June 2, 2020 - This is one of my favorite shots from a 5 state, 22hr railfan trip, with fellow railfan Ryan Scott! This is a Canadian Nation local running long hood forward as it passed the iconic Memphis Pyramid with Grand Trunk 4917 at the North Parkway crossing in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. We just barely made it to this crossing before it showed up! Although there was a work curfew at the diamond in downtown, which affected the traffic, we both came back with a nice set of pictures! A big shout out goes to the folks on the Memphis Railfans Group for their help!! We departed my house at 4am in the morning and railfanned through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois over a span of the 22 hours. A long, but very productive trip for us both. Look for more images to come over the next few weeks! According to Wikipedia: The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid, was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/3200sec, ISO 140.

The CN Woodstock Switcher at Memphis, TN

June 2, 2020 – This is one of my favorite shots from a 5 state, 22hr railfan trip, with fellow railfan Ryan Scott! This is a Canadian Nation local (The Woodstock Switcher) running long hood forward as it passed the iconic Memphis Pyramid with Grand Trunk 4917 at the North Parkway crossing in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. We just barely made it to this crossing before it showed up!

Although there was a work curfew at the diamond in downtown, which affected the traffic, we both came back with a nice set of pictures! A big shout out goes to the folks on the Memphis Railfans Group for their help!!

We departed my house at 4am in the morning and railfanned through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois over a span of the 22 hours. A long, but very productive trip for us both. Look for more images to come over the next few weeks!

According to Wikipedia: The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid, was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/3200sec, ISO 140.

May 27, 2020 - Not a real clear shot of it, but today I found White Pass 3003, one of six new locomotives for the White Pass & Yukon Route, attached to an old switcher at National Railway Equipment Company in Mount Vernon, Ill. According to CBCNEWS, the Scenic railway out of Skagway, Alaska, is replacing their 50-year-old locomotives with these new units. "The White Pass & Yukon Route scenic railway runs every summer on the 110-kilometre historic route between Skagway and Carcross, Yukon. The new locomotives will replace the railway's aging fleet of locomotives from the 1960s. They're built by National Railway Equipment Company in Mount Vernon, Ill." I'd love to catch this power move when it happens, so if anyone knows when it'll happen I'd love a heads up! For me the old switcher is just as interesting as it has, what appears to be, Chinese writing on the voltage plate under the right light. Anyone know anything about it? I wasn't able to get a good side shot of it while I was there, so I don't have a number.

White Pass 3003 at NRE, Mount Vernon, IL

May 27, 2020 – Not a real clear shot of it, but today I found White Pass 3003, one of six new locomotives for the White Pass & Yukon Route, attached to an old switcher at National Railway Equipment Company in Mount Vernon, Ill.
According to CBCNEWS, the Scenic railway out of Skagway, Alaska, is replacing their 50-year-old locomotives with these new units.

“The White Pass & Yukon Route scenic railway runs every summer on the 110-kilometre historic route between Skagway and Carcross, Yukon.

The new locomotives will replace the railway’s aging fleet of locomotives from the 1960s. They’re built by National Railway Equipment Company in Mount Vernon, Ill.”

I’d love to catch this power move when it happens, so if anyone knows when it’ll happen I’d love a heads up!

For me the old switcher is just as interesting as it has, what appears to be, Chinese writing on the voltage plate under the right light. Anyone know anything about it? I wasn’t able to get a good side shot of it while I was there, so I don’t have a number.

May 27, 2020 - BNSF 9259 heads up loaded coal train as it comes around a curve just south of Centralia, Illinois as it heads south on the BNSF Beardstown Subdivision. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 400mm, f/6, 1/1000 at ISO 320.

BNSF 9259 heads up loaded coal train…

May 27, 2020 – BNSF 9259 heads up loaded coal train as it comes around a curve just south of Centralia, Illinois as it heads south on the BNSF Beardstown Subdivision.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 400mm, f/6, 1/1000 at ISO 320.

May 27, 2020 - Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit 1070 passes through Golden Gate, Illinois, as it leads NS 224 through stormy weather on its way west on the NS Southern-West District. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 160.

Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit…

May 27, 2020 – Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit 1070 passes through Golden Gate, Illinois, as it leads NS 224 through stormy weather on its way west on the NS Southern-West District.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 160.

May 30, 2020 - CSX was nice and sent several interesting trains my way for my 70th birthday! This on of CSX J732 meeting CSX Q028 at the north end of Pembroke at Hopkinsville, Ky. J732 was pulling into the yard at Casky with Paducah and Louisville Railway units 3803, 3804 and 3808 in tow as the trailing units. I've not been able to find out where they're headed, other than they should go out sometime tonight on J733 south to Nashville, TN on the Henderson Subdivision. Either way, it made for one of several nice shots for my birthday! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300mm @70mm, f/9, 1/1000sec with ISO 560.

May 30, 2020 – CSX was nice and sent several interesting trains my way for my 70th birthday! This one of CSX J732 meeting CSX Q028 at the north end of Pembroke at Hopkinsville, Ky. J732 was pulling into the yard at Casky with Paducah and Louisville Railway units 3803, 3804 and 3808 in tow as the trailing units.

I’ve not been able to find out where they’re headed, other than they should go out sometime tonight on J733 south to Nashville, TN on the Henderson Subdivision. Either way, it made for one of several nice shots for my birthday!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300mm @70mm, f/9, 1/1000sec with ISO 560.

May 27, 2020 - Norfolk Southern Blue Swoosh 4001 leads an empty coal train into the loop at Alliance Coal under stormy skies over Princeton, Indiana. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/4, 1/640sec, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern Blue Swoosh 4001…

May 27, 2020 – Norfolk Southern Blue Swoosh 4001 leads an empty coal train into the loop at Alliance Coal under stormy skies over Princeton, Indiana.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/4, 1/640sec, ISO 100.

May 27, 2020 - A CSXT Geometry Car rounds St. James Curve at Haubstadt, Indiana as it heads north on the CSX CE&D Subdivision. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 400mm, f/6, 1/640sec, ISO 400.

CSXT Geometry Car rounds St. James Curve…

May 27, 2020 – A CSXT Geometry Car rounds St. James Curve at Haubstadt, Indiana as it heads north on the CSX CE&D Subdivision.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 400mm, f/6, 1/640sec, ISO 400.

May 27, 2020 - Norfolk Southern New York Central heritage unit 1066 passes Consolidated Grain & Barge Co. silos at Wayne City, Illinois as it heads west on the NS Southern-West District. It was running engine light, with two other engines in trail, as NS D51as it headed down the line to pick up empty grain cars. This was one of of the last three NS Heritage units that I haven't caught till now, so only 2 left till I've photographed all 20 of the NS Heritage fleet. Now I need to catch the Savannah & Atlanta Railway and the Pennsylvania Railroad to complete my NS Heritage picture set. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 125.

Norfolk Southern New York Central heritage unit 1066…

May 27, 2020 – Norfolk Southern New York Central heritage unit 1066 passes Consolidated Grain & Barge Co. silos at Wayne City, Illinois as it heads west on the NS Southern-West District. It was running engine light, with two other engines in trail, as NS D51as it headed down the line to pick up empty grain cars.


This was one of of the last three NS Heritage units that I haven’t caught till now, so only 2 left till I’ve photographed all 20 of the NS Heritage fleet. Now I need to catch the Savannah & Atlanta Railway and the Pennsylvania Railroad to complete my NS Heritage picture set.


Today was a great day of railfanning with Ryan Scott and Eli Noble!! Many more shots from the day yet to come!


Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 125.

May 27, 2020 - Norfolk Southern Wabash heritage unit 1070 approaches milepost 147, just west of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, as it leads NS 224 through the rain on its way west on the NS Southern-West District. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/640sec, ISO 250.

Norfolk Southern Wabash heritage unit…

May 27, 2020 – Norfolk Southern Wabash heritage unit 1070 approaches milepost 147, just west of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, as it leads NS 224 through the rain on its way west on the NS Southern-West District.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/640sec, ISO 250.

May 11, 2020 - The engineer on CSX J732-11 keeps a watchful eye on his side mirror and an ear to his radio as his conductor on the rear of their 9,900ft train, calls the crossings, as they back their train of empty container well cars down the Morganfield Branch at Madisonville, Ky for storage, during the slowdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @480mm, f/7.1, 1/1600sec with ISO 1000.

The engineer on CSX J732-11 keeps a watchful eye…

May 11, 2020 – The engineer on CSX J732-11 keeps a watchful eye on his side mirror and an ear to his radio as his conductor on the rear of their 9,900ft train, calls the crossings, as they back their train of empty container well cars down the Morganfield Branch at Madisonville, Ky for storage, during the slowdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @480mm, f/7.1, 1/1600sec with ISO 1000.

May 8, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 60P pulls through the Paducah and Louisville Railways Oak Street yard headed to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad in Jeffersonville, Indiana with a loaded CP Potash train, on a wet, rainy afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 270mm, f/5.6 at 1/400sec, ISO 450.

Norfolk Southern 60P at Louisville, Ky

May 8, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 60P pulls through the Paducah and Louisville Railways Oak Street yard headed to the Louisville and Indiana Railroad in Jeffersonville, Indiana with a loaded CP Potash train, on a wet, rainy afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 270mm, f/5.6 at 1/400sec, ISO 450.

May 11, 2020 - The conductor on CSX J732-11 maintains his three point contact while he calls the crossings as they back their 9,900 ft train of empty container well cars down the Morganfield Branch at Madisonville, Ky for storage, during the slowdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @480mm, f/7.1, 1/1600sec with ISO 500.

he conductor on CSX J732-11 maintains his three point contact…

May 11, 2020 – The conductor on CSX J732-11 maintains his three point contact while he calls the crossings as they back their 9,900 ft train of empty container well cars down the Morganfield Branch at Madisonville, Ky for storage, during the slowdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @480mm, f/7.1, 1/1600sec with ISO 500.

May 8, 2020 - The late afternoon sunlight rakes across sand tower area at MG Rail (MGRI) as locomotives 2002 sits at their engine house in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The shortline is owned and operated by Consolidated Grain and Barge (CG&B). It operates within the Clark Maritime Center, near Jeffersonville, Indiana. MGRI switches out several industries within the Maritime center and stages them at connections to CSX and Louisville & Indiana. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @340mm, f/7.6, 1/1600 sec at ISO 720.

MG Rail (MGRI) locomotive 2002 at Jeffersonville, IN

May 8, 2020 – The late afternoon sunlight rakes across sand tower area at MG Rail (MGRI) as locomotive 2002 sits at their engine house in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

The shortline is owned and operated by Consolidated Grain and Barge (CG&B). It operates within the Clark Maritime Center, near Jeffersonville, Indiana. MGRI switches out several industries within the Maritime center and stages them at connections to CSX and Louisville & Indiana.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @340mm, f/7.6, 1/1600 sec at ISO 720.

May 21, 2020 - CSXT 3407 brings up the rear of CSX Q502 as the DPU, as it passes the Veteran's Memorial Park at Madisonville, Ky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: Nikon D800, JPG processed as RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/640th, ISO 100.

CSX Q502 passing the Veteran’s Memorial…

May 21, 2020 – CSXT 3407 brings up the rear of CSX Q502 as the DPU, as it passes the Veteran’s Memorial Park at Madisonville, Ky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, JPG processed as RAW, Irex 11mm, f/4, 1/640th, ISO 100.

May 5, 1989 - The crew from a eastbound Santa Fe freight prepare to do a roll-by inspection on a passenger train being led by Union X8444 at Blue Cut in southern California's Cajon Pass on their way west to the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station, with E-unit 951 trailing. This was the first Southern California appearance of a Union Pacific steam locomotive since 1956.

Eastbound Union X8444 at Blue Cut in Cajon Pass, CA

May 5, 1989 – The crew from a eastbound Santa Fe freight prepare to do a roll-by inspection on a passenger train being led by Union X8444 at Blue Cut in southern California’s Cajon Pass on their way west to the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station, with E-unit 951 trailing. This was the first Southern California appearance of a Union Pacific steam locomotive since 1956.

May 15, 2020 - The crew of West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) Fulton Turn (T92) sit on a rise at as it waits for permission to cross the WTNN/CSX Diamond southbound at Milan, Tennessee with 5543 and 4071 as power. According to their website: The West Tennessee Railroad began in 1984 on a portion of the former Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee. In 2001, the WTNN expanded operations, acquiring operating rights over the former ICG line between Corinth, Mississippi and Fulton, Kentucky. WTNN operates on a daily basis and has interchanges with CSX, KCS, NS, and CN. Car storage and transloading services are provided in several convenient areas along the WTNN line. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 lens @ 370mm, 1/640 sec, f/6.3, ISO 280.

West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) Fulton Turn (T92)…

May 15, 2020 – The crew of West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) Fulton Turn (T92) sit on a rise at as it waits for permission to cross the WTNN/CSX Diamond southbound at Milan, Tennessee with 5543 and 4071 as power.

According to their website: The West Tennessee Railroad began in 1984 on a portion of the former Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee. In 2001, the WTNN expanded operations, acquiring operating rights over the former ICG line between Corinth, Mississippi and Fulton, Kentucky.

WTNN operates on a daily basis and has interchanges with CSX, KCS, NS, and CN. Car storage and transloading services are provided in several convenient areas along the WTNN line.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 lens @ 370mm, 1/640 sec, f/6.3, ISO 280.

May 13, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty's Rock train on LV1, with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing, as it heads south through Central City, Kentucky. Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 220.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998 at Central City, Ky

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty’s Rock train on LV1, with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing, as it heads south through Central City, Kentucky.

Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 220.

May 13, 2020 - For me, some photos just need to be black and white like this one of Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, as it leads a Scotty's Rock train through a tunnel of trees, as it approaches the Ky 70 crossing just south of Madisonville, Ky. Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 350mm, 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 350.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998 southbound with a Scotty’s Rock Train…

May 13, 2020 – For me, some photos just need to be black and white like this one of Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, as it leads a Scotty’s Rock train through a tunnel of trees, as it approaches the Ky 70 crossing just south of Madisonville, Ky.

Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 350mm, 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 350.

May 15, 2020 - Today I spent trackside with fellow railfan Cooper Smith, where he navigated me through some of his favorite spots in west Tennessee. I'd been here before back on New Years Day, but only caught 1 train moving on the trip. Today was a lot different as just about everywhere we went, a train showed up shortly after we got there! One of our goals was to catch the West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) working somewhere in the area and we found their Fulton Turn (T92) crossing the WTNN/CSX Diamond at Milan, Tennessee as 5543 and 4071 lead the way south back to their yard at Jackson, TN past the old diamond sitting in the grass. A good day trackside and a big shout out to those that provided train updates and locations! According to their website: The West Tennessee Railroad began in 1984 on a portion of the former Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee. In 2001, the WTNN expanded operations, acquiring operating rights over the former ICG line between Corinth, Mississippi and Fulton, Kentucky. WTNN operates on a daily basis and has interchanges with CSX, KCS, NS, and CN. Car storage and transloading services are provided in several convenient areas along the WTNN line. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm lens, 1/800 sec, f/11, ISO 125.

West Tennessee Railroad Fulton Turn at Milan, TN

May 15, 2020 – Today I spent trackside with fellow railfan Cooper Smith, where he navigated me through some of his favorite spots in west Tennessee. I’d been here before back on New Years Day, but only caught 1 train moving on the trip. Today was a lot different as just about everywhere we went, a train showed up shortly after we got there!


One of our goals was to catch the West Tennessee Railroad (WTNN) working somewhere in the area and we found their Fulton Turn (T92) crossing the WTNN/CSX Diamond at Milan, Tennessee as 5543 and 4071 lead the way south back to their yard at Jackson, TN past the old diamond sitting in the grass. A good day trackside and a big shout out to those that provided train updates and locations!

According to their website: The West Tennessee Railroad began in 1984 on a portion of the former Mobile & Ohio Railroad main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee.  In 2001, the WTNN expanded operations, acquiring operating rights over the former ICG line between Corinth, Mississippi and Fulton, Kentucky.


WTNN operates on a daily basis and has interchanges with CSX, KCS, NS, and CN.  Car storage and transloading services are provided in several convenient areas along the WTNN line.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm lens, 1/800 sec, f/11, ISO 125.

May 13, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty's Rock train as it rounds a curve in the valley south of Caneyville, Ky on LV1 with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing, bound for Madisonville, Ky Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, 1/500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 560.

PAL Scotty’s Rock train south of Caneyville, Ky

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway 1998, University of Kentucky engine, leads a Scotty’s Rock train as it rounds a curve in the valley south of Caneyville, Ky on LV1 with PAL 2100 and 2121 trailing, bound for Madisonville, Ky

Tech Info:Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, 1/500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 560.