Roll-by inspection of CSX Q025-18 at Slaughters, Ky One of two (the other stood out of frame) crew members from CSX X584 watch on the ground from the siding as hot intermodal CSX Q025-18 zips past their train at the north end of the siding at Slaughters, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on March 18th, 2021. Not sure why X584 was on the Henderson Subdivision as it normally runs between Wauhatchi, TN – Wild Creek, AL and neither is anywhere near here. I'm assuming it was due to flooding somewhere. I'm working on combining a new technique here that I've been learning that is called Long Exposure photography, which is where using a neutral density filter and with the camera on a tripod. I used a long exposure to achieve the effect of the world moving along at a fast pace, but also keeping some things rooted in place! I did a series of about six exposures as the train passed and fortunately the crew member stood still during the 30 seconds it took to make this shot. Tech details below. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @52mm f/32, 30 seconds, ISO 50, exposure delay mode, rear eyepiece closed during exposure, camera on a Manfroto tripod, 16 stop ND Filter.

Roll-by inspection of CSX Q025-18 at Slaughters, Ky

One of two (the other stood out of frame) crew members from CSX X584 watch on the ground from the siding as hot intermodal CSX Q025-18 zips past their train at the north end of the siding at Slaughters, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on March 18th, 2021.

Not sure why X584 was on the Henderson Subdivision as it normally runs between Wauhatchi, TN – Wild Creek, AL and neither is anywhere near here. I’m assuming it was due to flooding somewhere.

I’m working on combining a new technique here that I’ve been learning that is called Long Exposure photography, which is where using a neutral density filter and with the camera on a tripod.

I used a long exposure to achieve the effect of the world moving along at a fast pace, but also keeping some things rooted in place! I did a series of about six exposures as the train passed and fortunately the crew member stood still during the 30 seconds it took to make this shot. Tech details below.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @52mm f/32, 30 seconds, ISO 50, exposure delay mode, rear eyepiece closed during exposure, camera on a Manfroto tripod, 16 stop ND Filter.

CSX loaded grain train G108 southbound at Madisonville, Ky This is a spot I've never been able to photograph a train at before, as it's pretty much inaccessible unless you trespass and walk in along the right-of-way, which I don't do. The drone has opened a lot of new spots to photograph such as this location south of East Diamond on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, where the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) crosses over the CSX Earlington Cutoff at Madisonville, Ky. On March 16th, 2021 I flew my DJI Air 2 to this spot to capture this photo of CSXT 3261 leading an exceptionally long loaded grain train, G108, as it passed under the PAL on its way south on what's called the Earlington Cutoff on the Henderson Subdivision. This track allows the CSX dispatcher to run trains around the towns of Madisonville and Earlington, Ky, freeing up the mainline track through both these towns, to run trains around and past each other. I've never heard this specific spot called anything special by the crews, unlike the PAL crossover at Monarch on the CSX main at Madisonville. For those who are wondering, I waited for the train to get to my spot in this photo and then moved the drone away from the track before the train passed under my drone, keeping within the FAA guidelines. The photo was obviously cropped to a vertical from a much wider shot at 48mp. This is how I obtain all my verticals when using the drone. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

CSX loaded grain train G108 southbound at Madisonville, Ky

This is a spot I’ve never been able to photograph a train at before, as it’s pretty much inaccessible unless you trespass and walk in along the right-of-way, which I don’t do. The drone has opened a lot of new spots to photograph such as this location south of East Diamond on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, where the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) crosses over the CSX Earlington Cutoff at Madisonville, Ky.

On March 16th, 2021 I flew my DJI Air 2 to this spot to capture this photo of CSXT 3261 leading an exceptionally long loaded grain train, G108, as it passed under the PAL on its way south on what’s called the Earlington Cutoff on the Henderson Subdivision.

This track allows the CSX dispatcher to run trains around the towns of Madisonville and Earlington, Ky, freeing up the mainline track through both these towns, to run trains around and past each other.

I’ve never heard this specific spot called anything special by the crews, unlike the PAL crossover at Monarch on the CSX main at Madisonville.

For those who are wondering, I waited for the train to get to my spot in this photo and then moved the drone away from the track before the train passed under my drone, keeping within the FAA guidelines. The photo was obviously cropped to a vertical from a much wider shot at 48mp. This is how I obtain all my verticals when using the drone.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Southbound military move at Slaughters and Nortonville, Ky

Southbound military move at Slaughters and Nortonville, Ky

A short video from February 20th, 2021 on the Henderson Subdivision as W809 heads south with a load of military vehicles at Slaughters and Nortonville, Ky.

In the second clip the train finally crawled to a stop just south of Nortonville with CSXT 5473 and 3348 leading the 5,000+ load of military vehicles elephant style, to wait for another northbound Q648.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography #iphonevideography

Tech Info: iPhone 11pro at 4K, a DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone and edited in Adobe Premiere Pro.

CSX southbound intermodal at Guthrie, Ky CSXT 3392 leads hot intermodal Q025-23 as it climbs the grade coming out of the south end of Guthrie, Kentucky after meeting a northbound on the Henderson Subdivision on the afternoon of February 23rd, 2021. The train is running much later than usual as there were delays along it's route today. This is one of the hottest trains on the Henderson Subdivision and the bosses do not like for it to be delayed as it can cost the railroad money! However, things do happen, and trains do get delayed sometimes, it's a fact of life. This little jog in the track as they come out of Guthrie is a favorite long lens shot of mine. I like how it looks when it makes the jog coming up the slight grade past the signals on the south end. I like to use my 1.4 teleconverter on my Sigma 150-600mm lens to get this shot and you can only pull it off if the weather is cool, otherwise you get a lot of heat distortion, which can produce an interesting photo as well. Technical details are below. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @600mm f/9 1/1600, ISO 800.

CSX southbound intermodal at Guthrie, Ky

CSXT 3392 leads hot intermodal Q025-23 as it climbs the grade coming out of the south end of Guthrie, Kentucky after meeting a northbound on the Henderson Subdivision on the afternoon of February 23rd, 2021.

The train is running much later than usual as there were delays along it’s route today. This is one of the hottest trains on the Henderson Subdivision and the bosses do not like for it to be delayed as it can cost the railroad money! However, things do happen, and trains do get delayed sometimes, it’s a fact of life.

This little jog in the track as they come out of Guthrie is a favorite long lens shot of mine. I like how it looks when it makes the jog coming up the slight grade past the signals on the south end. I like to use my 1.4 teleconverter on my Sigma 150-600mm lens to get this shot and you can only pull it off if the weather is cool, otherwise you get a lot of heat distortion, which can produce an interesting photo as well. Technical details are below. Photo was shot from a public crossing a very long way away.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 with a 1.4 teleconverter @850mm f/9 1/1600, ISO 800.

CSX MOW train northbound at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky CSXT 8060 leads CSX W035, a loaded Maintenance of Way train, under the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Monarch as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky on March 13th, 2021 under winter cloudy skies. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX MOW train northbound at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

CSXT 8060 leads CSX W035, a loaded Maintenance of Way train, under the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Monarch as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky on March 13th, 2021 under winter cloudy skies.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Local J732 northbound passing the L&N Depot at Hopkinsville, Ky This has been probably the best snow year we've had for a long time where in Western Kentucky, allowing for an abundance of favorite railroad snow scenes for me and this one taken on February 19th, 2021 is no exception! CSX J732, the local between Casky Yard at Hopkinsville and Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, heads north past the old Louisville and Nashville Railway depot at Hopkinsville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision, as a blanket of snow covers the ground and depot. It’s running with a trio of SD 40's 4286 leading the way with a SD40-3. According to Wikipedia: "The L &N Railroad Depot in the Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District of Hopkinsville, Kentucky is a historic railroad station on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1892. The year 1832 saw the first of many attempts to woo a railroad to Hopkinsville. This first attempt was to connect Hopkinsville to Eddyville, Kentucky. In 1868 Hopkinsville finally obtained a railroad station, operated by the Evansville, Henderson, & Nashville Railroad. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad acquired the railroad in 1879. The Hopkinsville depot is a single-story frame building with a slate roof. It has six rooms: A Ladies Waiting room (the room closest to the street), a General Waiting Room, a Colored Waiting Room, a baggage room (the furthest room from the street), a ticket office (the only room which connected to all three waiting rooms), and a ladies' restroom. Immediately outsides were warehouses for freight, usually tobacco. Its last long-distance (passenger) train was the Louisville and Nashville's Georgian, last operating in 1968. During its operating years, the Hopkinsville depot was a popular layover spot for those traveling by train. It was the only Louisville & Nashville station between Evansville, Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee where it was legal to drink alcohol. Hopkinsville got the nickname "Hop town" due to train passengers asking the conductors when they would arrive at Hopkinsville, so they could "hop off and get a drink". The Hopkinsville L & N Railroad Depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1975. CSX, which bought out the Louisville & Nashville, still run trains on the tracks next to the depot, but do not stop." Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon DX 10-20mm lens @24mm (crop lens) f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 100.

CSX Local J732 northbound passing the L&N Depot at Hopkinsville, Ky

This has been probably the best snow year we’ve had for a long time where in Western Kentucky, allowing for an abundance of favorite railroad snow scenes for me and this one taken on February 19th, 2021 is no exception!

CSX J732, the local between Casky Yard at Hopkinsville and Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, heads north past the old Louisville and Nashville Railway depot at Hopkinsville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision, as a blanket of snow covers the ground and depot. It’s running with a trio of SD 40’s 4286 leading the way with a SD40-3.

According to Wikipedia: “The L &N Railroad Depot in the Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District of Hopkinsville, Kentucky is a historic railroad station on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1892.

The year 1832 saw the first of many attempts to woo a railroad to Hopkinsville. This first attempt was to connect Hopkinsville to Eddyville, Kentucky. In 1868 Hopkinsville finally obtained a railroad station, operated by the Evansville, Henderson, & Nashville Railroad. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad acquired the railroad in 1879.

The Hopkinsville depot is a single-story frame building with a slate roof. It has six rooms: A Ladies Waiting room (the room closest to the street), a General Waiting Room, a Colored Waiting Room, a baggage room (the furthest room from the street), a ticket office (the only room which connected to all three waiting rooms), and a ladies’ restroom. Immediately outsides were warehouses for freight, usually tobacco.

Its last long-distance (passenger) train was the Louisville and Nashville’s Georgian, last operating in 1968.

During its operating years, the Hopkinsville depot was a popular layover spot for those traveling by train. It was the only Louisville & Nashville station between Evansville, Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee where it was legal to drink alcohol. Hopkinsville got the nickname “Hop town” due to train passengers asking the conductors when they would arrive at Hopkinsville, so they could “hop off and get a drink”.

The Hopkinsville L & N Railroad Depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1975. CSX, which bought out the Louisville & Nashville, still run trains on the tracks next to the depot, but do not stop.”

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon DX 10-20mm lens @24mm (crop lens) f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 100.

Running from the Law on the CSX Henderson Subdivision Well, that's what they call it when the train crew is getting close to being out of crew time, based on the laws that govern how long they can work. When they get to this point, they're trying to get to a spot they can do a crew change or tie their train down. A good friend Charles Lavender gave me a heads up that this W035 was northbound with loaded Maintenance of Way train coming out of Goodlettsville, TN on March 13th, 2021. I was still at home when I got the word and at least 30 minutes from Casky Yard in Hopkinsville, Kentucky where I planned on catching it. There were also unconfirmed reports that they would tie the train down at Casky as well. Well, I got to the first exit for Hopkinsville when I got word from another fellow railfan, Steve Miller, that the train had already cleared the yard and was continuing north, which had me changing to my second spot at Kelly, Kentucky. This train was flying, partly because they were running out of time and also, because hot intermodal CSX Q028 was hot on his tail!! As I launched the drone and found my spot in the sky, dark clouds and the light band prefect between them and the ground helped add drama to the scene!!, I knew I had my favorite shot for this train! All in all, a hectic and rushed chase, but I was able to get my drone at three different locations and still able to do a live video of the move north at Crofton, Kentucky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

Running from the Law on the CSX Henderson Subdivision

Well, that’s what they call it when the train crew is getting close to being out of crew time, based on the laws that govern how long they can work. When they get to this point, they’re trying to get to a spot they can do a crew change or tie their train down.

A good friend Charles Lavender gave me a heads up that this W035 was northbound with loaded Maintenance of Way train coming out of Goodlettsville, TN on March 13th, 2021.

I was still at home when I got the word and at least 30 minutes from Casky Yard in Hopkinsville, Kentucky where I planned on catching it. There were also unconfirmed reports that they would tie the train down at Casky as well.

Well, I got to the first exit for Hopkinsville when I got word from another fellow railfan, Steve Miller, that the train had already cleared the yard and was continuing north, which had me changing to my second spot at Kelly, Kentucky.

This train was flying, partly because they were running out of time and also, because hot intermodal CSX Q028 was hot on his tail!!

As I launched the drone and found my spot in the sky, dark clouds and the light band prefect between them and the ground helped add drama to the scene!!, I knew I had my favorite shot for this train! All in all, a hectic and rushed chase, but I was able to get my drone at three different locations and still able to do a live video of the move north at Crofton, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.

CSX Heading southbound into the light! CSX Q025 heads southbound (railroad south, but more southeast) towards the rays of early morning light, at Henderson, Kentucky, after crossing the Ohio River bridge on the CSX Henderson Subdivision with CSXT 3184 leading the way. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Heading southbound into the light!

CSX Q025 heads southbound (railroad south, but more southeast) towards the rays of early morning light, at Henderson, Kentucky, after crossing the Ohio River bridge on the CSX Henderson Subdivision with CSXT 3184 leading the way.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Q025 Southbound over the Ohio River Floodwaters This is a shot that I've been wanting to get even before I started flying a drone! A shot of a train passing over the floodwaters from the Ohio River as it heads across the river at Henderson, Kentucky coming out of Evansville, Indiana. This is a shot that one could only get with a john boat in the past and I neither had one or knew anyone with one, so this has always been a dream shot for me! With the partly cloudy skies I was worried that I wouldn't have sunlight for the shot, but as you can see with the broken clouds on March 10th, 2021, they parted enough for this dramatic lighting as CSX hot intermodal Q025-10 made its way up the viaduct to the bridge over the Ohio River heading south into Henderson, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The scene as far as the eye can see here is normally farmers fields, but today it was an extension of the Ohio River as it was right at 37 feet above flood stage as the train passed over it. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Q025 Southbound over the Ohio River Floodwaters

This is a shot that I’ve been wanting to get even before I started flying a drone! A shot of a train passing over the floodwaters from the Ohio River as it heads across the river at Henderson, Kentucky coming out of Evansville, Indiana. This is a shot that one could only get with a john boat in the past and I neither had one or knew anyone with one, so this has always been a dream shot for me!

With the partly cloudy skies I was worried that I wouldn’t have sunlight for the shot, but as you can see with the broken clouds on March 10th, 2021, they parted enough for this dramatic lighting as CSX hot intermodal Q025-10 made its way up the viaduct to the bridge over the Ohio River heading south into Henderson, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.

The scene as far as the eye can see here is normally farmers fields, but today it was an extension of the Ohio River as it was right at 37 feet as the train passed over it.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Southbound hot intermodal at Sulfur Creek, Springfield, TN Just a week before the ground here was covered with snow and the temperature was in the teens, a huge difference on March 3rd, 2021 here at the Sulfur Fork bridge just north of Springfield, Tennessee where the day was beautiful and the temperature hovering around 70 degrees! Here we find CSXT 276 and 904 leading hot intermodal Q029-02 as they head south over the Sulfur Creek bridge on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as they make their way to their final destination of Jacksonville, FL from Chicago, IL. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Southbound hot intermodal at Sulfur Creek, Springfield, TN

Just a week before the ground here was covered with snow and the temperature was in the teens, a huge difference on March 3rd, 2021 here at the Sulfur Fork bridge just north of Springfield, Tennessee where the day was beautiful and the temperature hovering around 70 degrees!

Here we find CSXT 276 and 904 leading hot intermodal Q029-02 as they head south over the Sulfur Creek bridge on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as they make their way to their final destination of Jacksonville, FL from Chicago, IL.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

RJ Corman 3802 works Clarksville, Tennessee On February 23rd, 2021 R.J. Corman (RJC) 3802 & 3804 lead the Cumberland City Turn as they work on dropping and picking up cars at Sanderson Pipe Corporation (SPC) off of International Blvd, in Clarksville, Tennessee on the Memphis Line. This train is referred to as the Cumberland City turn and departs from Guthrie, Ky weekdays, usually in the morning, runs the Memphis Line to Cumberland City, TN and then returns after working industries like this one along the way. The yellow structure to the center of the picture is what the employees of the SPC Pipe company attach their safety ropes to as they work on on unloading the cars. The Memphis Line currently covers just over 113 track miles between Bowling Green, Ky and Cumberland City, TN, servicing 47 customers along the line. It interchanges with CSX on average six days a week at Bowling Green and Guthrie, Ky. The yard office for this line is located at Guthrie. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @116mm f/4.8, 1/1600, ISO 125.

RJ Corman 3802 works Clarksville, Tennessee

On February 23rd, 2021 R.J. Corman (RJC) 3802 & 3804 lead the Cumberland City Turn as they work on dropping and picking up cars at Sanderson Pipe Corporation (SPC) off of International Blvd, in Clarksville, Tennessee on the Memphis Line.

This train is referred to as the Cumberland City turn and departs from Guthrie, Ky weekdays, usually in the morning, runs the Memphis Line to Cumberland City, TN and then returns after working industries like this one along the way.

The yellow structure to the center of the picture is what the employees of the SPC Pipe company attach their safety ropes to as they work on on unloading the cars.

The Memphis Line currently covers just over 113 track miles between Bowling Green, Ky and Cumberland City, TN, servicing 47 customers along the line. It interchanges with CSX on average six days a week at Bowling Green and Guthrie, Ky. The yard office for this line is located at Guthrie.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @116mm f/4.8, 1/1600, ISO 125.

First light, first train! I was afraid I'd miss this loaded coal train CSX N302 at first light on the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it made its way south on the Henderson Subdivision. I left my house at about 5:30am, much earlier than I'm accustomed to getting out, but I was meeting fellow railfan Cooper Smith at 7am at Guthrie, Kentucky and we were to meet at the CSX yard in Guthrie to do a full day of railfanning in the snow. After stopping to shoot the sun popping over the horizon just north of Trenton, Ky I got back in my nice and toasty SUV after getting my shot in the cold 14 degree weather and headed on south to meet up with Cooper. It was about this time I found out that he was running late and that there was a loaded coal train just ahead of me headed south. This was just after the last big snowfall that swept through the region the day before and even though the Kentucky and Tennessee road crews had do a great job of plowing US 41, which follows the Henderson Subdivision, there was still ice on the roads to contend with so I was worried that I wouldn't make it to this spot and get the drone up before the train got there, but as you can tell, lady luck was smiling in my direction! I arrived at this spot probably about 10 minutes before the train on February 19th, 2021 and the sun was just above the tree line here and was sending that beautiful early morning golden light, raking across the bare trees. A great start to a great day of being trackside, even if it was real early and went till after dark! We both came back with some great shots! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

First light, first train!

I was afraid I’d miss this loaded coal train CSX N302 at first light on the Red River bridge at Adams, Tennessee as it made its way south on the Henderson Subdivision.

I left my house at about 5:30am, much earlier than I’m accustomed to getting out, but I was meeting fellow railfan Cooper Smith at 7am at Guthrie, Kentucky and we were to meet at the CSX yard in Guthrie to do a full day of railfanning in the snow.

After stopping to shoot the sun popping over the horizon just north of Trenton, Ky I got back in my nice and toasty SUV after getting my shot in the cold 14 degree weather and headed on south to meet up with Cooper. It was about this time I found out that he was running late and that there was a loaded coal train just ahead of me headed south.

This was just after the last big snowfall that swept through the region the day before and even though the Kentucky and Tennessee road crews had do a great job of plowing US 41, which follows the Henderson Subdivision, there was still ice on the roads to contend with so I was worried that I wouldn’t make it to this spot and get the drone up before the train got there, but as you can tell, lady luck was smiling in my direction!

I arrived at this spot probably about 10 minutes before the train on February 19th, 2021 and the sun was just above the tree line here and was sending that beautiful early morning golden light, raking across the bare trees. A great start to a great day of being trackside, even if it was real early and went till after dark! We both came back with some great shots!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

BNSF Southbound Phosphate stopped at Guthrie, Ky If you recall from my March 3rd, 2021 post, I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that CSX K811-28, a phosphate train, with three BNSF units on it was headed south on the Henderson Subdivision and I decided to get out of bed and give chase! It was about 45 miles later at Guthrie, Ky when I finally got ahead of it enough to where I could launch the drone, after they stopped after getting red signal due to track work being done ahead at Cedar Hill, TN. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

BNSF Southbound Phosphate stopped at Guthrie, Ky

If you recall from my March 3rd, 2021 post, I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that CSX K811-28, a phosphate train, with three BNSF units on it was headed south on the Henderson Subdivision and I decided to get out of bed and give chase!

It was about 45 miles later at Guthrie, Ky when I finally got ahead of it enough to where I could launch the drone, after they stopped after getting red signal due to track work being done ahead at Cedar Hill, TN.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Southbound Intermodal at Baker This morning (March 3rd, 2021) I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that there was a southbound phosphate train with three BNSF units on it! Needless to say I was still in bed and this isn't it! However, this turned out to be my favorite shot on a full day of chasing, which really was a spur of the moment thing starting with the early morning text message. It was about 30 miles later to the south on the Henderson Subdivision (HD) before I caught up with the BNSF train and so I figured since I was out in this early morning light and so far south I'd go ahead and spend the day shooting in the southern part of the HD so I could fly the drone in some locations that I hadn't done so yet, hence, this shot right here. Now, in all fairness this shot of hot intermodal Q029-03 heading south isn't the at spot I started out to shoot it at, but I'm glad I found it! I parked at the crossing on Baker Station Road, about 1.5 miles from the south end of the Baker Tunnel at Ridgetop, Tennessee and the plan was to fly back to the south end of Baker tunnel from there. However, due to the terrain, the drone had issues of maintaining a GPS signal unless I was was up much higher than I wanted to be. However, I passed the spot as I was flying back, about 1/2 mile from the crossing, and thought it'd make a good backup spot! When I got back to this location and got down low enough for what I wanted, I knew right away that I was going to love it! The only thing I was worried about is it was if the train would make it to the spot before I had to bring the drone back to me due to a lack of battery power and also if I could tell when it was coming so I could shoot in the spot I wanted! Keeping my ears open, eyes glued to the DJI Fly App on the iPhone screen, and I was able to get this shot of Q029 as it sliced its way south through this great crop of rocks! Yes, it was a good day to get out early (thanks Tom Wortham) for getting me out and trackside this morning! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100 Exposure Comp: -0.7 (helps control the highlights).

Southbound Intermodal at Baker

This morning (March 3rd, 2021) I got a text at about 10 minutes till 7am that there was a southbound phosphate train with three BNSF units on it! Needless to say I was still in bed and this isn’t it!

However, this turned out to be my favorite shot on a full day of chasing, which really was a spur of the moment thing starting with the early morning text message.

It was about 30 miles later to the south on the Henderson Subdivision (HD) before I caught up with the BNSF train and so I figured since I was out in this early morning light and so far south I’d go ahead and spend the day shooting in the southern part of the HD so I could fly the drone in some locations that I hadn’t done so yet, hence, this shot right here.

Now, in all fairness this shot of hot intermodal Q029-03 heading south isn’t the at spot I started out to shoot it at, but I’m glad I found it!

I parked at the crossing on Baker Station Road, about 1.5 miles from the south end of the Baker Tunnel at Ridgetop, Tennessee and the plan was to fly back to the south end of Baker tunnel from there. However, due to the terrain, the drone had issues of maintaining a GPS signal unless I was was up much higher than I wanted to be.

However, I passed the spot as I was flying back, about 1/2 mile from the crossing, and thought it’d make a good backup spot! When I got back to this location and got down low enough for what I wanted, I knew right away that I was going to love it!

The only thing I was worried about is it was if the train would make it to the spot before I had to bring the drone back to me due to a lack of battery power and also if I could tell when it was coming so I could shoot in the spot I wanted!

Keeping my ears open, eyes glued to the DJI Fly App on the iPhone screen, and I was able to get this shot of Q029 as it sliced its way south through this great crop of rocks!

Yes, it was a good day to get out early (thanks Tom Wortham) for getting me out and trackside this morning!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100 Exposure Comp: -0.7 (helps control the highlights).

CSX trains passing in the curve on the Henderson Subdivision CSX local J732 with a trio of SD40's makes it's way past the empties at Nortonville, Ky as they both work their way through the S curve at Nortonville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on January 30th, 2021. This is a prime example of why I love long lenses, like my Sigma 150-600mm which was used for this shot! There's no other way to get this shot, with the compression and in your face type of photography. It really adds impact to the image and allows an image that you just can't get without a long lens! When out shooting your pictures always look for unique and different angles and shots to help add impact to your pictures! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 460mm, f/6, 1/800, ISO 800.

CSX trains passing in the curve on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Ky

CSX local J732 with a trio of SD40’s makes it’s way past the empties at Nortonville, Ky as they both work their way through the S curve at Nortonville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on January 30th, 2021.

This is a prime example of why I love long lenses, like my Sigma 150-600mm which was used for this shot! There’s no other way to get this shot, with the compression and in your face type of photography. It really adds impact to the image and allows an image that you just can’t get without a long lens! When out shooting your pictures always look for unique and different angles and shots to help add impact to your pictures!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 460mm, f/6, 1/800, ISO 800.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Princeton, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2100 leads the daily local south, as it arrives at their yard in Princeton, Ky after making its pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it's pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky. The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 46mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 220.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Princeton, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2100 leads the daily local south, as it arrives at their yard in Princeton, Ky after making its pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it’s pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northshore Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 46mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 220.

A snowy meet at Arklow, Madisonville, Ky As the last light of the day fades the crew on board CSX K814 braves the cold, winter's snow as they step to the ground from Canadian Pacific 8109 at Arklow, to conduct a roll-by inspection of hot intermodal Q029 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky. CSX Q029 is usually an early morning move, but due to the winter storms that blew through the region, it along with many other trains moved a lot slower than usual with the conditions making it harder for the crews getting their trains loaded and moving. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 400.

A snowy meet at Arklow, Madisonville, Ky

As the last light of the day fades the crew on board CSX K814 braves the cold, winter’s snow as they step to the ground from Canadian Pacific 8109 at Arklow, to conduct a roll-by inspection of hot intermodal Q029 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky.

CSX Q029 is usually an early morning move, but due to the winter storms that blew through the region, it along with many other trains moved a lot slower than usual with the conditions making it harder for the crews getting their trains loaded and moving.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 400.

A snowy Paducah and Louisville Railway local Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads a short snow covered local south after passing the south end of Pond River Siding at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon of February 16th, 2021. The one thing I'm still getting used to is the delay you get when photographing moving objects with a drone. This shot for instance was at least 1/2 engine length back when I fired the shutter on the drone controller, but the train moved that much before the drone actually made the photo. I still obviously like the shot, but there's been more than one shot I missed due to the delay and with patience and practice I'm getting better at my timing! When shooting, I try my best to frame the picture the way I want the final shot to look as this is the full frame I shot. However, it seems the answer may be to shoot a little wider then crop in a little when I process the image. When shooting the Air 2 at 48mp RAW/JPG this isn't a problem, but then at that quality I'll only get one shot as it takes longer to save the image to the card and the train will be past the position I want before I can shoot again. If shooting at the 12mp RAW/JPG size I can shoot several shots, but I like the larger 48mp size to work with, so I'll continue to work on my timing. If any of my fellow Drone pilots out there have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

A snowy Paducah and Louisville Railway local

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads a short snow covered local south after passing the south end of Pond River Siding at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon of February 16th, 2021.

The one thing I’m still getting used to is the delay you get when photographing moving objects with a drone. This shot for instance was at least 1/2 engine length back when I fired the shutter on the drone controller, but the train moved that much before the drone actually made the photo. I still obviously like the shot, but there’s been more than one shot I missed due to the delay and with patience and practice I’m getting better at my timing!

When shooting, I try my best to frame the picture the way I want the final shot to look as this is the full frame I shot. However, it seems the answer may be to shoot a little wider then crop in a little when I process the image.

When shooting the Air 2 at 48mp RAW/JPG this isn’t a problem, but then at that quality I’ll only get one shot as it takes longer to save the image to the card and the train will be past the position I want before I can shoot again. If shooting at the 12mp RAW/JPG size I can shoot several shots, but I like the larger 48mp size to work with, so I’ll continue to work on my timing.

If any of my fellow Drone pilots out there have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.