February 26, 2020 - Union Pacific 5883 rounds the curve coming into Hanson, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a empty coke train.

Union Pacific 5883 rounds the curve…

February 26, 2020 – Union Pacific 5883 rounds the curve coming into Hanson, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a empty coke train.

February 22, 2020 - The afternoon Iowa Interstate local, with unit 502, backs through Blue Island Junction at Blue Island, Illinois, as they head to CSX Barr Yard to do interchange work. According to Wikipedia: The railroad was formed on November 2, 1984, using former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad tracks between Chicago, Illinois, and Omaha, Nebraska. It was in partnership with real estate firm Heartland Rail Corporation that the IAIS was able to operate. Heartland purchased the right-of-way and infrastructure for $31 million (of which, $15 million was a loan from the Iowa Railway Finance Authority), and then leased it to IAIS for operations. The IAIS and the railroad infrastructure were purchased from Heartland by Railroad Development Company of Pittsburgh, PA in 2003. In recognition of the railroad's Rock Island Railroad heritage, the IAIS logo uses a shape similar to the original railroad's logo and has also painted two of its General Electric ES44AC locomotives (513 and 516) in Rock Island inspired paint schemes. When the IAIS took control of the track, the former Rock Island signal system was already damaged beyond repair due to sitting dormant for several years. Operations on the railroad are primarily controlled by track warrants rather than signals as a result. Trains are dispatched from the company's HQ in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where a new dispatching office was completed in 2016. IAIS uses Wabtec's Train Management and Dispatching System (TMDS), the same dispatching software used by several Class I railroads, including the BNSF and KCS.

Iowa Interstate local, with unit 502…

February 22, 2020 – The afternoon Iowa Interstate local, with unit 502, backs through Blue Island Junction at Blue Island, Illinois, as they head to CSX Barr Yard to do interchange work.

March 19, 2020 - Today I caught CSX Q648-18 at Sebree, Ky with a power move consisting of CSXT 4814, 397, 427, 5117, 5207, 5327 (Western Maryland Sticker Unit), 437 and 505, as it made its way north on the Henderson Subdivision.

CSX Q648-18 power move at Sebree, Ky

March 19, 2020 – Today I caught CSX Q648-18 at Sebree, Ky with a power move consisting of CSXT 4814, 397, 427, 5117, 5207, 5327 (Western Maryland Sticker Unit), 437 and 505, as it made its way north on the Henderson Subdivision.

February 19, 2020 - An southbound Metra train arrives at the Jefferson Park Metra Station with engine128 leading during the evening rush hour from downtown Chicago, Illinois as the golden light of the day begins to fade from the sky.

An southbound Metra train arrives at the Jefferson Park…

February 19, 2020 – An southbound Metra train arrives at the Jefferson Park Metra Station with engine 128 leading during the evening rush hour from downtown Chicago, Illinois as the golden light of the day begins to fade from the sky.

March 18, 2020 - One of the safe things we can do during this current Coronavirus scare is do some railfanning by ourselves! I had a semi-annual Dr. Checkup today and after the appointment I spent some time railfanning in the rain! Yes, I railfan in all kinds of weather since railroads run in all kinds of weather! All you need is a good golf umbrella along with some timing! Here I caught CSX W990, a 1,800 ft train loaded with wind turbine generators as it crested the hill at middle Kelly as it made its way north on the Henderson Subdivision at kelly, Ky. The hardest thing about shooting in bad weather is getting out the door! I keep a good golf umbrella and a large microfiber cloth in my car for just such days!

CSX W990, a 1,800 ft train loaded with wind turbine generators…

March 18, 2020 – One of the safe things we can do during this current Coronavirus scare is do some railfanning by ourselves! I had a semi-annual Dr. Checkup today and after the appointment I spent some time railfanning in the rain! Yes, I railfan in all kinds of weather since railroads run in all kinds of weather! All you need is a good golf umbrella along with some timing!

Here I caught CSX W990, a 1,800 ft train loaded with wind turbine generators as it crested the hill at middle Kelly as it made its way north on the Henderson Subdivision at kelly, Ky.

The hardest thing about shooting in bad weather is getting out the door! I keep a good golf umbrella and a large microfiber cloth in my car for just such days!

February 20, 2020 - Chicago Transit Authority brown line train 414 to Kimball makes its way on the downtown Chicago "L" loop as a green line train waits for a clear at CTA Tower 12 at the Van Buren & Wabash junction, as they head toward the Adams/Walbash Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Transit Authority brown line train 414…

February 20, 2020 – Chicago Transit Authority brown line train 414 to Kimball makes its way on the downtown Chicago “L” loop as a green line train waits for a clear at CTA Tower 12 at the Van Buren & Wabash junction, as they head toward the Adams/Walbash Station in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

February 20, 2020 - A Chicago Transit Authority Green Line train heads toward the loop in downtown Chicago, Illinois as the late afternoon light plays on the building behind it.

Chicago Transit Authority Green Line train…

February 20, 2020 – A Chicago Transit Authority Green Line train heads toward the loop in downtown Chicago, Illinois as the late afternoon light plays on the building behind it.

February 17, 2020 - CSXT 884 leads, CSXT 391 (Spirit of Dante), 3030, 124, 829 and one other unidentified unit, heads-up CSX Q025-17 (Bedford Park, IL - Jacksonville, FL) as it heads through the curve leading to the Romney CP at Nortonville, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with its hot intermodal train.

CSXT 884 leads Q025 south at Nortonville, Ky

February 17, 2020 – CSXT 884 leads, CSXT 391 (Spirit of Dante), 3030, 124, 829 and one other unidentified unit, heads-up CSX Q025-17 (Bedford Park, IL – Jacksonville, FL) as it heads through the curve leading to the Romney CP at Nortonville, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with its hot intermodal train.

March 14, 2020 - CSXT 5205 leads empty ethanol train W442 through Earlington, Kentucky in the pouring rain as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at milepost 271.

CSXT 5205 leads empty ethanol train K442…

March 14, 2020 – CSXT 5205 leads empty ethanol train K442 through Earlington, Kentucky in the pouring rain as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at milepost 271.

A Digital Art Piece - March 9, 2020 - Newly painted and rebuilt Metra 198 brings up the rear on CSX Q648-08 as it passes through the countryside between Slaughters and Sebree, Kentucky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision on the way to Chicago, Illinois with CSXT 380 and 120 in YN2 paint leading the way.

A Digital Art Piece – Newly painted and rebuilt Metra 198…

A Digital Art Piece – March 9, 2020 – Newly painted and rebuilt Metra 198 brings up the rear on CSX Q648-08 as it passes through the countryside between Slaughters and Sebree, Kentucky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision on the way to Chicago, Illinois with CSXT 380 and 120 in YN2 paint leading the way.

March 9, 2020 - Newly painted and rebuilt Metra 198 brings up the rear on CSX Q648-08 as it passes through the countryside between Slaughters and Sebree, Kentucky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision on the way to Chicago, Illinois with CSXT 380 and 120 in YN2 paint leading the way.

Metra 198 brings up the rear…

March 9, 2020 – Newly painted and rebuilt Metra 198 brings up the rear on CSX Q648-08 as it passes through the countryside between Slaughters and Sebree, Kentucky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision on the way to Chicago, Illinois with CSXT 380 and 120 in YN2 paint leading the way.

March 12, 2020 - Due to a slow order because of a bridge crew working, CSXT 3336 slowly leads intermodal Q026-11 across the Duck River as it makes its way north on the S&NA North Subdivision at Chapel Hill, Tennessee.

CSX Q026-11 crosses the Duck River at Chapel Hill, TN

March 12, 2020 – Due to a slow order because of a bridge crew working, CSXT 3336 slowly leads intermodal Q026-11 across the Duck River as it makes its way north on the S&NA North Subdivision at Chapel Hill, Tennessee.

March 10, 2020 - CSXT 3066 leads CSX loaded coal train N320 south on the Henderson Subdivision Cutoff at MP HC 271.6, south of Madisonville, Ky. The trackage to the left leads to a switch that used to be for what was called the Grapevine Loadout, a spot where there was a temple where coal trucks used to haul coal to for loading onto L&N coal trains.

CSX loaded coal train N320 at Madisonville, Ky

March 10, 2020 – CSXT 3066 leads CSX loaded coal train N320 south on the Henderson Subdivision Cutoff at MP HC 271.6, south of Madisonville, Ky. The trackage to the left leads to a switch that used to be for what was called the Grapevine Loadout, a spot where there was a temple where coal trucks used to haul coal to for loading onto L&N coal trains.

February 20, 2020 - Metra 167 pulls a southbound commuter train out of downtown Chicago, Illinois past the Amtrak facility as it approaches the 18th street overpass, as dusk falls over the city.

Steel Rails Sales Gallery now online!

I’ve had many inquires about purchasing prints from the photos in my Steel Rails exhibit that is going on now at the Anne P. Baker Gallery here in Madisonville, Ky, by those who live to far to purchase one at the gallery itself. Therefore I’ve created a gallery of the images in my Online Sales area where folks may purchase prints online. Just visit this link: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-jim-pearson?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=904285

February 20, 2020 - A slightly different viewpoint of a Chicago Transit Authority Pink Line arriving at the State/Lake Street "L" station as it makes its way around the downtown loop in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Transit Authority Pink Line arriving at…

February 20, 2020 – A slightly different viewpoint of a Chicago Transit Authority Pink Line arriving at the State/Lake Street “L” station as it makes its way around the downtown loop in Chicago, Illinois.