January 30, 2020 - Indiana Railroad (INRD) 3803 and 3806 power the Palestine Utility train 1 (PAUT-1), as it makes a dropoff and pickup at the Rain Carbon Inc. plant behind the Marathon Refinery in Robinson, Illinois on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision.

Indiana Railroad (INRD) 3803 and 3806 at Robinson, Illinois

January 30, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) 3803 and 3806 power the Palestine Utility train 1 (PAUT-1), as it makes a dropoff and pickup at the Rain Carbon Inc. plant behind the Marathon Refinery in Robinson, Illinois on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision.

February 7, 2020 - CSXT 754 pulls CSX Q503-06 up over the rise at the north end of Crofton, Ky as it works its way south through the early morning blowing snow on the Henderson Subdivision.

CSXT 754 pulls CSX Q503-06 up over the rise…

February 7, 2020 – CSXT 754 pulls CSX Q503-06 up over the rise at the north end of Crofton, Ky as it works its way south through the early morning blowing snow on the Henderson Subdivision.

January 18, 2020 - At 1/2 mile away and a spotter watching my back the grade crossing, I caught this shot of Canadian National 5654 as it leads the way on CSX K445 nosing it's way over the crest of the hill at the north end of Crofton, Ky, with my 600mm, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a heavy ethanol train.

Canadian National 5654 crests the hill at Crofton, Ky

January 18, 2020 – At 1/2 mile away and a spotter watching my back the grade crossing, I caught this shot of Canadian National 5654 as it leads the way on CSX K445 nosing it’s way over the crest of the hill at the north end of Crofton, Ky, with my 600mm, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a heavy ethanol train.

February 4, 2020 - CSXT 3381 looks strange enough with one eye out, but throw in 7 double deck passenger cars running behind the power on CSX Q501-03 on the Henderson Subdivision at Slaughters, Kentucky, makes it even stranger! Here we see Q026 sitting on the main as Q501 with it's 10,460 ft freight pulling south through the siding in a meet as 501 pulls south with 7 ex-Michigan (MI-train) passenger cars bound for Lebanon, Tennessee. I'm told they'll be used on the Music City Star Commuter line. According to Wikipedia: The Music City Star (reporting mark NRTX) is a commuter rail service running between Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee. The service uses the existing track of the Nashville and Eastern Railroad. The line stops at seven stations: Riverfront, Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Martha, Hamilton Springs and Lebanon. The operation covers 32 miles (51 km) of rail line. Service began on September 18, 2006. The Star is considered a "starter" project to demonstrate the effectiveness of commuter rail service to the metro Nashville area. Expansion plans include as many as six more lines, terminating in Gallatin, Columbia, Murfreesboro, Dickson, Springfield, and Clarksville via Ashland City. All are planned to use existing CSX Transportation railroad lines. The planned seven lines meet in central Nashville in a star formation, hence the name of the system, which also alludes to the city's many country music stars.

CSX Q501-03 Southbound with 7 ex-MITRAIN Passenger Cars at Slaughters, Ky

February 4, 2020 – CSXT 3381 looks strange enough with one eye out, but throw in 7 double deck passenger cars running behind the power on CSX Q501-03 on the Henderson Subdivision at Slaughters, Kentucky, makes it even stranger! Here we see Q026 sitting on the main as Q501 with it’s 10,460 ft freight pulling south through the siding in a meet as 501 pulls south with 7 ex-Michigan (MI-train) passenger cars bound for Lebanon, Tennessee. I’m told they’ll be used on the Music City Star Commuter line.

January 29, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 4516 & 2012 head up a northbound loaded Louisville Gas & Electric Coal train as it pulls out of the siding at Pond River, at Madisonville, Ky. Behind it sits a PAL Local waits patiently for it to clear.

Paducah and Louisville Railway LG&E Coal Train…

January 29, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 4516 & 2012 head up a northbound loaded Louisville Gas & Electric Coal train as it pulls out of the siding at Pond River, at Madisonville, Ky. Behind it sits a PAL Local waits patiently for it to clear.

January 30, 2020 - Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9013 leads an empty coal train as it waits for a signal to enter the wye for the Indianapolis Subdivision mainline, after leaving the Hoosier Energy Merom Generating Station at Sullivan, Indiana.

Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9013 leads…

January 30, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) 9013 leads an empty coal train as it waits for a signal to enter the wye for the Indianapolis Subdivision mainline, after leaving the Hoosier Energy Merom Generating Station at Sullivan, Indiana.

January 30, 2020 - Canadian National (CN) A408, led by ex-Illinois Central 1005, makes it's way through the yard, toward the Pike Avenue Overpass, as it prepares to do drop off and pickups at Effingham, Illinois before continuing it's trip south on CN's Champaign Subdivision. Behind IC 1005 was IC 1027, GECX 2037 demo unit headed for repaint to CN colors, CN 5780 and CN 3106.

Canadian National (CN) A408, led by ex-Illinois Central 1005…

January 30, 2020 – Canadian National (CN) A408, led by ex-Illinois Central 1005, makes it’s way through the yard, toward the Pike Avenue Overpass, as it prepares to do drop off and pickups at Effingham, Illinois before continuing it’s trip south on CN’s Champaign Subdivision. Behind IC 1005 was IC 1027, GECX 2037 demo unit headed for repaint to CN colors, CN 5780 and CN 3106.

January 30, 2020 - Indiana Railroad (INRD) 3803 and 3806 power Palestine Utility train 1 (PAUT-1), as it passes through Mont Eagle Mills granary at Palestine, Illinois, on it's way north back to INRD's Palestine Yard, after doing its work at the Marathon Refinery in Robinson, Illinois on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles (249 km). This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road's Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham. INRD also owns a former Milwaukee Road line from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Burns City, Indiana (site of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center), with trackage rights extending to Chicago, Illinois. INRD serves Louisville, Kentucky, and the Port of Indiana on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, through a haulage agreement with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC).

Indiana Railroad Palestine Utility train 1…

January 30, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) 3803 and 3806 power Palestine Utility train 1 (PAUT-1), as it passes through granaries at Palestine, Illinois, on it’s way north back to INRD’s Palestine Yard, after doing its work at the Marathon Refinery in Robinson, Illinois on the INRD Indianapolis Subdivision.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles (249 km).

This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road’s Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham. INRD also owns a former Milwaukee Road line from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Burns City, Indiana (site of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center), with trackage rights extending to Chicago, Illinois.

INRD serves Louisville, Kentucky, and the Port of Indiana on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, through a haulage agreement with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC).

January 26, 2020 - The Crew on CSX K815 (empty phosphate train) keeps a watchful eye, next to Canadian Pacific Heritage Unit 7011, as CSX autorack train Q217 passes it at Middle King south of Princeton, Indiana as it heads south on CSX's CE&D Subdivision. Canadian Pacific Railway No. 7011, is one of several recently released SD70ACu (Rebuilt by Progress Rail in Mayfield, Ky) units delivered in heritage paint with script lettering. I along with 11 other railfans stood at the crossing on County Road 550 waiting for K815 to continue it's move south, but after 6+ hours sitting in the siding watching other trains pass, it unfortunately didn't continue it's move before it got dark. In fact, last word we heard from the scanner was that the Danville, IL crew was waiting for a crew bus to take them off their train and that another K-train would hook into K815 and take it on to Evansville, Indiana. Don't know what the issue with the train was, but there was a lot of speculation and rumors of course, ranging from low priority to engine problems. Some days things just happen! I'm thankful for my 150-600mm lens which allowed me this shot from the road crossing as the train was probably 1/3 of a mile away. This shot was made @ 600mm on my full frame camera and then cropped in Adobe RAW.

Crew on CSX K815 at middle kings, Princeton, Indiana

January 26, 2020 – The Crew on CSX K815 (empty phosphate train) keeps a watchful eye, next to Canadian Pacific Heritage Unit 7011, as CSX autorack train Q217 passes it at Middle King south of Princeton, Indiana as it heads south on CSX’s CE&D Subdivision.

Canadian Pacific Railway No. 7011, is one of several recently released SD70ACu (Rebuilt by Progress Rail in Mayfield, Ky) units delivered in heritage paint with script lettering.

I along with 11 other railfans stood at the crossing on County Road 550 waiting for K815 to continue it’s move south, but after 6+ hours sitting in the siding watching other trains pass, it unfortunately didn’t continue it’s move before it got dark. In fact, last word we heard from the scanner was that the Danville, IL crew was waiting for a crew bus to take them off their train and that another K-train would hook into K815 and take it on to Evansville, Indiana.

Don’t know what the issue with the train was, but there was a lot of speculation and rumors of course, ranging from low priority to engine problems. Some days things just happen! I’m thankful for my 150-600mm lens which allowed me this shot from the road crossing as the train was probably 1/3 of a mile away. This shot was made @ 600mm on my full frame camera and then cropped in Adobe RAW. Many thanks to all the folks that kept us informed on the movement of this unit!

January 18, 2020 - Canadian National 5654 leads the way on CSX K445 as it pulls out of the siding at the south end of Kelly, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a loaded ethanol train.

Canadian National 5654 leads the way on CSX K445…

January 18, 2020 – Canadian National 5654 leads the way on CSX K445 as it pulls out of the siding at the south end of Kelly, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with a loaded ethanol train.

January 23, 2020 - Indiana Railroad (INRD) Veterans Unit 4005 sits tied down next to a loaded coal train at Hoosier Energy Merom Generating Station at Sullivan, Indiana along with INRD units 9009 & 9001, while waiting for their next crew. The Merom Generating Station is a 2-Unit, 1080-MW rated coal-fired power plant located between Merom, Indiana and Sullivan, Indiana. It is owned by Hoosier Energy, a Touchstone Energy cooperative. The plant has been in operation since 1982. It was announced by the company a few days ago that the plant will be shut down sometime in 2023, affecting the jobs of approximately 185 workers. According to Indiana Public Media's website: Hoosier Spokesperson Greg Seiter says the decision is in large part a cost savings move. "We’re looking at potentially saving our members in excess of $700 million over the next two decades," he says. That’s in part because Hoosier Energy won’t be locked into coal, which is more expensive. It can diversify its mix, including using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. While it's a few years off, if you plan to catch the INRD servicing this power plant with coal, you had better do it sooner than later!

Indiana Railroad Veterans Unit 4005…

January 23, 2020 – Indiana Railroad (INRD) Veterans Unit 4005 sits tied down next to a loaded coal train at Hoosier Energy Merom Generating Station at Sullivan, Indiana along with INRD units 9009 & 9001, while waiting for their next crew.

The Merom Generating Station is a 2-Unit, 1080-MW rated coal-fired power plant located between Merom, Indiana and Sullivan, Indiana. It is owned by Hoosier Energy, a Touchstone Energy cooperative. The plant has been in operation since 1982.

It was announced by the company a few days ago that the plant will be shut down sometime in 2023, affecting the jobs of approximately 185 workers.

According to Indiana Public Media’s website: Hoosier Spokesperson Greg Seiter says the decision is in large part a cost savings move.

“We’re looking at potentially saving our members in excess of $700 million over the next two decades,” he says.

That’s in part because Hoosier Energy won’t be locked into coal, which is more expensive. It can diversify its mix, including using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

While it’s a few years off, if you plan to catch the INRD servicing this power plant with coal, you had better do it sooner than later!

January 23, 2020 - Indiana Railroad's (INRD) 25th Anniversary locomotive 9025 leads the Hiawatha-Palestine turn HWPAT-23 as it crosses the CSX CE&D/INRD diamond at Sullivan, Indiana on it's return trip north to the INRD Hiawatha Yard at Jasonville, Indiana. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles (249 km). This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road's Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham. INRD also owns a former Milwaukee Road line from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Burns City, Indiana (site of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center), with trackage rights extending to Chicago, Illinois. INRD serves Louisville, Kentucky, and the Port of Indiana on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, through a haulage agreement with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC).

Indiana Railroad’s 25th Anniversary locomotive…

January 23, 2020 – Indiana Railroad’s (INRD) 25th Anniversary locomotive 9025 leads the Hiawatha-Palestine turn HWPAT-23 as it crosses the CSX CE&D/INRD diamond at Sullivan, Indiana on it’s return trip north to the INRD Hiawatha Yard at Jasonville, Indiana.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Rail Road (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles (249 km).

This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road’s Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham. INRD also owns a former Milwaukee Road line from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Burns City, Indiana (site of the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center), with trackage rights extending to Chicago, Illinois. INRD serves Louisville, Kentucky, and the Port of Indiana on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, through a haulage agreement with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC).

January 18, 2020 - CSXT 3421 leads CSX Q025 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision after crossing the diamond at Trident in Madisonville, Ky with its loaded stack train approaching the north Main overpass.

CSXT 3421 leads CSX Q025 south at Madisonville, Ky

January 18, 2020 – CSXT 3421 leads CSX Q025 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision after crossing the diamond at Trident in Madisonville, Ky with its loaded stack train approaching the north Main overpass.

January 18, 2020 - CSX K628 makes for a nice reflection shot as it approaches the defect detector at Ace, just south of Guthrie, Kentucky as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision with CSXT 6468 leading a empty ethanol train.

CSX K628 makes for a nice reflection shot…

January 18, 2020 – CSX K628 makes for a nice reflection shot as it approaches the defect detector at Ace, just south of Guthrie, Kentucky, as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision with CSXT 6468 leading a empty ethanol train.

January 9, 2020 - CSXT 3096 leads loaded coal train N307 as it passes the signals at the RR location known as poorhouse, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Ky. This location got it's name from the L&N Railroad days when the Hopkins County Poorhouse stood near here. According to the Kentucky Historic Institutions website: In 1910 there were more than 84 thousand paupers that were enumerated in poorhouses in the United States; this was a marked increase of 3 percent compared to 1904. In Kentucky, the number of enumerated people in poorhouses in 1910 were 1,522; 871 being male and 651 being female. Of that population, 1,044 were native born, 167 were foreign born, 27 have unknown nativity, and 284 were “colored.” Irish and Swiss immigrants had a much high ratio of pauperism in 1910 than any other nationality. According to the occupations of individuals admitted into poorhouses, unskilled laborers made up the highest number. Skilled trades also held a relatively considerable number as well. Women frequently were domestic servants prior to admission. A relatively large number of about two filths reported being unable to do any work of any kind. A statistically significant number of paupers during the year 1910 were consider physically or mentally defective though the number of insane and feeble-minded almshouses was on the decline in 1910. Three fourths of discharges were done so as self-supporting. Approximately 17,000 paupers died in poorhouses during 1910 a rate of 207.7 paupers per 1,000. The most common cause of death at that time was tuberculosis of the lungs. In earlier days, poorhouses were sometimes used as temporary shelters for vagrants as well as a place of detention for petty criminals. This was often due to poorhouses being the only public agency available to offer relief, even to those who were insane, feeble-minded, or epileptic. Some communities combined poorhouses with free hospitals or infirmaries that catered to the poor.

CSXT 3096 leads loaded coal train N307…

January 9, 2020 – CSXT 3096 leads loaded coal train N307 as it passes the signals at the RR location known as poorhouse, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Ky.

This location got it’s name from the L&N Railroad days when the Hopkins County Poorhouse stood near here.

According to the Kentucky Historic Institutions website: In 1910 there were more than 84 thousand paupe… See More