BNSF and CN meet at Reevesville, Illinois On January 2nd, 2020 a empty BNSF grain train sits in the siding at Reevesville, Illinois as a empty CN coal train heads north, on CN’s Bluford Subdivision, under the old Illinois Central Steam Train coaling tower. According to Wikipedia: A coaling tower, coal stage or coaling station was a facility used to load coal as fuel into railway steam locomotives. Coaling towers were often sited at motive power depots or locomotive maintenance shops. Coaling towers were constructed of wood, steel-reinforced concrete, or steel. In almost all cases coaling stations used a gravity fed method, with one or more large storage bunkers for the coal elevated on columns above the railway tracks, from which the coal could be released to slide down a chute into the waiting locomotive’s coal storage area. The method of lifting the bulk coal into the storage bin varied. The coal usually was dropped from a hopper car into a pit below tracks adjacent to the tower. From the pit a conveyor-type system used a chain of motor-driven buckets to raise the coal to the top of the tower where it would be dumped into the storage bin; a skip-hoist system lifted a single large bin for the same purpose. Some facilities lifted entire railway coal trucks or wagons. Sanding pipes were often mounted on coaling towers to allow simultaneous replenishment of a locomotive’s sand box. As railroads transitioned from the use of steam locomotives to the use of diesel locomotives in the 1950s the need for coaling towers ended. Many reinforced concrete towers remain in place if they do not interfere with operations due to the high cost of demolition incurred with these massive structures. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 400.

BNSF and CN meet at Reevesville, Illinois

On January 2nd, 2020 a empty BNSF grain train sits in the siding at Reevesville, Illinois as a empty CN coal train heads north, on CN’s Bluford Subdivision, under the old Illinois Central Steam Train coaling tower.

According to Wikipedia: A coaling tower, coal stage or coaling station was a facility used to load coal as fuel into railway steam locomotives. Coaling towers were often sited at motive power depots or locomotive maintenance shops.

Coaling towers were constructed of wood, steel-reinforced concrete, or steel. In almost all cases coaling stations used a gravity fed method, with one or more large storage bunkers for the coal elevated on columns above the railway tracks, from which the coal could be released to slide down a chute into the waiting locomotive’s coal storage area. The method of lifting the bulk coal into the storage bin varied. The coal usually was dropped from a hopper car into a pit below tracks adjacent to the tower. From the pit a conveyor-type system used a chain of motor-driven buckets to raise the coal to the top of the tower where it would be dumped into the storage bin; a skip-hoist system lifted a single large bin for the same purpose. Some facilities lifted entire railway coal trucks or wagons. Sanding pipes were often mounted on coaling towers to allow simultaneous replenishment of a locomotive’s sand box.

As railroads transitioned from the use of steam locomotives to the use of diesel locomotives in the 1950s the need for coaling towers ended. Many reinforced concrete towers remain in place if they do not interfere with operations due to the high cost of demolition incurred with these massive structures.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 400.

Sunset arrival of Northbound CSX Q512-01 at Howell Yard, Evansville, IN They say what you do on the first day of the New Year you'll continue to do till the next New Year and so of course I spent the day chasing trains around the Evansville, Indiana area. Here we find the crew on CSX Q512 as they pull to a stop at the north end of CSX Howell Yard in Evansville as they prepare to conduct a crew change before heading on north, as dusk falls over the yard on New Years day, January 1st, 2021. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 400.

Sunset arrival of Northbound CSX Q512-01 at Howell Yard, Evansville, IN

They say what you do on the first day of the New Year you’ll continue to do till the next New Year and so of course I spent the day chasing trains around the Evansville, Indiana area.

Here we find the crew on CSX Q512 as they pull to a stop at the north end of CSX Howell Yard in Evansville as they prepare to conduct a crew change before heading on north, as dusk falls over the yard on New Years day, January 1st, 2021.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 400.

CN Illinois Central Heritage Unit meets KCS at Dexter, MO Canadian National (CN) Illinois Central Heritage Unit 3008 passes a crew change on a SB crew change on a KCS unit, as it leads empty oil train; ONUCS-01 north on Union Pacific's Chester Subdivision, after making its own crew change at the Union Pacific Terminal at Dexter, Missouri on December 2nd, 2020. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

CN Illinois Central Heritage Unit meets KCS at Dexter, MO

CN Illinois Central Heritage Unit meets KCS at Dexter, MO

Canadian National (CN) Illinois Central Heritage Unit 3008 passes a crew change on a SB crew change on a KCS unit, as it leads empty oil train; ONUCS-01 north on Union Pacific’s Chester Subdivision, after making its own crew change at the Union Pacific Terminal at Dexter, Missouri on December 2nd, 2020.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Mystery switcher #2111 at NRE Shops, Mount Vernon, IL Ok, I've searched the web and haven't been able to pull up any information on this old switcher that is used at the National Railway Equipment shops in Mount Vernon, Illinois. It is numbered 2111 and has what appears to be Korean or Chinese writing on the side of the engine. Can anyone provide me with any information on this interesting unit? Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/60, ISO 100.

KORAIL switcher #2111 at NRE Shops, Mount Vernon, IL

A old KORAL Switcher 2111 sits at the back gate to the National Railway Equipment shops in Mount Vernon, Illinois and is used to move equipment around. Although it’s seen better days, it still does it’s job!

According to Wikipedia: “The Korea Railroad Corporation, branded as KORAIL, is the national railway operator in South Korea. Currently, KORAIL is a public corporation, managed by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation.

KORAIL operates intercity/regional, commuter/metro and freight trains throughout South Korea, and has its headquarters in Daejeon.
Historically, the South Korean railway network was managed by the Railroad Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation before 1963. On 1 September 1963, the bureau became an agency that was known as Korean National Railroad (KNR) in English. In the early 2000s, split and public corporatization of KNR was decided by the South Korean government, and in 2003, KNR adopted the current KORAIL logo in blue to prepare corporatization.

On 1 January 2005, KNR was split into Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), which succeeded railway operation with the KORAIL logo and name, and Korea Rail Network Authority (KR), which succeeded maintaining tracks.”

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/60, 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.

CSX load of coal SB at Nortonville, Kentucky CSX N302 (Evansville, IN (EVWR) - Stilesboro, GA) passes under the highway 62 overpass at Nortonville, Kentucky as CSXT 3196 leads a loaded coal train along track two as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful winter afternoon. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

CSX load of coal SB at Nortonville, Kentucky

CSX N302 (Evansville, IN (EVWR) – Stilesboro, GA) passes under the highway 62 overpass at Nortonville, Kentucky as CSXT 3196 leads a loaded coal train along track two as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful winter afternoon.

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

CSX W991-29 Northbound high and wide load at Guthrie, Ky CSX W991-29 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision as it approaches milepost 214, just south of Guthrie, Kentucky on December 5th, 2020 with a High and Wide load for General Electric, running at a steady 25mph. The GE high and wide load is carried on GECX 021155 a Heavy load, 16-axle, depressed center flat car, which is owned by General Electrical Gas Turbine division. The car is 147 feet 10 inches long and the load deck length is 38 feet according to what I find on the web. It Was built in May of 1995 and is used to transport heavy gas turbines built by General Electric. A Kasgro Rail Corporation (KRL) caboose 072 brings up the rear with a full crew. The caboose and engine crews kept a close eye on clearances as they made their way north! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 100.

CSX W991-29 Northbound high and wide load at Guthrie, Ky

CSX W991-29 heads north on the Henderson Subdivision as it approaches milepost 214, just south of Guthrie, Kentucky on December 5th, 2020 with a High and Wide load for General Electric, running at a steady 25mph.

The GE high and wide load is carried on GECX 021155 a Heavy load, 16-axle, depressed center flat car, which is owned by General Electrical Gas Turbine division. The car is 147 feet 10 inches long and the load deck length is 38 feet according to what I find on the web. It Was built in May of 1995 and is used to transport heavy gas turbines built by General Electric. A Kasgro Rail Corporation (KRL) caboose 072 brings up the rear with a full crew. The caboose and engine crews kept a close eye on clearances as they made their way north!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Canadian National Support our Troops engine at Centralia, IL Canadian National (CN) locomotive 3233 (Support our Troops) heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision leading CN M396 passes through the diamonds at Centralia, Illinois on December 15th, 2020. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Canadian National Support our Troops engine at Centralia, IL

Canadian National (CN) locomotive 3233 (Support our Troops) heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision leading CN M396 passes through the diamonds at Centralia, Illinois on December 15th, 2020.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Dashing through the Snow on PAL 2106... Well, since we don't have snow today on Christmas here in Western Kentucky I looked back and found a shot from the past that thought I'd share today! January 17, 2018 - A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway 2106 leads a loaded coal train as it heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 320. January 17, 2018 - A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway loaded coal train heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston, Ky as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky.

Dashing through the Snow on PAL 2106…

Well, since we don’t have snow today on Christmas here in Western Kentucky I looked back and found a shot from the past that thought I’d share today!

January 17, 2018 – A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway 2106 leads a loaded coal train as it heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 320.

Paducah & Louisville PRX1 departs Warrior Coal, Nebo, Ky The late afternoon light plays across the marshland as Paducah and Louisville 4504 and 4501 begin to pull their freshly loaded coal train away from the Warrior Coal Mine loop from Nebo, Kentucky on December 5th, 2020 as they head south to Calvert City Terminal at Calvert City, Ky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Paducah & Louisville PRX1 departs Warrior Coal, Nebo, Ky


The late afternoon light plays across the marshland as Paducah and Louisville 4504 and 4501 begin to pull their freshly loaded coal train away from the Warrior Coal Mine loop from Nebo, Kentucky on December 5th, 2020 as they head south to Calvert City Terminal at Calvert City, Ky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CN FUPD Local working the PAL yard at Paducah, Ky. Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad 907 heads up the CN Fulton to Paducah local as it passes Canadian Pacific 7015 as it moves north through the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Paducah, Kentucky. It was on its way to pickup its train for the return trip to Fulton during its interchange work on the first day of winter, December 21, 2020. Not sure what the Canadian Pacific 7015 Maroon and Gray Heritage Unit was doing at Paducah, but it made for a nice shot with the CN local. According to Wikipedia: "The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad (reporting mark BLE) is a class II railroad that operates in northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio. The railroad's main route runs from the Lake Erie port of Conneaut, Ohio to the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a distance of 139 miles (224 km). The original rail ancestor of the B&LE, the Shenango and Allegheny Railroad, began operation in October 1869. Rail operations were maintained continuously by various corporate descendants on the growing system that ultimately became the B&LE in 1900. In 2004 B&LE came under the ownership of the Canadian National Railway (CN) as part of CN's larger purchase of holding company Great Lakes Transportation. B&LE is operated by CN as their Bessemer Subdivision. As a subsidiary of CN, B&LE has been largely unchanged (though repainting of B&LE locomotives into CN paint with "BLE" sub-lettering began in April 2015) and still does business as B&LE. B&LE locomotives, especially the former Southern Pacific SD40T-3 "Tunnel Motors", have been scattered across the CN system; many are being used in the line that feeds most of B&LE's traffic, the former Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range lines in Minnesota. The iron ore that originates on these lines is transloaded to ships at Two Harbors, Minnesota, then sent by ship to Conneaut, Ohio, where it is again transloaded to B&LE trains. It is then taken down to steel mills in the Pittsburgh region, mainly to the blast furnaces at US Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, part of the Mon Valley Works." Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CN FUPD Local working the PAL yard at Paducah, Ky.

Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad 907 heads up the CN Fulton to Paducah local as it passes Canadian Pacific 7015 as it moves north through the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Paducah, Kentucky. It was on its way to pickup its train for the return trip to Fulton during its interchange work on the first day of winter, December 21, 2020.

Not sure what the Canadian Pacific 7015 Maroon and Gray Heritage Unit was doing at Paducah, but it made for a nice shot with the CN local
According to Wikipedia: “The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad (reporting mark BLE) is a class II railroad that operates in northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio.

The railroad’s main route runs from the Lake Erie port of Conneaut, Ohio to the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a distance of 139 miles (224 km). The original rail ancestor of the B&LE, the Shenango and Allegheny Railroad, began operation in October 1869.

Rail operations were maintained continuously by various corporate descendants on the growing system that ultimately became the B&LE in 1900. In 2004 B&LE came under the ownership of the Canadian National Railway (CN) as part of CN’s larger purchase of holding company Great Lakes Transportation. B&LE is operated by CN as their Bessemer Subdivision.

As a subsidiary of CN, B&LE has been largely unchanged (though repainting of B&LE locomotives into CN paint with “BLE” sub-lettering began in April 2015[2]) and still does business as B&LE. B&LE locomotives, especially the former Southern Pacific SD40T-3 “Tunnel Motors”, have been scattered across the CN system; many are being used in the line that feeds most of B&LE’s traffic, the former Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range lines in Minnesota. The iron ore that originates on these lines is transloaded to ships at Two Harbors, Minnesota, then sent by ship to Conneaut, Ohio, where it is again transloaded to B&LE trains.

It is then taken down to steel mills in the Pittsburgh region, mainly to the blast furnaces at US Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, part of the Mon Valley Works.”

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSXT 3415 leads Q648 NB at Kelly, Ky During our first bit of snowfall here in western Kentucky, I caught CSXT 3415 leading CSX Q648 north through the curve at the north end of Kelly, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision on November 30th, 2020. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 185mm, f/5.3, 1/500, ISO 320.

CSXT 3415 leads Q648 NB at Kelly, Ky

During our first bit of snowfall here in western Kentucky, I caught CSXT 3415 leading CSX Q648 north through the curve at the north end of Kelly, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision on November 30th, 2020.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 185mm, f/5.3, 1/500, ISO 320.

CN 5854 (GTW) leads the Fulton to Paducah Turn With a seemingly ghost train running along side of it Canadian National 5854 (GTW) leads the Fulton to Paducah, Ky local into town to conduct it's interchange work with the Paducah and Louisville Railway as it approaches the Allen Lane crossing in Paducah. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

CN 5854 (GTW) leads the Fulton to Paducah Turn

With a seemingly ghost train running along side of it Canadian National 5854 (GTW) leads the Fulton to Paducah, Ky local into town to conduct it’s interchange work with the Paducah and Louisville Railway as it approaches the Allen Lane crossing in Paducah.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Southbound PAL coal at Barkley Dam, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway loaded coal drag heads south across Barkley Dam at Grand Rivers, Kentucky on September 2nd, 2020 as it makes its way to the Calvert City Terminal. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/8, 1/1600, ISO 320.

Southbound PAL coal at Barkley Dam, KY

Paducah and Louisville Railway loaded coal drag heads south across Barkley Dam at Grand Rivers, Kentucky on September 2nd, 2020 as it makes its way to the Calvert City Terminal.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/8, 1/1600, ISO 320.

Canadian National Support our Troops engine at Anna, IL Canadian National (CN) locomotive 3233 (Support our Troops) heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision leading CN M396 passes through Anna, Illinois on December 15th, 2020. From a CN Press Release: "CN’s two new tribute locomotives (CN 3233 & 3015) pay homage to veterans and active military men and women across North America. Their custom design represents the proud footprint we have established across our network and our deep recognition for the veterans who live and work in the communities our trains pass through every day. Stay tuned as they make their debut on our main line in the coming days!" Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Canadian National Support our Troops engine at Anna, IL

Canadian National (CN) locomotive 3233 (Support our Troops) heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision leading CN M396 passes through Anna, Illinois on December 15th, 2020.

From a CN Press Release: “CN’s two new tribute locomotives (CN 3233 & 3015) pay homage to veterans and active military men and women across North America. Their custom design represents the proud footprint we have established across our network and our deep recognition for the veterans who live and work in the communities our trains pass through every day. Stay tuned as they make their debut on our main line in the coming days!”

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Canadian National meet at Mounds, IL Canadian National (CN) locomotive 3233 (Support our Troops) heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision leading CN M396 as it passes a local working at Mounds, Illinois on December 15th, 2020. From a CN Press Release: "CN’s two new tribute locomotives (CN 3233 & 3015) pay homage to veterans and active military men and women across North America. Their custom design represents the proud footprint we have established across our network and our deep recognition for the veterans who live and work in the communities our trains pass through every day. Stay tuned as they make their debut on our main line in the coming days!" Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.

Canadian National meet at Mounds, IL

Canadian National (CN) locomotive 3233 (Support our Troops) heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision leading CN M396 as it passes a local working at Mounds, Illinois on December 15th, 2020.

From a CN Press Release: “CN’s two new tribute locomotives (CN 3233 & 3015) pay homage to veterans and active military men and women across North America. Their custom design represents the proud footprint we have established across our network and our deep recognition for the veterans who live and work in the communities our trains pass through every day. Stay tuned as they make their debut on our main line in the coming days!”

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

Canadian National Support our Troops Engine 3233 at Carbondale, IL Canadian National (CN) locomotive 3233 (Support our Troops) heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision leading CN M396 as it spits the old Illinois Central Coaling towers at Carbondale, Illinois on December 15th, 2020. From a CN Press Release: "CN’s two new tribute locomotives (CN 3233 & 3015) pay homage to veterans and active military men and women across North America. Their custom design represents the proud footprint we have established across our network and our deep recognition for the veterans who live and work in the communities our trains pass through every day. Stay tuned as they make their debut on our main line in the coming days!" Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100, (for detail in the highlights).

Canadian National Support our Troops Engine 3233 at Carbondale, IL

Canadian National (CN) locomotive 3233 (Support our Troops) heads north on the CN Centralia Subdivision leading CN M396 as it spits the old Illinois Central Coaling towers at Carbondale, Illinois on December 15th, 2020.

From a CN Press Release: “CN’s two new tribute locomotives (CN 3233 & 3015) pay homage to veterans and active military men and women across North America. Their custom design represents the proud footprint we have established across our network and our deep recognition for the veterans who live and work in the communities our trains pass through every day. Stay tuned as they make their debut on our main line in the coming days!”

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100, (for detail in the highlights).

02

2021 Calendars now available!

My 2021 selection of calendars are now available from my sales store at Lulu.com. This year I’ve done three calendars for myself, A color one on Railroading in general and one in Black and White as well. I also put together a 2021 The World of Steam Trains calendar which showcases 14 of my favorite steam photos. In my store there is also a 2021 NRHS Chapter Calendar available, which highlights the winners of the West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society photo contests from 2020. Proceeds from this calendar goes to support the functions of the chapter.

Below are sample pages of my color and B&W calendars.

Visit here to purchase your calendar for 2021!

https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jimpearsonphotography

Color Calendar

Black and White Calendar

That's a lot of coal!! A driver uses a John Deer Bulldozer to push and smooth coal up a very large pile at the Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky. In case you're wondering, it takes a lot of coal and coke trains to build a pile that high and they come from Paducah & Louisville Railway, BSNF, CSX, Union Pacific and occasionally Norfolk Southern to add to the piles at the terminal, where the coal and coke is blended and transloaded onto barges and trains for shipment where ever the customer is. When you're out shooting pictures trackside, don't forget that not every shot needs to have the train! Look for the details and work surrounding the operation as there's always great pictures to be had! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 390mm, f/6.3, 1/800, ISO 900.

That’s a lot of coal!!

A driver uses a John Deer Bulldozer to push and smooth coal up a very large pile at the Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky. In case you’re wondering, it takes a lot of coal and coke trains to build a pile that high and they come from Paducah & Louisville Railway, BNSF, CSX, Union Pacific and occasionally Norfolk Southern to add to the piles at the terminal, where the coal and coke is blended and transloaded onto barges and trains for shipment where ever the customer is.

When you’re out shooting pictures trackside, don’t forget that not every shot needs to have the train! Look for the details and work surrounding the operation as there’s always great pictures to be had!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 390mm, f/6.3, 1/800, ISO 900.

Paducah & Louisville PRX1 NB through the clouds at Nebo, Ky Calm winds prevailed for me as PRX1 makes its way through the the marshlands as Paducah and Louisville 4504 and 4501 pull their freshly loaded coal train away from the Warrior Coal Mine loop from Nebo, Kentucky on December 5th, 2020 providing wonderful reflections! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100, Exp. Comp -3 (for detail in the highlights).

Paducah & Louisville PRX1 SB through the clouds at Nebo, Ky

Paducah & Louisville PRX1 SB through the clouds at Nebo, Ky

Calm winds prevailed for me as PRX1 makes its way through the the marshlands as Paducah and Louisville 4504 and 4501 pull their freshly loaded coal train away from the Warrior Coal Mine loop at Nebo, Kentucky on December 5th, 2020 providing wonderful reflections!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100, Exp. Comp -3 (for detail in the highlights).

CN IC Heritage Unit 3008 at Scott City, MO on the UP Chester Sub Canadian National Illinois Central "Death Star" heritage unit 3008, passes the searchlight and dwarf signals as it heads north on the Union Pacific Chester Subdivision with an empty tank train on December 2nd, 2020 at Scott City, Missouri. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 240mm, f/5.3, 1/1000, ISO 200.

CN IC Heritage Unit 3008 at Scott City, MO on the UP Chester Sub

Canadian National Illinois Central “Death Star” heritage unit 3008, passes the searchlight and dwarf signals as it heads north on the Union Pacific Chester Subdivision with an empty tank train on December 2nd, 2020 at Scott City, Missouri.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 240mm, f/5.3, 1/1000, ISO 200.