April 6, 2017 – CSX empty coal train E303-04 northbound at Slaughters, Ky

April 6, 2017 – It was a wet and soggy day with threatening skies still looming overhead, but at least it stopped raining long enough for me to catch this shot of empty coal train CSX E303-04 heading south with 403, 266 and 8782 leading the charge, as they headed north past the siding at Slaughters, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision. Getting out and shooting trains in bad weather can be more difficult, but it can make for some great scenes and after all, trains run in all kinds of weather! 

April 19, 2017 – CSXT 3247 heads up CSX Q592-18 north across the Patoka River Bridge

April 19, 2017 – Despite it being a hot muggy day, with way too many gnats buzzing around, we found a parade of north bounds making their way up CSX’s CE&D subdivision across the Patoka River box bridge at Patoka, Indiana. Here CSXT 3247 heads up CSX Q592-18 (Nashville, TN – Chicago, IL) as it was train number four in a line of the ones we caught. Traffic has been affected due to CSX MOW do major upgrades along the line with their current maintenance blitz which from what I’m told is scheduled to continue through next week. A big shout out to fellow railfan Ryan Scott for showing me this location!

April 14, 2017 – As the last light of day fades from the sky…

April 14, 2017 – As the last light of day fades from the sky, Savatrans (SVTX 1912) 5 pulls away from the south end of Nations Siding, after picking up a Evansville Western Railway pusher, south of Mount Vernon, Indiana with a load of coal, for the Sitran Dock, at Abee, Indiana.

April 15, 2017 – Savatrans (SVTX) 5 heads up the Vectran lead…

April 15, 2017 – Savatrans (SVTX) 5 heads up the Vectran lead in the late hours of the night with a load of coal, for the Sitran Dock, being pulled by SVTX 1912 and 1986 as power, at Abee, Indiana. The train also had SVTX 1982 as a mid-train helper and called in Evansville Western Railway to provide a pusher to get it’s heavy load up the Vectran lead. The Chris Cline Group are owners of the company “Savatrans” which purchased three ES44AC locomotives which operate from Sugar Camp Mine in Akin, IL to Abee, IN near the Mount Vernon/West Franklin area.

April 14, 2017 – The conductor on CSXT 8196 at Howell Yard, Evansville, IN

April 14, 2017 – The conductor on CSXT 8196, a northbound CSX manifest, does paperwork after arriving at the north end of CSX’s Howell Yard in Evansville, Indiana, The headlights from a northbound autorack, Q244, illuminates the train from behind as it prepares to pass him during the late hours of the night. The scene is a reminder that the railroad never sleeps!

April 8, 2017 – SLRG 1394 Dome Car, Prairie View at Hopkinsville, Ky

April 8, 2017 – SLRG 1394 Dome Car, Prairie View brings up the rear of CSX Q294-08 as it heads north past Casky Inspection Yard at Hopkinsville, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision. A little history: Great Northern 1394 “Prairie View” – to BN 3/70 (same number), to Amtrak 9364. Was eventually used as an Amtrak parts car and was sold 5/93 as a shell (less trucks) to the BN. Stored Springfield MO (ex Frisco shops) until sold 1994 to Holland America Westours. After putting over $1m into it, car is now in service in Alaska. It carries the name “Deshka” and entered service in 1997. In 2003 Westours put all but 3 of their Budd domes up for sale as `”excess”. They kept 1394 because it required no coupler pocket modifications for the new Colorado Railcar domes and it has Budd braked trucks (from under one of the two 1956 Budd built Santa Fe business cars that were retrucked with 4 wheel trucks in 1989). Car transferred late 2004 to a new division called Alaska Rail Tours (defunct) with the other retained cars to begin service in 2005 in a non “cruise ship” travel/tour operation in Alaska. Sold 10/09 to Iowa Pacific/San Luis & Rio Grande. Renamed back to original “Prairie View”.

April 6, 2017 – CSX Q247 at Henderson, Ky with Citirail CREX 1522

April 6, 2017 – CSX Q247 (St. Louis, MO – Louisville, KY) passes the old L&N Depot that’s under restoration, with Citirail CREX 1522 leading a autorack train as it prepares to enter the Texas Line off the Henderson Subdivision at Henderson, Ky on it’s way to Louisville.

April 6, 2017 – CSX Q515-06 at Robards, Ky with SLRG 4144

April 6, 2017 – CSX Q515-06 passes through the north end of the siding at Robards, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision with San Luis & Rio Grande RR (SLRG) 4144, a GP40PH-2 as it’s trailing power, running dead in tow. I’m told it’s bound for Memphis and eventually to Canton, MS. According to the Diesel Shop Website it’s an Ex-NJ Transit 4144 < MK rebuilt from CRIP GP40 354 (32246, 9/66) with F45 cowl shell. Going for another rebuild and paint job perhaps?