A southbound CSX led mixed freight holds at the signals in downtown Corning, Arkansas on Friday, August 27th, 2021, on the UP Hoxie subdivision, as they wait for the arrival of steam locomotive, UP 4014, the big boy in this infrared shot.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 70-300 @ 70mm, f/8, 1/500, ISO 200.
Union Pacific 4014, the Big Boy, heads north on UPs Hoxie Subdivision at Jacksonville, Arkansas as part of its 2021-month long tour around the United States on August 27th, 2021!
Here engineer Ed Dickens keeps an eye on the tracks ahead as it approaches the N JP Wright Loop Road crossing, perhaps scanning for the legendary the Loop Road Monster (Bigfoot) which has been sighted in this rural area in the past, but there wasnt any sight of him during the big boys run through the area! I guess bigfoot doesnt like steam trains nearly as much as the throngs of railfans that chased it!
UP 4014 is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive that was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.
The Big Boy was on a month-long tour around the Midwest through, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming before arriving home in Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 7th.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 150mm, f/6, 1/1600, ISO 320.
CSX X605-04 heads north as it passes a tied down X801 sitting in the siding at Cedar Hill, Tennessee. Both trains have been rerouted via the Henderson Subdivision due to flooding from the recent hurricanes.
The lead engine on X605, which is the top train, is a Dash 9 in YN2 paint, led by CSXT 9012 which is a reactivated unit that has been in storage. The parked X801 had UP 8211 leading and another UP trailing.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100, September 4, 2021.
CSX X605-04 heads north across the Gum Lick Trestle, just south of Crofton, Kentucky with 9012 leading the way. It is a Waycross, GA – Rose Lake, IL train that has been rerouted via the Henderson Subdivision due to flooding from the recent hurricanes. The lead engine is a Dash 9 in YN2 paint, led by CSXT 9012 which is a reactivated unit that has been in storage.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100, September 4, 2021.
Union Pacific steam locomotive 4014, the Big Boy, with its entire train in view, passes the Farmers Elevator complex as it heads north on the UP Hoxie Subdivision at Newport, Arkansas on August 27th, 2021. Here it is on the leg of its trip from Little Rock, AR to Poplar Bluff, MO during its month-long tour around the Union Pacific line.
The Big Boy is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York in 1941. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100, August 27, 2021.
Well, one week ago today I lost my DJI Air 2 to a fly away that landed in the top of a 30 tall oak tree while chasing UPs Big Boy and today’s photo is from my new drone, the DJI Air 2S!
It’s my first train photo from the drone and while cosmetically it looks like the same drone, it’s a big improvement! I’m loving that it has a 1″ sensor, where as the Air 2 only had a ½ inch one. It gives me 20 megapixels over the 12 that the Air 2 had. Of course, there’s many other improvements between the two drones and there’s many videos on YouTube that talk about them if you’re interested.
In case some of you are wondering, I decided not to use the Fly Away insurance that came with the care package that I had on the drone, as I wanted to go ahead and get the newer drone and the only thing you can get with the care package is a replacement, not an upgrade.
This shot is of was taken just south of Mortons Gap, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision as two SD 40-3s and a SD40-2 leads the daily CSX J732 local south on a beautiful summer day, after performing its interchange duty at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, KY and was headed back to Casky Yard in Hopkinsville, KY on September 1st, 2021.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
Engineer Ed Dickens watches the road ahead in this Infrared photograph of the Union Pacific Big Boy, as it approaches a crossing north of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas on the Hoxie Subdivision, during its run between Little Rock and Poplar Bluff on August 27, 2021.
UP 4014 is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive that was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.
The Big Boy is on a month-long tour around the Midwest through, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming before heading home to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 70-300 @200mm, f/8, 1/500, ISO 200.
Union Pacific’s 4014, the Big Boy, passes over the Black River as it approaches downtown Corning, Arkansas on Friday, August 27th, 2021, as they head north on the UP Hoxie subdivision on its way to Poplar Bluff, AR.
The Big Boy is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York in 1941. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.
According to Wikipedia: “The locomotive operated in revenue service until 1959, when it was donated to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in late 1961 and thereafter displayed in Fairplex at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California.
In 2013, UP re-acquired the locomotive and launched a restoration project at their Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In May 2019, No. 4014 was operated for the first time after sitting dormant for almost six decades.
It ran its first excursion, double-headed with Union Pacific 844, three days later on May 4, 2019. Now part of the Union Pacific’s heritage fleet, it now operates in excursion service, in addition to hauling revenue freight during ferry moves.”
The Big Boy is currently on a month-long tour around the Midwest through, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming before heading home to Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 7th. For the route and schedule visit: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm to see if it’s stopping near you!
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100, August 27, 2021.
An infrared photograph of Union Pacific’s 4014, Big Boy as it backs into the static display area at Popular Bluff, Missouri on UP’s Hoxie Subdivision, on August 27th, 2021, during its overnight stop on their month-long tour around the United States.
The Big Boy is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York in 1941. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.
According to Wikipedia: “The locomotive operated in revenue service until 1959, when it was donated to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in late 1961 and thereafter displayed in Fairplex at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California.
In 2013, UP re-acquired the locomotive and launched a restoration project at their Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In May 2019, No. 4014 was operated for the first time after sitting dormant for almost six decades.
It ran its first excursion, double-headed with Union Pacific 844, three days later on May 4, 2019. Now part of the Union Pacific’s heritage fleet, it now operates in excursion service, in addition to hauling revenue freight during ferry moves.”
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 12-24 @24mm, f/4.5, 1/500, ISO 200.
A Selection of videos from my Union Pacific 4014, Big Boy Chase on August 27th & 28th, 2021 through Arkansas, Missouri & Illinois along the UP Hoxie and Chester Subdivisions.
The crowd was huge at Chester, Illinois and just didn’t want to let the Big Boy leave which delayed its departing from there. This made me and a lot of other railfans stand around at a grade crossing waiting for this shot for over an hour and a half in the 100-degree weather, but it was worth it for my last shot of Union Pacific 4014 on its 2021 tour!
I ended up cropping this shot much tighter than I actually shot it thanks to two guys in cowboy hats that walked down next to the tracks in everyone’s shot, but that stuff happens and after working with this shot, I like how this in-your-face photograph turned out! Sometimes when you’re doing a chase that is a popular as this in the hobby, you just must adjust accordingly as everyone wants their shot, even the cowboys!
Here engineer Ed Dickens and the rest of the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 crew keeps an eye on the tracks ahead as it crosses the Kaskaskia River on the UP Chester Subdivision at Brewerville, Illinois.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 195mm, f/6, 1/1000, ISO 560, August 28, 2021.
This is one of the last images from my DJI Air 2 drone before it ended up in the top of a 30’ oak tree the next day at Dexter, MO after a Fly Away.
In this shot Engineer Ed Dickens waves from the cab as Union Pacific’s 4014, the Big Boy, passes under the signal bridge in downtown McRae, Arkansas on Friday, on August 27th, 2021, as they head north on the UP Hoxie subdivision on its way to Popular Bluff, MO.
The Big Boy is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York in 1941. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.
According to Wikipedia: “The locomotive operated in revenue service until 1959, when it was donated to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in late 1961 and thereafter displayed in Fairplex at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California.
In 2013, UP re-acquired the locomotive and launched a restoration project at their Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In May 2019, No. 4014 was operated for the first time after sitting dormant for almost six decades.
It ran its first excursion, double-headed with Union Pacific 844, three days later on May 4, 2019. Now part of the Union Pacific’s heritage fleet, it now operates in excursion service, in addition to hauling revenue freight during ferry moves.”
The Big Boy is currently on a month-long tour around the Midwest through, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming before heading home to Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 7th. For the route and schedule visit: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm to see if it’s stopping near you!
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100, August 27, 2021.
It was a bit of a wait in a hot and humid sun, but it was well worth the wait for my first Infrared photograph of the Union Pacific Big Boy, which is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive that was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one. Here it makes its way north across the Big Muddy River in Aldridge, Illinois on August 28, 2021, as it heads to its next scheduled stop at Chester, Illinois.
The Big Boy is on a month-long tour around the Midwest through, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming before heading home to Cheyenne, Wyoming. For the route and schedule visit: https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm to see if it’s stopping near you!
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 70-300 @200mm, f/8, 1/500, ISO 200, August 28, 2021, 2021.
Yep, during my chase of Union Pacific’s 4014, the Big Boy on Saturday, August 28th, 2021, my Air 2 Drone decided it wanted to take off on its own where it moved about 150 feet from where I had it hovering over the junction where the UP Hoxie sub meets the Chester Sub, South of Scott City, Missouri! Not totally sure why, but it happened and even though I had the home point set to the crossing where I took off from and my hover point where I was waiting for the Big Boy was in a clear area.
It was a very hot and humid day though and I was watching the drone hover and when we heard the steam whistle blow, I reached over to start my 4K video recording and when I looked back at the drone controller screen the drone was in the top of tree, more than 150’ from where I had it hovering! To top it all off the Big Boy didn’t even merge onto the Chester Sub like we thought it was going to and it came through a crossing that was about 25’ from where the drone decided on its own to move to. Perhaps it knew something I didn’t! LOL In all seriousness, that’s the exact reason you always keep sight of your drone! I couldn’t have looked away from the controller and drone more than 15 seconds or so and this happened!
Fortunately, it was out in the middle of the country and there were only about 6 of us railfans and a couple of locals at this location. The drone didn’t fly over anyone before it decided to fly away and land in the top of 30-40’ oak tree, about in the middle of a stand of about 2 acres of oaks! The forest was so dense that I couldn’t even walk into where it was, and I wouldn’t even think about climbing such a tree at my age!
I tried to launch it from the tree, and it wouldn’t and so, if you are a drone hunter and in need of an Air 2, I’ve included a screen shot of its last recorded location, along with the GPS Coordinates, (36.802633 , -89.942172) where it decided to set down, even though it wasn’t the home point and I had obstacle detection turned on. If you find it, it’s yours!
Fortunately for me I purchased the DJI Care package, and it has Fly Away protection included where I can replace an Air 2 one time in the lifetime of the warranty for $399. Expensive, but still a far cry from the $699 on Amazon. A very wise investment for $59!
Only thing I’m still kicking myself over is that I had great video footage from the air of two freights that passed through this S curve area on the camera and didn’t think to download them to the controller before heading off in pursuit of the Big Boy as it was headed to St. Louis! There was still 58% of battery left on the drone and it was still connected to the drone so I could have done so, but I was so put out with what happened and needed to get going on the chase, that I didn’t think about it until we were well outside the area. Lesson learned for sure! Fortunately, also, I always download my drone and cameras every night and so I have everything from the day before and the only thing I lost as far as footage was the clips of the two UP freights.
Oh well, time to move on and I’ll be ordering my replacement this afternoon! Be safe out there when you are trackside and I’ll be posting my 4014 chase photos starting this afternoon so stay tuned!
From a Live Broadcast of Union Pacific’s 4014, Big Boy, as it backs into its display area at Popular Bluff, Arkansas on UP’s Hoxie Subdivision, on August 27th, 2021.
Paducah and Louisville University of Kentucky locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead the Louisville Gas & Electric loaded coal train north as they round a curve leading into Rockport, Kentucky, on its way to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant in the Kosmosdale neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100, August 17, 2021.
CSX President’s Passenger train P001 heads south up the viaduct approaching the bridge over the Ohio River at Henderson, KY from Rahm, IN, with CSX GEVO units 3310, 3271 leading and CSXT 1 & 2 trailing as they pull 11 cars at a little over 1,000 ft long.
CSX has repainted two of its F40PH locomotives, to be used on its business train, into predecessor Baltimore & Ohio’s blue, gray, and black paint scheme. CSX1 is former 9998 (former Amtrak 288) and from what I can find out CSXT 2 is the former F40PH 9993 (former Amtrak 395). The other F40s are expected to be painted in the same scheme in the coming months as they are cycled through the shops.
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100, June 10, 2021.
Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad units WAMX 4244 and 4234 lead local 101 on its way to Terre Haute, Indiana as it passes through Tuscola, Illinois.
According to Wikipedia: “The Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark DREI) is an American regional railroad that is a subsidiary of Watco operating in eastern Illinois and western Indiana.
In January 2018, CSX Transportation announced that it was seeking offers to buy the Decatur Subdivision and the Danville Secondary Subdivision as part of a system-wide sale of low-traffic routes, and in July, Watco, via the DREI, was identified as the winning bidder. Following regulatory approval from the Surface Transportation Board, The DREI began operations on September 9, 2018
The DREI operates two intersecting routes totaling 126.7 miles (203.9 km)the former Decatur Subdivision between Montezuma, Indiana and Decatur, Illinois, and the former Danville Subdivision between Terre Haute, Indiana and Olivet, Illinois. It interchanges traffic with CSX, the Eastern Illinois Railroad, the Norfolk Southern Railway, the Canadian National Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad is headquartered in Decatur, Illinois.”
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, sensor converted to 720nm B&W IR, Fuji 18-55 @21mm, f/5, 1/250, ISO 200, July 20, 2021.
Paducah and Louisville University of Kentucky locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead the Louisville Gas & Electric loaded coal train north through the valley at Spring Lick, Kentucky on its way to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant in the Kosmosdale neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.
From the web: “The Paducah and Louisville Railway (reporting marks, PAL) is a regional operation based in Paducah, Kentucky that began operations in 1986 over ex-Illinois Central trackage.
Today it utilizes over 260 miles of railroad and is owned by P&L Transportation (previously known as Four Rivers Transportation), which itself is controlled by CSX Corporation (parent company to CSX Transportation, its railroad division).
The P&L also operates the Appalachian & Ohio in West Virginia. This road is predominately a coal hauler, which leases CSX’s Cowen Subdivision, a former Baltimore & Ohio corridor.”
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100, August 17, 2021.
An infrared shot (taken the now old fashion way) from the overpass on highway 85, a few miles south of Central City, Kentucky as Paducah and Louisville Railways Louisville Gas and Electric loaded coal train, LG1, passes through the cut there on its way north with another load for the power plant, as PAL University of Kentucky locomotives, 4522 and 2012 lead the way.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Fuji 18-55 @18mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 200, August 13, 2021.
Paducah and Louisville University of Kentucky locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead the Louisville Gas & Electric loaded coal train across the trestle at Big Clifty, Kentucky as it heads north along highway 62 on its way to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant in the Kosmosdale neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.
According to their website: “The Mill Creek Generation Station is LG&E’s largest coal-fired power plant, with a generating capacity of 1,465 megawatts. Mill Creek sits on 544 acres in southwest Jefferson County, Ky.
The late 1960s and early 1970s saw an unprecedented increase in the construction of new industrial, commercial, and residential facilities in the Louisville area.
As customers demand for energy increased, LG&E needed additional generating capability to guarantee supply and ensure reliability. Mill Creek began commercial operation in 1972 to meet this growing demand.”
Tech Info: Wide Photo: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100, August 17, 2021.