NS 7586 takes a Roller Coaster ride at Hatfield Junction One of my favorite things to photograph on the railroad with my long lens is places where the lay of and comes into full view with the long end of my zoom and Hatfield Junction is one such place! Here we see NS 167, led by NS 7586, on January 28th, 2021 as it starts it's climb back up hill as it takes a roller coaster ride coming east out of Hatfield Junction, just east of Oakland City, Indiana on the Southern East District. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @460mm f/6, 1/1600, ISO 800.

NS 7586 takes a Roller Coaster ride at Hatfield Junction

One of my favorite things to photograph on the railroad with my long lens is places where the lay of and comes into full view with the long end of my zoom and Hatfield Junction is one such place!

Here we see NS 167, led by NS 7586, on January 28th, 2021 as it starts it’s climb back up hill as it takes a roller coaster ride coming east out of Hatfield Junction, just east of Oakland City, Indiana on the Southern East District.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @460mm f/6, 1/1600, ISO 800.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Ramsey, Indiana With a winter wonderland scene and warm evening light we find Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow "Sonic Bonnets" leading empty autorack train 124 as they make their way west at Ramsey, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021. I passed this spot when I was on my way to setup for this same train as it passed through the cut at Tunnel Hill Road, about 4 miles to the east of this crossing. I loved the look of the snow on the trees and was hoping I'd be able to make it the four miles back to this spot before the train got there, after catching it at the cut. Well, needless to say I made it, but probably not more than 10 seconds to spare. Enough time to grab the D800 with my 10-20mm lens, step into position and fire off a burst of about 5 shots before the lead unit was through the crossing. This is my favorite! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX lens @15mm f/4, 1/640, ISO 320.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Ramsey, Indiana

With a winter wonderland scene and warm evening light we find Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow “Sonic Bonnets” leading empty autorack train 124 as they make their way west at Ramsey, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021.

I passed this spot when I was on my way to setup for this same train as it passed through the cut at Tunnel Hill Road, about 4 miles to the east of this crossing. I loved the look of the snow on the trees and was hoping I’d be able to make it the four miles back to this spot before the train got there, after catching it at the cut.

Well, needless to say I made it, but probably not more than 10 seconds to spare. Enough time to grab the D800 with my 10-20mm lens, step into position and fire off a burst of about 5 shots before the lead unit was through the crossing. This is my favorite!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX lens @15mm f/4, 1/640, ISO 320.

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Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana Norfolk Southern 1800 the Yellow Sonic Bonnets trails behind the black 4004 version, as they lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull into the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021 at dusk. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana

Norfolk Southern 1800 the Yellow Sonic Bonnets trails behind the black 4004 version, as they lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull into the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021 at dusk.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

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Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow "Sonic Bonnets" lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull through the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana

Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow “Sonic Bonnets” lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull through the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets on the move Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow "Sonic Bonnets" lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they chase the setting sun through the cut at Tunnel Hill Road, just west of Ramsey, Indiana as the light snowfall from the day before provides a nice dusting for this peaceful winter scene on the NS Southern-East District. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets on the move

Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow “Sonic Bonnets” lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they chase the setting sun through the cut at Tunnel Hill Road, just west of Ramsey, Indiana as the light snowfall from the day before provides a nice dusting for this peaceful winter scene on the NS Southern-East District on January 28, 2021.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 100.

Eastbound NS freight at Lyles Station, Indiana A Norfolk Southern mixed freight passes the Consolidation Grain and Barge Company complex at Lyles Station, as it heads east toward Princeton, Indiana. According to Wikipedia: "Lyles Station is an unincorporated community in Patoka Township, Gibson County, Indiana. The community dates from 1849, although its early settlers first arrived in the 1830s, and it was formally named Lyles Station in 1886 to honor Joshua Lyles, a free African American who migrated with his family from Tennessee to Indiana around 1837. Lyles Station is one of Indiana's early black rural settlements and the only one remaining. The rural settlement reached its peak in the years between 1880 and 1912, when major structures in the community included the railroad depot, a post office, a lumber mill, two general stores, two churches, and a school. By the turn of the twentieth century, Lyles Station had fifty-five homes, with a population of more than 800 people. The farming community never fully recovered from the Great Flood of 1913, which destroyed much of the town. Most of its residents left for economic reasons, seeking opportunities for higher paying jobs and additional education in larger cities. By 1997 approximately fifteen families remained at Lyles Station, nearly all of them descended from the original settlers." Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Eastbound NS freight at Lyles Station, Indiana

A Norfolk Southern mixed freight passes the Consolidation Grain and Barge Company complex at Lyles Station, as it heads east toward Princeton, Indiana.

According to Wikipedia: “Lyles Station is an unincorporated community in Patoka Township, Gibson County, Indiana. The community dates from 1849, although its early settlers first arrived in the 1830s, and it was formally named Lyles Station in 1886 to honor Joshua Lyles, a free African American who migrated with his family from Tennessee to Indiana around 1837.

Lyles Station is one of Indiana’s early black rural settlements and the only one remaining. The rural settlement reached its peak in the years between 1880 and 1912, when major structures in the community included the railroad depot, a post office, a lumber mill, two general stores, two churches, and a school. By the turn of the twentieth century, Lyles Station had fifty-five homes, with a population of more than 800 people.

The farming community never fully recovered from the Great Flood of 1913, which destroyed much of the town. Most of its residents left for economic reasons, seeking opportunities for higher paying jobs and additional education in larger cities. By 1997 approximately fifteen families remained at Lyles Station, nearly all of them descended from the original settlers.”

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

Norfolk Southern 4004, Blue Swoosh, WB at Mt. Carmel, IL Norfolk Southern 4004, a AC/DC Conversion also called the "Blue Swoosh" makes its way across the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel, Illinois as it leads NS 224 westbound on the NS West District on December 12th, 2020 with a string of truck frames and load of intermodals. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 200.

Norfolk Southern 4004, Sonic Bonnet with the Blue Swoosh, WB at Mt. Carmel, IL

Norfolk Southern 4004, a AC/DC Conversion also called the Sonic Bonnet wit the Blue Swoosh makes its way across the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel, Illinois as it leads NS 224 westbound on the NS Southern West District on December 12th, 2020 with a string of truck frames and load of intermodals.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 200.

October 3, 2020 - Norfolk Southern Conrail Heritage Unit (8098) sits idling on the Francisco Mine lead at Francisco, Indiana, as it waits for a new crew to take the loaded coal train from the mine westbound on the NS Southern East/West District to Duke Energy's Gibson Plant near Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern Conrail Heritage Unit at Francisco, IN

October 3, 2020 – Norfolk Southern Conrail Heritage Unit (8098) sits idling on the Francisco Mine lead at Francisco, Indiana, as it waits for a new crew to take the loaded coal train from the mine westbound on the NS Southern East/West District to Duke Energy’s Gibson Plant near Mt. Carmel, Illinois.

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

October 3, 2020 - Seems like myself and several other railfans waited forever for NS 167 to finish its work at Princeton, Indiana and finally begin to move east and to our delight its counterpart 168 westbound showed up just in time for me to capture this meet with my drones camera. It wasn't planned, as we weren't sure how long before 168 would arrive, but I'll take it! In the past I could never get this shot as it's way too far from either crossing that's close to this point. I am totally loving the new look the camera on the drone gives me these days and the spots it allows me to shoot from! As I tell my fellow railfans, we can railfan anywhere as everywhere is new for me! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 100.

NS 167 and 168 meet at Princeton, IN

October 3, 2020 – Seems like myself and several other railfans waited forever for NS 167 to finish its work at Princeton, Indiana and finally begin to move east and to our delight its counterpart 168 westbound showed up just in time for me to capture this meet with my drones camera. It wasn’t planned, as we weren’t sure how long before 168 would arrive, but I’ll take it!

In the past I could never get this shot as it’s way too far from either crossing that’s close to this point. I am totally loving the new look the camera on the drone gives me these days and the spots it allows me to shoot from! As I tell my fellow railfans, we can railfan anywhere as everywhere is new for me!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 100.

September 13, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 168, with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 leading on the NS Southern East District, departs the west end of the siding at Ayrshire Township, Indiana as it heads west toward St. Louis, MO. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO 360.

Norfolk Southern 168, with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 at Ayrshire…

September 13, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 168, with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 leading on the NS Southern East District, departs the west end of the siding at Ayrshire Township, Indiana as it heads west toward St. Louis, MO.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO 360.

September 13, 2020 - I got word from a fellow railfan out of Louisville, Austin Bell, that Norfolk Southern 168 was headed west from Louisville, Kentucky with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 leading on the NS Southern East District. He knew it was one of three that I still needed to fill my collection of the 20 Heritage Paint Units that NS has put out. (Now I need NS 1065 and NS 1700) I typically don't railfan Sundays as I do church and edit the videos from the live stream in the afternoon and update our web locations with the same. However, I answered the call this afternoon and made the 1.5 hour drive to Princeton, Indiana to capture this shot of the train as it heads west through the yard at Princeton with my drone! I actually caught it starting at west end of Ashire, Indiana and chased it to Princeton and was able to catch it at several spots along the route with my D800 and the drone, but in this case the drone won out because of the new angle it gives me! I also met up with a lot of railfan friends that were trackside for the same train and got to finally meet Railfan Julian (6 year old railfan that loves trains) and his mom! If you want to encourage young railfans I invite you to give his page a like here on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/railfan.julian.5 Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.

NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 at Princeton, IN

September 13, 2020 – I got word from a fellow railfan out of Louisville, Austin Bell, that Norfolk Southern 168 was headed west from Louisville, Kentucky with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 leading on the NS Southern East District. He knew it was one of three that I still needed to fill my collection of the 20 Heritage Paint Units that NS has put out. (Now I need NS 1065 and NS 1700)

I typically don’t railfan Sundays as I do church and edit the videos from the live stream in the afternoon and update our web locations with the same. However, I answered the call this afternoon and made the 1.5 hour drive to Princeton, Indiana to capture this shot of the train as it heads west through the yard at Princeton with my drone!

I actually caught it starting at west end of Ashire, Indiana and chased it to Princeton and was able to catch it at several spots along the route with my D800 and the drone, but in this case the drone won out because of the new angle it gives me!

I also met up with a lot of railfan friends that were trackside for the same train and got to finally meet Railfan Julian (6 year old railfan that loves trains) and his mom!

If you want to encourage young railfans I invite you to give his page a like here on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/railfan.julian.5

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

August 29, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 9385 leads a loaded grain train past the Premier Cooperative Inc grain elevators at Tolono, Illinois as it heads east on the NS Lafayette District. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/800, 1/800, underexposed 1.3 stops (exposed more for the highlights), ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern 9385 leads a loaded grain train…

August 29, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 9385 leads a loaded grain train past the Premier Cooperative Inc grain elevators at Tolono, Illinois as it heads east on the NS Lafayette District.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/800, 1/800, underexposed 1.3 stops (exposed more for the highlights), ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern 4194 glides downhill as it leads NS 124-31 westbound, with an all Autorack train, as it meets NS 376-01 led by NS 9626, a eastbound mix freight train, across the street from the Taswell Community Church at Taswell, Indiana on the NS Southern-West District. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 195mm, f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 1400.

NS 124-31 meets NS 376-01 at Taswell, Indiana

Norfolk Southern 4194 glides downhill as it leads NS 124-31 westbound, with an all Autorack train, as it meets NS 376-01 led by NS 9626, a eastbound mix freight train, across the street from the Taswell Community Church at Taswell, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 195mm, f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 1400.

July 17, 2020 - Norfolk Southern New Jersey Central Lines Heritage Unit 1071 leads NS 172 across the NS/CSX diamond at 4th Street in Louisville, Kentucky as it heads north on the Louisville District. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 280mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern New Jersey Central Lines Heritage Unit…

July 17, 2020 – Norfolk Southern New Jersey Central Lines Heritage Unit 1071 leads NS 172 across the NS/CSX diamond at 4th Street in Louisville, Kentucky as it heads north on the Louisville District.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 280mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 100.

July 17, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 9573 leads a autorack train east as it passes through the cut at Tunnel Hill road overpass, just west of Ramsey, Indiana, on the NS Southern-East District. This cut was constructed to bypass the original tunnel through this area, which I'm told it can still be seen via Google Earth Maps. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/6.3, 1/800, ISO 1100.

Norfolk Southern 9573 leads a autorack train…

July 17, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 9573 leads a autorack train east as it passes through the cut at Tunnel Hill road overpass, just west of Ramsey, Indiana, on the NS Southern-East District. This cut was constructed to bypass the original tunnel through this area, which I’m told it can still be seen via Google Earth Maps.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/6.3, 1/800, ISO 1100.

July 17, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 3645 leads a empty coal train as it passes through the cut at Tunnel Hill road overpass, just west of Ramsey, Indiana, with stormy skies looming to the east on the NS Southern-East District. This cut was constructed to bypass the original tunnel through this area and I'm told it can still be seen via Google Earth Maps of the area. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 1600.

Norfolk Southern 3645 leads a WB empty coal train at Tunnel Hill

July 17, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 3645 leads a empty coal train as it passes through the cut at Tunnel Hill road overpass, just west of Ramsey, Indiana, with stormy skies looming to the east on the NS Southern-East District. This cut was constructed to bypass the original tunnel through this area and I’m told it can still be seen via Google Earth Maps of the area.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 1600.

May 27, 2020 - Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit 1070 passes through the NS/UP Diamond at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, as it leads NS 224 westbound on the NS Southern-West District. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 350mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 560.

Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit at Mt. Vernon, IL

May 27, 2020 – Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit 1070 passes through the NS/UP Diamond at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, as it leads NS 224 westbound on the NS Southern-West District under stormy skies.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 360.