BNSF 6387 and 3947 lead CSX S577 as the crew backs a loaded military train onto the Ft. Campbell lead at Hopkinsville, Ky, from the CSX Henderson Subdivision on July 9th, 2024, under threatening skies during a Tornado Warning spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Alberto. Fellow railfan Brian Caswell and I sat for a couple hours hoping that Ft. Campbell would show up to carry the equipment onto the base, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Despite the warnings here very little rain fell and most of the tornados spawned in our area were more to the northeast up in Indiana. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 170. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #trendingphoto #militarytrains #stormyweather

CSX S577 backs a loaded military train onto the Ft. Campbell lead at Hopkinsville, Ky

BNSF 6387 and 3947 lead CSX S577 as the crew backs a loaded military train onto the Ft. Campbell lead at Hopkinsville, Ky, from the CSX Henderson Subdivision on July 9th, 2024, under threatening skies during a Tornado Warning spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Alberto. Fellow railfan Brian Caswell and I sat for a couple hours hoping that Ft. Campbell would show up to carry the equipment onto the base, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Despite the warnings here very little rain fell and most of the tornados spawned in our area were more to the northeast up in Indiana.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 170.

CSX M513 heads southbound with CSX Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Heritage Unit (P&LE), 1875, leading the way as they pass the Hopkinsville Elevator Company at Hopkinsville, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on June 24th, 2024. According to a CSX Press Release: June 6, 2024 - CSX has released a new heritage locomotive, the P&LE 1875, paying tribute to the storied Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE). The 15th in CSX’s heritage locomotive series, this new addition to the company’s fleet not only celebrates the rich history of P&LE but also marks a significant milestone in CSX's ongoing commitment to honoring the legacies of America's historic railroads. The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad was established in 1875 with a primary mission of transporting essential industrial materials such as coal, coke, iron ore, limestone, and steel among the bustling industrial hubs of the region. “It’s mainline connected Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Youngstown, Ohio and Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It did not actually reach Lake Erie until 1976,” explained Tim Music, a carman painter at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop where the unit was produced. Despite its relatively modest route mileage, the P&LE Railroad earned the nickname "Little Giant" due to the enormous volume of heavy tonnage it moved. This impressive capability drew significant attention and by 1887, the P&LE became a subsidiary of the dominant New York Central Railroad. Under this new ownership, the P&LE enjoyed substantial improvements to its tracks and added capacity for passenger services, further enhancing its regional significance. Over time, P&LE expanded by leasing branches from smaller railroads. These extensions included lines southeast along the Monongahela River through Homestead and McKeesport, and along the Youghiogheny River to Connellsville, where it connected with the Western Maryland Railway. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100. #railroad #railroads #train, #trains #railway #railway #steamtrains #railtransport #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailways #besttrainphotograph #bestphoto #photographyoftrains #steamtrainphotography #CSXPLEheritageunit #bestsoldpicture #JimPearsonPhotography #csxheritagelocomotive

CSX M513 heads SB with CSX Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Heritage Unit (P&LE), 1875 at Hopkinsville, Ky

CSX M513 heads southbound with CSX Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Heritage Unit (P&LE), 1875, leading the way as they pass the Hopkinsville Elevator Company at Hopkinsville, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on June 24th, 2024.

According to a CSX Press Release: June 6, 2024 – CSX has released a new heritage locomotive, the P&LE 1875, paying tribute to the storied Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE). The 15th in CSX’s heritage locomotive series, this new addition to the company’s fleet not only celebrates the rich history of P&LE but also marks a significant milestone in CSX’s ongoing commitment to honoring the legacies of America’s historic railroads.

The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad was established in 1875 with a primary mission of transporting essential industrial materials such as coal, coke, iron ore, limestone, and steel among the bustling industrial hubs of the region.

“It’s mainline connected Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Youngstown, Ohio and Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It did not actually reach Lake Erie until 1976,” explained Tim Music, a carman painter at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop where the unit was produced.

Despite its relatively modest route mileage, the P&LE Railroad earned the nickname “Little Giant” due to the enormous volume of heavy tonnage it moved. This impressive capability drew significant attention and by 1887, the P&LE became a subsidiary of the dominant New York Central Railroad. Under this new ownership, the P&LE enjoyed substantial improvements to its tracks and added capacity for passenger services, further enhancing its regional significance.

Over time, P&LE expanded by leasing branches from smaller railroads. These extensions included lines southeast along the Monongahela River through Homestead and McKeesport, and along the Youghiogheny River to Connellsville, where it connected with the Western Maryland Railway.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.

CSX M502 heads north from the south end of Atkinson Yard at Madisonville, Ky with CSX Pere Marquette Heritage Unit, 1899, leading the way on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on May 20th, 2024. According to a CSX Press Release: May 1, 2024 - CSX has introduced the latest addition in its heritage locomotive series, paying homage to the rich history of the Pere Marquette Railroad. This new unit showcases the Pere Marquette's legacy, dating back to its inception on November 1, 1899. The Pere Marquette Railroad, operating in the Great Lakes region of the United States and parts of southern Ontario, Canada, derived its name from Jacques Marquette, a notable French Jesuit missionary credited with founding Michigan's first European settlement in Sault Ste Marie. After years of operation, the company merged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) on June 6, 1947, eventually becoming part of the renowned CSX network. The design of the Pere Marquette heritage locomotive was meticulously crafted by employees at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop. According to CSX Carman Painter Eric Lee, “We had to measure each stripe precisely and position the words just right to ensure it captured the look of the original design. It took us about four days just to lay out the stripes before we could begin painting.” A fascinating tidbit related to the history of Pere Marquette is its cameo in the 2004 film "The Polar Express." The steam locomotive Pere Marquette 1225 served as the inspiration for the train depicted in the movie, with audio recordings of the actual locomotive in operation featured in the film. Interestingly, the locomotive had been donated to Michigan State University and was exhibited near the university's football stadium. The author of "The Polar Express" book drew inspiration from seeing this locomotive on display during childhood, solidifying its place in popular culture. CSX's dedication to honoring the history and significance of the Pere Marquette Railroad through this new locomotive underscores the company's commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of American railroads. Keep an eye out as this remarkable piece of history moves across the CSX network, bridging the past with the present. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100. #railroad #railroads #train, #trains #railway #railway #steamtrains #railtransport #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailways #besttrainphotograph #bestphoto #photographyoftrains #steamtrainphotography #CSXPereMarquetteheritageunit #bestsoldpicture #JimPearsonPhotography #csxheritagelocomotive

CSX M502 heads north from the south end of Atkinson Yard at Madisonville, Ky

CSX M502 heads north from the south end of Atkinson Yard at Madisonville, Ky with CSX Pere Marquette Heritage Unit, 1899, leading the way on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on May 20th, 2024.

According to a CSX Press Release: May 1, 2024 – CSX has introduced the latest addition in its heritage locomotive series, paying homage to the rich history of the Pere Marquette Railroad. This new unit showcases the Pere Marquette’s legacy, dating back to its inception on November 1, 1899.

The Pere Marquette Railroad, operating in the Great Lakes region of the United States and parts of southern Ontario, Canada, derived its name from Jacques Marquette, a notable French Jesuit missionary credited with founding Michigan’s first European settlement in Sault Ste Marie. After years of operation, the company merged with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) on June 6, 1947, eventually becoming part of the renowned CSX network.

The design of the Pere Marquette heritage locomotive was meticulously crafted by employees at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop. According to CSX Carman Painter Eric Lee, “We had to measure each stripe precisely and position the words just right to ensure it captured the look of the original design. It took us about four days just to lay out the stripes before we could begin painting.”

A fascinating tidbit related to the history of Pere Marquette is its cameo in the 2004 film “The Polar Express.” The steam locomotive Pere Marquette 1225 served as the inspiration for the train depicted in the movie, with audio recordings of the actual locomotive in operation featured in the film. Interestingly, the locomotive had been donated to Michigan State University and was exhibited near the university’s football stadium. The author of “The Polar Express” book drew inspiration from seeing this locomotive on display during childhood, solidifying its place in popular culture.

CSX’s dedication to honoring the history and significance of the Pere Marquette Railroad through this new locomotive underscores the company’s commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of American railroads. Keep an eye out as this remarkable piece of history moves across the CSX network, bridging the past with the present.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Union Pacific 4014, the Big Boy heads north on UP’s Hoxie Subdivision at Jacksonville, Arkansas as part of its 2021-month long tour around the United States on August 27th, 2021! Here engineer Ed Dickens keeps an eye on the tracks ahead as it approaches the N JP Wright Loop Road crossing, perhaps scanning for the legendary the Loop Road Monster (Bigfoot) which has been sighted in this rural area in the past, but there wasn’t any sight of him during the big boys run through the area! I guess bigfoot doesn’t like steam trains nearly as much as the throngs of railfans that chased it! UP 4014 is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive that was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one. The Big Boy was on a month-long tour around the Midwest through, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming before arriving home in Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 7th, 2021. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 210mm, f/5.3, 1/1600, ISO 280. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography

Union Pacific 4014, the Big Boy heads north on UP’s Hoxie Subdivision at Jacksonville, Arkansas

Union Pacific 4014, the Big Boy heads north on UP’s Hoxie Subdivision at Jacksonville, Arkansas as part of its 2021-month long tour around the United States on August 27th, 2021!

Here engineer Ed Dickens keeps an eye on the tracks ahead as it approaches the N JP Wright Loop Road crossing, perhaps scanning for the legendary the Loop Road Monster (Bigfoot) which has been sighted in this rural area in the past, but there wasn’t any sight of him during the big boys run through the area! I guess bigfoot doesn’t like steam trains nearly as much as the throngs of railfans that chased it!

UP 4014 is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive that was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.

The Big Boy was on a month-long tour around the Midwest through, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming before arriving home in Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 7th, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 210mm, f/5.3, 1/1600, ISO 280.

Engineer Ed Dickens, left, conductor and others on the right on Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 crew keep an eye on the tracks ahead as they round the curve after crossing the Kaskaskia River bridge on the UP Chester Subdivision at Brewerville, Illinois, as they make the way to St. Louis, MO, the last stop on this leg of their journey on August 28th, 2021 Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 195mm, f/5.3, 1/1600, ISO 160. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #trendingphoto

Engineer Ed Dickens, left, conductor and others on the right on Union Pacific Big Boy 4014…

Engineer Ed Dickens, left, conductor and others on the right on Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 crew keep an eye on the tracks ahead as they round the curve after crossing the Kaskaskia River bridge on the UP Chester Subdivision at Brewerville, Illinois, as they make the way to St. Louis, MO, the last stop on this leg of their journey on August 28th, 2021

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 195mm, f/5.3, 1/1600, ISO 160.

An early morning view of Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan. It was being serviced by crews before it backed up to the ash pit in preparation for another day of pulling the North Pole Express between Owosso and Ashley, Michigan, along the Great Lakes Railroad on December 17th, 2023. According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life! Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/10, ISO 680. #railroad #railroads #train, #trains #railway #railway #steamtrains #railtransport #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailways #besttrainphotograph #bestphoto #photographyoftrains #steamtrainphotography # PereMarquette1225 #bestsoldpicture #JimPearsonPhotography #northpoleexpress

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan

An early morning view of Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 as it sits on the turntable at Owosso, Michigan. It was being serviced by crews before it backed up to the ash pit in preparation for another day of pulling the North Pole Express between Owosso and Ashley, Michigan, along the Great Lakes Railroad on December 17th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/10, ISO 680.

CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647 mixed freight as it passes the north end of Kelly, Ky on July 7th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. According to a CSX press release: CSX unveiled a new Operation Lifesaver rail safety commemorative locomotive in September of 2022, and it was painted at the railroads locomotive shop in Huntington, West Virginia. The CSXT 4568 engine will travel the company’s rail network as a visual reminder for the public to be safe at highway-rail grade crossings and near railroad tracks. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 110. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #trendingphoto #csxt #trainsfromadrone #csxoperationlifesaver

CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647 SB at Kelly, Ky

CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647 mixed freight as it passes the north end of Kelly, Ky on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.

According to a CSX press release: CSX unveiled a new Operation Lifesaver rail safety commemorative locomotive in September of 2022, and it was painted at the railroads locomotive shop in Huntington, West Virginia. The CSXT 4568 engine will travel the company’s rail network as a visual reminder for the public to be safe at highway-rail grade crossings and near railroad tracks.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 110.

CSX I025 meets G366 at Anaconda, just north of Sebree, Kentucky as it heads south on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. G366 is normally just an empty grain train, but today it was hauling a long string of maintenance of way equipment which will be used in an upcoming CSX work curfew that is scheduled to begin on the subdivision in the next week or so. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 110. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #trendingphoto #csxt #trainsfromadrone #csxoperationlifesaver

CSX I025 meets G366 at Anaconda, just north of Sebree, Kentucky

CSX I025 meets G366 at Anaconda, just north of Sebree, Kentucky as it heads south on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. G366 is normally just an empty grain train, but today it was hauling a long string of maintenance of way equipment which will be used in an upcoming CSX work curfew that is scheduled to begin on the subdivision in the next week or so.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 110.

Precision Locomotive Leasing #57 backs off the Steam Railroad Institute turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023, while in the background the crew on Pere Marquette 1225 works at dumping the ash from the locomotive as both trains prepare for a day of pulling passengers . According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life! Precision Locomotive Leasing is the locomotive leasing and sales subsidiary of Precision Locomotive Services, a locomotive repair and service company, based in Staunton, Virginia. The company mainly serves the Eastern United States. Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 800. #railroad #railroads #train, #trains #railway #railway #steamtrains #railtransport #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailways #besttrainphotograph #bestphoto #photographyoftrains #steamtrainphotography # PereMarquette1225 #bestsoldpicture #JimPearsonPhotography #northpoleexpress #owossomichigan #SteamRailroadingInstitute

Precision Locomotive Leasing #57 backs off the Steam Railroad Institute turntable at Owosso, Michigan

Precision Locomotive Leasing #57 backs off the Steam Railroad Institute turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023, while in the background the crew on Pere Marquette 1225 works at dumping the ash from the locomotive as both trains prepare for a day of pulling passengers .

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Precision Locomotive Leasing is the locomotive leasing and sales subsidiary of Precision Locomotive Services, a locomotive repair and service company, based in Staunton, Virginia. The company mainly serves the Eastern United States.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 800.

CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647 mixed freight as it heads south out of the Crofton Cut on July 7th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, just north of Crofton, Kentucky. According to a CSX press release: CSX unveiled a new Operation Lifesaver rail safety commemorative locomotive in September of 2022, and it was painted at the railroads locomotive shop in Huntington, West Virginia. The CSXT 4568 engine will travel the company’s rail network as a visual reminder for the public to be safe at highway-rail grade crossings and near railroad tracks. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 130. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #trendingphoto #csxt #trainsfromadrone #csxoperationlifesaver

CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647…

CSXT 4568, 50th Anniversary Operation Lifesaver locomotive, pulls a heavy M647 mixed freight as it heads south out of the Crofton Cut on July 5th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, just north of Crofton, Kentucky.

According to a CSX press release: CSX unveiled a new Operation Lifesaver rail safety commemorative locomotive in September of 2022, and it was painted at the railroads locomotive shop in Huntington, West Virginia. The CSXT 4568 engine will travel the company’s rail network as a visual reminder for the public to be safe at highway-rail grade crossings and near railroad tracks.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 130.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023. According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life! Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 22mm, f/4.5, 1/320, ISO 125. #railroad #railroads #train, #trains #railway #railway #steamtrains #railtransport #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailways #besttrainphotograph #bestphoto #photographyoftrains #steamtrainphotography # PereMarquette1225 #bestsoldpicture #JimPearsonPhotography #northpoleexpress #owossomichigan #SteamRailroadingInstitute

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 22mm, f/4.5, 1/320, ISO 125.

October, 1986 – This is pretty much the only train shot I got on two different photo assignments I had while I served in the US Air Force, which took me to China. This photograph was made at the end of a day on assignment where I covered the crew of a KC-10 Refueling Tanker that flew a group of Chinese Acrobats that had been performing in the U.S. back to their home in China. I documented the trip and on one of the three days our driver and translator stopped by one of the stations around Beijing so I could photograph a train. Unfortunately we didn't travel on any train and there wasn't time to explore as we weren't allowed to travel around on our own. Tech Info: Kodachrome Slide shot with a Nikon. No other tech info recorded unfortunately!

Chinese diesel locomotive 3214

October, 1986 – This is pretty much the only train shot I got on two different photo assignments I had while I served in the US Air Force, which took me to China.

This photograph was made at the end of a day on assignment where I covered the crew of a KC-10 Refueling Tanker that flew a group of Chinese Acrobats that had been performing in the U.S. back to their home in China. I documented the trip and on one of the three days our driver and translator stopped by one of the stations around Beijing so I could photograph a train. Unfortunately we didn’t travel on any train and there wasn’t time to explore as we weren’t allowed to travel around on our own.

Tech Info: Kodachrome Slide shot with a Nikon. No other tech info recorded unfortunately!

July 6th, 2024 – Episode 79 Saturday Edited Video from Jim Pearson Photography

This week we catch CSX action between Ridgetop, Tennessee and Slaughters, Kentucky, including the Seaboard System Heritage unit as DPU on an I025 at Crofton, Ky, the P&LE HU at Nortonville, Ky and CSX M512 northbound with a newly rebuilt Metra 515 locomotive trailing, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision! Sit back, turn up the sound, expand to full screen and enjoy the trains!! Please like, share, subscribe and thanks for watching!

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 makes its way through the Michigan countryside, as they run one of their last North Pole Express passenger trains for the 2024 season between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley, Michigan, for their Ashley Country Christmas, on December 16th, 2023. According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life! Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 140. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #steamtrains #trending

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 heads for Ashley, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 makes its way through the Michigan countryside, as they run one of their last North Pole Express passenger trains for the 2024 season between Owosso and to the Village of Ashley, Michigan, for their Ashley Country Christmas, on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 140.

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023. According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life! Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/320, ISO 72. #railroad #railroads #train, #trains #railway #railway #steamtrains #railtransport #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailways #besttrainphotograph #bestphoto #photographyoftrains #steamtrainphotography # PereMarquette1225 #bestsoldpicture #JimPearsonPhotography #northpoleexpress #owossomichigan #SteamRailroadingInstitute

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan

Steam Railroading Institute’s Pere Marquette 1225 pulls off the turntable at Owosso, Michigan, as it prepares for a day of pulling the North Pole Express to Ashley, Michigan on December 16th, 2023.

According to their website, Pere Marquette 1225, the largest and most impressive piece in the Steam Railroading Institute’s collection, is one of the largest operating steam locomotives in Michigan. The 1225 was built in October of 1941 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Pere Marquette Railway. It’s part of the National Register of Historic Structures and is renowned for its role in the 2004 Warner Brothers Christmas Classic, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. 1225’s blueprints were used as the prototype for the locomotive image as well as its sounds to bring the train in the animated film to life!

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/320, ISO 72.

Metra 515 brings up the rear of a string of six units leading CSX M512 as they head north at Romney, Nortonville, Kentucky on their way north on June 27th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. Right behind the Metra unit is the start of a long string of Toyota Truck frames. I’m told that this is the first rebuilt ex-Kansas City unit by the Albertville, Ala.-based Progress Rail Services Corporation for Metra and part of an ongoing program and there are nine more being rebuilt numbered 515-523. According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is the primary commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and other railroads. The system operates 243 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 31,894,900, or about 147,800 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024. The estimated busiest day for Metra ridership occurred on November 4, 2016—the day of the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series victory rally. Metra is the descendant of numerous commuter rail services dating to the 1850s. The present system dates to 1974, when the Illinois General Assembly established the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to consolidate all public transit operations in the Chicago area, including commuter rail. The RTA's creation was a result of the anticipated failure of commuter service operated and owned by various private railroad companies in the 1970s. In a 1983 reorganization, the RTA placed commuter rail under a newly formed Commuter Rail Division, which branded itself as Metra in 1985. Freight rail companies still operate four of Metra's routes under purchase-of-service agreements. Metra owns all rolling stock and is responsible for all stations along with the respective municipalities. Since its inception, Metra has directed more than $5 billion into the commuter rail system of the Chicago metropolitan area alongside the CTA. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #trendingphoto #csxt #trainsfromadrone #metra

Metra 515 brings up the rear of a string of six units leading CSX M512 as they head north at Romney, Nortonville, Ky

Metra 515 brings up the rear of a string of six units leading CSX M512 as they head north at Romney, Nortonville, Kentucky on their way north on June 27th, 2024, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. Right behind the Metra unit is the start of a long string of Toyota Truck frames.

I’m told that this is the first rebuilt ex-Kansas City unit by the Albertville, Ala.-based Progress Rail Services Corporation for Metra and part of an ongoing program and there are nine more being rebuilt numbered 515-523.

According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is the primary commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and other railroads. The system operates 243 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 31,894,900, or about 147,800 per weekday as of the first quarter of 2024. The estimated busiest day for Metra ridership occurred on November 4, 2016—the day of the Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series victory rally.

Metra is the descendant of numerous commuter rail services dating to the 1850s. The present system dates to 1974, when the Illinois General Assembly established the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to consolidate all public transit operations in the Chicago area, including commuter rail. The RTA’s creation was a result of the anticipated failure of commuter service operated and owned by various private railroad companies in the 1970s. In a 1983 reorganization, the RTA placed commuter rail under a newly formed Commuter Rail Division, which branded itself as Metra in 1985. Freight rail companies still operate four of Metra’s routes under purchase-of-service agreements. Metra owns all rolling stock and is responsible for all stations along with the respective municipalities. Since its inception, Metra has directed more than $5 billion into the commuter rail system of the Chicago metropolitan area alongside the CTA.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.

CSX Chesapeake and Ohio Heritage unit 1868 leads M503 as it heads south meeting M502 in the siding at Trenton, Kentucky, on the Henderson Subdivision on the first day of summer, June 20th, 2024. From a CSX Press Release: A locomotive commemorating the proud history of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway has entered service as the fifth in the CSX heritage series celebrating the lines that came together to form the modern railroad. Numbered CSX 1869 in honor of the year the C&O was formed in Virginia from several smaller railroads, the newest heritage locomotive sports a custom paint design that includes today’s CSX colors on the front of the engine and transitions to a paint scheme inspired by 1960s era C&O locomotives on the rear two-thirds. The C&O Railway was a major line among North American freight and passenger railroads for nearly a century before becoming part of the Chessie System in 1972 and eventually merging into the modern CSX. In 1970, the C&O included more than 5,000 route miles of track stretching from Newport News, Virginia, to Chicago and the Great Lakes. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/4000, ISO 120. #railroad #railroads #train #trains #bestphoto #railroadengines #picturesoftrains #picturesofrailway #bestphotograph #photographyoftrains #trainphotography #JimPearsonPhotography #trendingphoto #csxt #trainsfromadrone #csxheritage

CSX Chesapeake and Ohio Heritage unit 1868 leads M503 south at Trenton, Ky

CSX Chesapeake and Ohio Heritage unit 1868 leads M503 as it heads south meeting M502 in the siding at Trenton, Kentucky, on the Henderson Subdivision on the first day of summer, June 20th, 2024.

From a CSX Press Release: A locomotive commemorating the proud history of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway has entered service as the fifth in the CSX heritage series celebrating the lines that came together to form the modern railroad.

Numbered CSX 1869 in honor of the year the C&O was formed in Virginia from several smaller railroads, the newest heritage locomotive sports a custom paint design that includes today’s CSX colors on the front of the engine and transitions to a paint scheme inspired by 1960s era C&O locomotives on the rear two-thirds.

The C&O Railway was a major line among North American freight and passenger railroads for nearly a century before becoming part of the Chessie System in 1972 and eventually merging into the modern CSX. In 1970, the C&O included more than 5,000 route miles of track stretching from Newport News, Virginia, to Chicago and the Great Lakes.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/4000, ISO 120.