums Winter Photo Charter at Ely, Nevada, under a cold, but beautiful starry night on February 11th, 2022. Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored to service in 1993. The Nevada Northern No. 81 is a "Consolidation" type (2-8-0) steam locomotive it was built for the Nevada Northern in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA, at a cost of $23,700. It was built for Mixed service to haul both freight and passenger trains on the Nevada Northern railway. According to Wikipedia: "The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicated to the preservation of the Nevada Northern Railway." Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 24mm, f/4, 30 seconds, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 at Ely, Nevada

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 pose next to the coaling tower and water tank in the year during the museums Winter Photo Charter at Ely, Nevada, under a cold, but beautiful starry night on February 11th, 2022.

Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored to service in 1993.

The Nevada Northern No. 81 is a “Consolidation” type (2-8-0) steam locomotive it was built for the Nevada Northern in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA, at a cost of $23,700. It was built for Mixed service to haul both freight and passenger trains on the Nevada Northern railway.

According to Wikipedia: “The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicated to the preservation of the Nevada Northern Railway.”

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 24mm, f/4, 30 seconds, ISO 100.

After dropping its ashes from a day’s work, Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotive #81 prepares to pull away from the ash pit as the light fades from the sky during the museums 2022 Winter Photo Charter event on February 12th, 2022, at Ely, Nevada. I was hoping to get the ash dump in the photo, but the crew did such a good job on firing today that there was only enough ashes for one drop and it of course happened when I wasn’t ready! LOL. Sometimes it happens! According to Wikipedia: “The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicated to the preservation of the Nevada Northern Railway. The museum is situated at the East Ely Yards, which are part of the Nevada Northern Railway. The site is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as the Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops and is also known as the "Nevada Northern Railway Complex". The rail yards were designated a National Historic Landmark District on September 27, 2006. The site was cited as one of the best-preserved early 20th-century railroad yards in the nation, and a key component in the growth of the region's copper mining industry. Developed in the first decade of the 20th century, it served passengers and freight until 1983, when the Kennecott Copper Company, its then-owner, donated the yard to a local non-profit for preservation. The property came complete with all the company records of the Nevada Northern from its inception.” Locomotive #81 is a "Consolidation" type (2-8-0) steam locomotive that was built for the Nevada Northern in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA, at a cost of $23,700. It was built for Mixed service to haul both freight and passenger trains on the Nevada Northern railway. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 18mm, f/5, 1/400, ISO 125, Exp. Comp.: -1.0. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #steamtrains #nevadanorthernrailway

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotive #81 at the Ash Pit, Ely, Nevada

After dropping its ashes from a day’s work, Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotive #81 prepares to pull away from the ash pit as the light fades from the sky during the museums 2022 Winter Photo Charter event on February 12th, 2022, at Ely, Nevada.

I was hoping to get the ash dump in the photo, but the crew did such a good job on firing today that there was only enough ashes for one drop and it of course happened when I wasn’t ready! LOL. Sometimes it happens!

According to Wikipedia: “The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicated to the preservation of the Nevada Northern Railway.

The museum is situated at the East Ely Yards, which are part of the Nevada Northern Railway. The site is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as the Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops and is also known as the “Nevada Northern Railway Complex”. The rail yards were designated a National Historic Landmark District on September 27, 2006. The site was cited as one of the best-preserved early 20th-century railroad yards in the nation, and a key component in the growth of the region’s copper mining industry. Developed in the first decade of the 20th century, it served passengers and freight until 1983, when the Kennecott Copper Company, its then-owner, donated the yard to a local non-profit for preservation. The property came complete with all the company records of the Nevada Northern from its inception.”

Locomotive #81 is a “Consolidation” type (2-8-0) steam locomotive that was built for the Nevada Northern in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA, at a cost of $23,700. It was built for Mixed service to haul both freight and passenger trains on the Nevada Northern railway.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 18mm, f/5, 1/400, ISO 125, Exp. Comp.: -1.0.

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 pose next to the coaling tower and water tank in the year during the museums Winter Photo Charter at Ely, Nevada, under a cold, but beautiful starry night on February 11th, 2022 . Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored to service in 1993. The Nevada Northern No. 81 is a "Consolidation" type (2-8-0) steam locomotive it was built for the Nevada Northern in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA, at a cost of $23,700. It was built for Mixed service to haul both freight and passenger trains on the Nevada Northern railway. According to Wikipedia: “The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicated to the preservation of the Nevada Northern Railway. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 15mm, f/4, 25 seconds, ISO 320. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 pose next to the coaling tower and water tank at Ely, Nevada

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 pose next to the coaling tower and water tank in the year during the museums Winter Photo Charter at Ely, Nevada, under a cold, but beautiful starry night on February 11th, 2022 .

Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored to service in 1993.

The Nevada Northern No. 81 is a “Consolidation” type (2-8-0) steam locomotive it was built for the Nevada Northern in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA, at a cost of $23,700. It was built for Mixed service to haul both freight and passenger trains on the Nevada Northern railway.

According to Wikipedia: “The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicated to the preservation of the Nevada Northern Railway.”

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 15mm, f/4, 25 seconds, ISO 320.

A crew member sits in the window on Strasburg Railroad steam locomotive #89, as they wait to depart with the last train of the day on the Strasburg Railroad on November 6th, 2021, at Strasburg, Pennsylvania. According to Wikipedia: Strasburg Railroad (Canadian National) No. 89 is a 2-6-0 "Mogul" type steam locomotive originally built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in February 1910 for the Canadian National Railway. It is now owned and operated by the Strasburg Railroad outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania where it resides today for use on excursion trains. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 20 seconds, ISO 200. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #trainsatnight #steamtrains

Strasburg Railroad Steam locomotive 89 waiting to depart the depot at Strasburg, PA

A crew member sits in the window on Strasburg Railroad steam locomotive #89, as they wait to depart with the last train of the day on the Strasburg Railroad on November 6th, 2021, at Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

According to Wikipedia: Strasburg Railroad (Canadian National) No. 89 is a 2-6-0 “Mogul” type steam locomotive originally built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in February 1910 for the Canadian National Railway. It is now owned and operated by the Strasburg Railroad outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania where it resides today for use on excursion trains.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 20 seconds, ISO 200.

TAG 80 on the Chickamauga Creek bridge Looking back to 2017 to pull an image for a customer, I realized that I hadn't ever processed this image from my trip to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Railfest in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This was during their first night shoot and thanks to the lighting wizardry of Casey Thomason and Steve Barry we all had a outstanding night! September 9, 2017 - Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway engine #80 "The John A. Chambliss," sits on the Chickamauga Creek bridge with a passenger train, just east of the Tennessee Valley Railroad museum in Chattanooga, TN during the museums night photo shoot during their 2017 Railfest. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @36mm f/8, 20 seconds, ISO 800.

TAG 80 on the Chickamauga Creek bridge

Looking back to 2017 to pull an image for a customer, I realized that I hadn’t ever processed this image from my trip to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Railfest in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

This was during their first night shoot and thanks to the lighting wizardry of Casey Thomason and Steve Barry we all had a outstanding night!

September 9, 2017 – Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway engine #80 “The John A. Chambliss,” sits on the Chickamauga Creek bridge with a passenger train, just east of the Tennessee Valley Railroad museum in Chattanooga, TN during the museums night photo shoot during their 2017 Railfest.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @36mm f/8, 20 seconds, ISO 800.

Night work at Metropolis, Illinois HLCX lease unit 1058 heads up a BNSF local as it sits on the main in front of the Honeywell plant at Metropolis, Illinois waiting for a new crew to take over their train before continuing its night move north on the BNSF Beardstown Subdivision. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm f/1.4, 1/15, ISO 2000.

BNSF Night work at Metropolis, Illinois

HLCX lease unit 1058 heads up a BNSF local as it sits on the main in front of the Honeywell plant at Metropolis, Illinois waiting for a new crew to take over their train before continuing its night move north on the BNSF Beardstown Subdivision.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm f/1.4, 1/15, ISO 2000.

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.

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.

August 1, 2020 - It's a hot and steamy summer night as the headlights of CSX Q513 illuminates the tracks at the south end of Howell Yard in Evansville, Indiana as it makes a pickup before continues its way south along the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @112mm, f/4.8, 1/30, ISO 3,200.

It’s a hot and steamy summer night…

August 1, 2020 – It’s a hot and steamy summer night as the headlights of CSX Q513 illuminates the tracks at the south end of Howell Yard in Evansville, Indiana as it makes a pickup before continues its way south along the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @112mm, f/4.8, 1/30, ISO 3,200.

June 2, 2020 - It was the dead of night, crickets, frogs and an occasional car passing through the crossing breaking the silence at the Rosewood Crossing, as the moon illuminated the tracks headed out of the south end of the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Paducah, Kentucky toward Mayfield. Moonlight provides a mystical light in my opinion. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mn, f/5, 30 seconds, +2 stops, ISO 640 on a Gitzo Tripod, camera timer, 3 second delay, Mirror Locked up.

Moonlit Tracks on the PAL Railway, Paducah, Kentucky

June 2, 2020 – It was the dead of night, crickets, frogs and an occasional car passing through the crossing breaking the silence at the Rosewood Crossing, as the moon illuminated the tracks headed out of the south end of the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Paducah, Kentucky toward Mayfield. Moonlight provides a mystical light in my opinion.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mn, f/5, 30 seconds, +2 stops, ISO 640 on a Gitzo Tripod, camera timer, 3 second delay, Mirror Locked up.

June 18, 2020 - After a 3 hour wait for maintenance-of-way to clear up, the crew of a southbound Indiana Railroad train from Indianapolis (INRD) with engine 9005 leading, meets and does their job briefing with northbound INRD 9004 and INRD's 25th Anniversary engine 9025 trailing, at the north end of BLS Siding at Switz City, Indiana, to trade off trains at dusk. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm @ 1.4, 1/320, ISO 2,500,

INRD Meet at Switz City, Indiana

June 18, 2020 – After a 3 hour wait for maintenance-of-way to clear up, the crew of a southbound Indiana Railroad train from Indianapolis (INRD) with engine 9005 leading, meets and does their job briefing with northbound INRD 9004 and INRD’s 25th Anniversary engine 9025 trailing, at the north end of BLS Siding at Switz City, Indiana, to trade off trains at dusk.


Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm @ 1.4, 1/320, ISO 2,500,

June 18, 2020 - Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9004 leads SAHW-18 (Switz City, IN - Hiawatha, IN), as engineer Travis Collins keeps a watchful eye as he passes through the diamond over the Indiana Southern Railroad at Switz City, Indiana, as he heads north on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision, as the last light of the day fades from the sky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm @ 1.4, 1/125, ISO 6,400, Car head lights for lighting.

Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9004 leads SAHW-18…

June 18, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9004 leads SAHW-18 (Switz City, IN – Hiawatha, IN), as engineer Travis Collins keeps a watchful eye as he passes through the diamond over the Indiana Southern Railroad at Switz City, Indiana, as he heads north on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision, as the last light of the day fades from the sky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 50mm @ 1.4, 1/125, ISO 6,400, Car head lights for lighting.

June 2, 2020 - The LED signal at the P&I Junction in Paducah, Ky illuminates the tracks approaching the switch, behind the camera, as a full moon begins to dip low in the sky over the scene. It's so bright it gives a Martian like view along the tracks as they disappear toward the bridge over the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm @ f/4, 30 seconds, ISO 400.

The LED signal at the P&I Junction in Paducah, Ky…

June 2, 2020 – The LED signal at the P&I Junction in Paducah, Ky illuminates the tracks approaching the switch, behind the camera, as a full moon begins to dip low in the sky over the scene. It’s so bright it gives a Martian like view along the tracks as they disappear toward the bridge over the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard.

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

January 1, 2020 - I spent New Years Day trackside between the CN at Fulton, the CSX Memphis Subdivision and the West Tennessee Railroad (WTRR) in Jackson, Tennessee yesterday with good friend and fellow photographer Ryan Scott of IndianaRails! We had a great trip and although moving trains were pretty scarice, we had the good fortune of catching a few nice gems and knocking this shortline off our bucket list. We both plan on returning to chase the WTRR between Jackson and Fulton, now that we kinda have a better feel for where things are at! A big shout out to all the folks that gave us suggestions along the way! It's folks like you that help make this passion so much fun! This photograph is of a CN intermodal as it takes on fuel at late dusk at Fulton, Kentucky before continuing on it's northbound trip on the Cario Subdivision. It was shot from a crossing with my Nikkor 70-300mm lens at 300mm. ISO was 1,000, exposure was 1/4 second at f/5.6 on a tripod. This is also just north of the Amtrak station in Fulton and so the platform helped nicely with its lighting.

I spent New Years Day trackside between the CN at Fulton, Ky the CSX Memphis Subdivision and…

January 1, 2020 – I spent New Years Day trackside between the CN at Fulton, Ky the CSX Memphis Subdivision and the West Tennessee Railroad (WTRR) in Jackson, Tennessee yesterday with good friend and fellow photographer Ryan Scott of IndianaRails! We had a great trip and although moving trains were pretty scarice, we had the good fortune of catching a few nice gems and knocking this shortline off our bucket list.

We both plan on returning to chase the WTRR between Jackson and Fulton, now that we kinda have a better feel for where things are at! A big shout out to all the folks that gave us suggestions along the way! It’s folks like you that help make this passion so much fun!

This photograph is of a CN intermodal as it takes on fuel at late dusk at Fulton, Kentucky before continuing on it’s northbound trip on the Cario Subdivision. It was shot from a crossing with my Nikkor 70-300mm lens at 300mm. ISO was 1,000, exposure was 1/4 second at f/5.6 on a tripod. This is also just north of the Amtrak station in Fulton and so the platform helped nicely with its lighting.