CSX I026 rolls down the viaduct at Rahm, Indiana on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at sunset, December 18th, 2023, on its way north to Evansville, Indiana for a crew change, before heading north to Bedford Park, IL.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 170.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 168 heads through the countryside at sunrise on its way to Osier, Colorado, during a photo charter by Dak Dillon Photography on October 20th, 2023.
According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West.
Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 46mm, f/3.2, 1/320, ISO 72.
Pere Marquette 1225 heads out of Owosso, Michigan at dusk with the last North Pole Express excursion between Owosso and the Village of Ashley Country Christmas for the year, 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: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 4500.
A Paducah and Louisville Local works on dropping off a string of 9 old locomotives at CSX’s Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on October 8th, 2023, on the Henderson Subdivision. All the units went south a few days later via CSX. Not sure where they were delivered to. Unfortunately, I never got a good shot where I could identify all the locomotives.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 110.
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge steam locomotive D&RGW 473 pulls a K-28 100th Anniversary Special with D&RGW 476 as a mid-train helper through the Repeating Curves at MP 472.2, along the Animas River, between Durango and Silverton, Colorado, on October 16th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 160.
Pere Marquette 1225 prepares to pull onto the turntable to start their day North Pole Express excursions between Owosso and the Village of Ashley Country Christmas in Michigan, on December 17th, 2023. While I’d normally shoot this scene as a RAW file on my Nikon D810, on this day I was concentrating on video and drone shots. Still, I think my iPhone 14 Pro held up pretty good, all things considered!
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: iPhone 14 Pro, 6.9 (24mm), f/1.8, 1/1/40, ISO 3200, in 4K video Mode.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 493 leads one of the daily passenger trains as it heads through the cut at Rockwood as they head to Silverton, Colorado, on October 18th, 2023.
Interesting note is in the ’69 classic, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid many of the train robbery shots were done between Durango and Silverton, Colorado, where the real-life Cassidy robbed his first bank. Remember the intense train explosion scene? That was shot on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad line. Also, I’m told the scene where they jumped from a cliff onto a moving train was shot at this location. Two of the D&RGW’s K-28 2-8-2 locomotives were used. in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” #473 and. #478.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 480 leads one of the daily passenger trains as it heads back to Durango, Colorado through the valley at Trimble, Colorado, on October 14th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 110.
CSX 6900 L285, GP 40-2, ex Chessie C&O 4392, with the faint outline of the Chessie Cat logo on the front of the nose, makes its way back toward Madisonville, Ky on the MH&E Branch, as it approaches the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Central City, Ky. This unit has been also known as “Blank face” and “No logo nose” On December 6th, 2023.
From what I found online: for context, Chessie System was the combination of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, and the Western Maryland Railway. The Hagerstown yard was once part of the WM, home to a major classification yard and locomotive repair facility. The name came from C&O, who took majority control over the B&O and WM. CSX dates to 1980 as a joint venture between Chessie and Seaboard System before formally merging in 1986.
6900 was indeed part of the former Chessie System (for the C&O specifically) and wore the same logo on her nose when she was built in 1980. However, this is not her old colors showing through. After some repair work in 2018/2019, 6900 lost her CSX decal, leaving a blank nose. In 2020, a crew in Ohio took it upon themselves to apply the Chessie logo as a nod to her heritage, however it was removed shortly after, leaving this faded “ghostly” image.
CSX L285 is on a return trip from making a pickup at HARSCO, BLACK BEAUTY Abrasives (Reed Minerals) at Drakesboro, Ky on the CSX MH&E Branch. CSX uses a short portion of this branch to service the plant, with it being its only customer on it. At Central City they switch onto the Paducah and Louisville Railway and return on the PAL to Madisonville, Ky.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 460mm, f/6, 1/800, ISO 320.
In this week’s Saturday Infrared photo, we catch Durango and Silverton steam locomotive 493 as it prepares to depart from Silverton, Colorado on October 15th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 70-300 @ 127mm, f/5.6, 1/950, ISO 400.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 463 makes its way through the countryside with a freight train on the way to Osier, Colorado, during a photo charter by Dak Dillon Photography on October 19th, 2023.
According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West.
Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure.
According to History Colorado Website: Built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Engine No. 463 is one of only two remaining locomotives of the K-27 series originally built for and operated by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.
The K-27 series was a departure from the design most prevalent on Colorado’s narrow-gauge lines, resulting in a locomotive with one and one-half times more power. The arrival of this series marked a significant turning point in the operation of the D&RGW’s narrow gauge lines that was to remain in effect until the end of Class I narrow gauge steam locomotion in 1968. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad restored the engine to operating condition.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 463 makes its way across High Bridge with a freight train on the way to Chama, Colorado, during a photo charter by Dak Dillon Photography on October 19th, 2023.
According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West.
Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure.
According to History Colorado Website: Built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Engine No. 463 is one of only two remaining locomotives of the K-27 series originally built for and operated by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.
The K-27 series was a departure from the design most prevalent on Colorado’s narrow-gauge lines, resulting in a locomotive with one and one-half times more power. The arrival of this series marked a significant turning point in the operation of the D&RGW’s narrow gauge lines that was to remain in effect until the end of Class I narrow gauge steam locomotion in 1968. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad restored the engine to operating condition.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.
CSXT 1776 Spirit of Our Armed Forces locomotive leads CSX I025 on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, 2023, as it made its way south at Nortonville, Ky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
According to a press release from CSXT, ES44AH locomotive No. 1776, dubbed “The Spirit of Our Armed Forces,” was unveiled 0n April 30, 2019, at the railroad’s Huntington Heavy Repair shops in West Virginia.
No. 1776, renumbered from No. 3112, wears a combination standard CSX scheme on its cab and a highly detailed digital camouflage paint scheme on its long hood which adorns CSX’s new “Pride in Service” logo. The seals of the five-armed services branches are spread across the rear of the engine’s radiators, and logos for several support organizations for veterans and veterans’ families also appear on the locomotive. A screen-printed American flag covers the side cab windows.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.
Digital Photo Art – Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 168 passes over Ferguson’s Trestle at MP 285.87 at sunrise as it heads to Osier, Colorado, during a photo charter by Dak Dillon Photography on October 20th, 2023.
According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West.
Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/3.2, 1/1000, ISO 80.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 493 leads one of the daily passenger trains as it heads back to Durango, Colorado from Silverton, CO, just south of at Hermosa, Colorado, on October 14th, 2023.
According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 300mm, f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 720.
Denver and Rio Grande Western steam locomotives 473 and 493 head north alongside highway 550 as they lead a passenger train, approaching Trimble, Colorado on October 18th, 2023, on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad, on their way to Silverton, CO!
According to Wikipedia: The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, often abbreviated as the D&SNG, is a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad that operates on 45.2 mi (72.7 km) of track between Durango and Silverton, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and was also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1968.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.
Denver and Rio Grande Western 7863, ex-Southern Pacific 7863, sits next to the old depot at South Fork, Colorado on October 18th, 2023, along with several other pieces of equipment.
From what I can find online the depot is now used by Revolution Rail Company for a railbike operation. Here’s what they say on their website: After checking-in at the South Fork Railroad Station, rail bikers will receive a short safety briefing and the tour guides will lead the 6-mile out-and-back trip. Riders on the South Fork Run enjoy a gorgeous ride alongside the Rio Grande, featuring spectacular views of the surrounding terrain and vistas.
Feeling adventurous? We are now offering a Pedals and Paddles combo trip! Guides will lead guests on a 5-mile one way railbike trip that includes expansive vistas of the Rio Grande and Coller State Wildlife Area. Arriving at the rafting put-in, guests will join our partners Rocky Mountain Ski and Raft who will provide all equipment and safety instruction before beginning the 6-mile Rio Grande paddle excursion back to the Depot, for a perfect day in the San Luis Valley.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 120.
This week’s Saturday Infrared photo is of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad 168 as it pulls a small train across a small bridge at Lower Whiplash, as it heads for Osier, Colorado, on a recent photo charter by Dak Dillon Photography on October 20th, 2023.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/5.6, 1/300, ISO 400.
This week I spent five hours on the CSX Henderson Subdivision between Mortons Gap and Kelly, Kentucky where we followed loaded grain train G305 as it met a variety of trains along the way, in addition to a few others! Enjoy and please like, share and subscribe, and thanks for watching!
The glow of the morning sun illuminates the horizon as Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 463 makes its way through the Lava Curve, New Mexico, with a freight train on the way to Osier, Colorado, during a photo charter by Dak Dillon Photography on October 19th, 2023.
According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West.
Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure.
According to History Colorado Website: Built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Engine No. 463 is one of only two remaining locomotives of the K-27 series originally built for and operated by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.
The K-27 series was a departure from the design most prevalent on Colorado’s narrow-gauge lines, resulting in a locomotive with one and one-half times more power. The arrival of this series marked a significant turning point in the operation of the D&RGW’s narrow gauge lines that was to remain in effect until the end of Class I narrow gauge steam locomotion in 1968. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad restored the engine to operating condition.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 170.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam locomotive D&RGW 463 approaches the water tower at Antonito, Colorado with a freight train, during a photo charter by Dak Dillon Photography on October 19th, 2023, as a switchman stands by to re-align the switch after he passes.
According to their website: the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. At 64-miles in length, it is the longest, the highest and most authentic steam railroad in North America, traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rocky Mountain West.
Owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the train crosses state borders 11 times, zigzagging along canyon walls, burrowing through two tunnels, and steaming over 137-foot Cascade Trestle. All trains steam along through deep forests of aspens and evergreens, across high plains filled with wildflowers, and through a rocky gorge of remarkable geologic formations. Deer, antelope, elk, fox, eagles and even bear are frequently spotted on this family friendly, off-the grid adventure.
According to History Colorado Website: Built in 1903 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Engine No. 463 is one of only two remaining locomotives of the K-27 series originally built for and operated by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.
The K-27 series was a departure from the design most prevalent on Colorado’s narrow-gauge lines, resulting in a locomotive with one and one-half times more power. The arrival of this series marked a significant turning point in the operation of the D&RGW’s narrow gauge lines that was to remain in effect until the end of Class I narrow gauge steam locomotion in 1968. The Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad restored the engine to operating condition.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 70mm, f/4.5, 1/2000, ISO 110.