Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Petersburg, IN Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on the Petersburg Subdivision as they pull through their yard at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021. They will continue their pull through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant just north of Petersburg, Indiana. They repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012. Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Petersburg, IN

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on the Petersburg Subdivision as they pull through their yard at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their pull through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant just north of Petersburg, Indiana. They repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

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

A surprise southbound move Fellow railfan Cooper Smith and I spent the day on Saturday, February 19th, 2021 chasing trains on the Henderson Subdivision (HD) through the new additional 3-5" of snowfall. We had made our way all around the HD and ended up at Henderson, Ky where we first caught this surprise lash-up on CSX 403 of UP 4601, CN 2268 and a flared radiator CSX unit, #4792. This shot is of the train as it pulls on south at Sebree, Kentucky after meeting a northbound empty coal train at sunset. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

A surprise southbound move

Fellow railfan Cooper Smith and I spent the day on Saturday, February 19th, 2021 chasing trains on the Henderson Subdivision (HD) through the new additional 3-5″ of snowfall.

We had made our way all around the HD and ended up at Henderson, Ky where we first caught this surprise lash-up on CSX 403 of UP 4601, CN 2268 and a flared radiator CSX unit, #4792.

This shot is of the train as it pulls on south at Sebree, Kentucky after meeting a northbound empty coal train at sunset.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Morning sunrise on the Henderson Subdivision I'm really not much of an early morning person unless I'm up to meet a friend to spend a day railfanning, but scenes like this have got me thinking I may get up early more often to catch the early morning and late evening light. I know it's there and it's golden it's just kinda hard to get up and out the door!! On this day, February 19th, 2021, I was headed down to Guthrie, Ky to link up with fellow railfan Cooper Smith to spend a day railfanning the Henderson Subdivision in the snow. I was watching this sunrise develop as I made my way south when I pulled over to a crossing just north of Trenton, Kentucky to catch this waiting on a train photo. It's not always about the train when you're trackside so always keep an eye out for other shots that might tell the story of railroading. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX lens @ 20mm f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 180 -0.7 Exp. Comp (helps with the highlights).

Morning sunrise on the Henderson Subdivision

I’m really not much of an early morning person unless I’m up to meet a friend to spend a day railfanning, but scenes like this have got me thinking I may get up early more often to catch the early morning and late evening light. I know it’s there and it’s golden it’s just kinda hard to get up and out the door!!

On this day, February 19th, 2021, I was headed down to Guthrie, Ky to link up with fellow railfan Cooper Smith to spend a day railfanning the Henderson Subdivision in the snow.

I was watching this sunrise develop as I made my way south when I pulled over to a crossing just north of Trenton, Kentucky to catch this waiting on a train photo. It’s not always about the train when you’re trackside so always keep an eye out for other shots that might tell the story of railroading.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX lens @ 20mm f/4.5, 1/800, ISO 180 -0.7 Exp. Comp (helps with the highlights).

Southbound military move waiting at sunset I got a heads up on this military move from a fellow railfan and friend Travis Collins as CSX W809 headed south from up in Indiana around 10am on February 20th, 2021 on the CSX CE&D Subdivision. I kept up with its movement through southern Indiana via Facebook and fellow railfans that were out along the lines and tracked its progress in spits and starts along the way where it head to wait for higher priority trains that were moving north. After stopping at Howell yard in Evansville, Indiana it finally made its way onto the CSX Henderson Subdivision after taking on fuel and making a crew change at Howell, but by this time those of us waiting for it to make its appearance were starting to worry that we'd lose our light before it made it to where 7 of us railfans were waiting for it at Mortons Junction in Mortons Gap, Kentucky. That's where they put it on the cutoff that bypasses Madisonville and Earlington where it sat behind a loaded coal train to wait for hot intermodal Q028 and an empty coal drag to pass on the main at the junction. Finally the loaded coal train headed south and I knew the military move would be next and I decided to move on down to the south end of Nortonville where I hoped I would get some light on the train as by this time it was just about sunset. Here we find the train where it 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. This meet worked really well for my shot since the train came to a full stop and I was able to shoot with a slow shutterspeed to keep my ISO and noise down from the low light scene as the last rays of light swept across the valley! Patience pays off in the long run! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 100.

Southbound military move waiting at sunset

I got a heads up on this military move from a fellow railfan and friend Travis Collins as CSX W809 headed south from up in Indiana around 10am on February 20th, 2021 on the CSX CE&D Subdivision.

I kept up with its movement through southern Indiana via Facebook and fellow railfans that were out along the lines and tracked its progress in spits and starts along the way where it head to wait for higher priority trains that were moving north.

After stopping at Howell yard in Evansville, Indiana it finally made its way onto the CSX Henderson Subdivision after taking on fuel and making a crew change at Howell, but by this time those of us waiting for it to make its appearance were starting to worry that we’d lose our light before it made it to where 7 of us railfans were waiting for it at Mortons Junction in Mortons Gap, Kentucky.

That’s where they put it on the cutoff that bypasses Madisonville and Earlington where it sat behind a loaded coal train to wait for hot intermodal Q028 and an empty coal drag to pass on the main at the junction.

Finally the loaded coal train headed south and I knew the military move would be next and I decided to move on down to the south end of Nortonville where I hoped I would get some light on the train as by this time it was just about sunset.

Here we find the train where it 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. This meet worked really well for my shot since the train came to a full stop and I was able to shoot with a slow shutterspeed to keep my ISO and noise down from the low light scene as the last rays of light swept across the valley!

Patience pays off in the long run!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 100.

Southbound Intermodal at Gum Lick Trestle CSX Q029 heads south, across Gum Lick, the highest trestle on the Henderson Subdivision, in the frigid cold, on February 19th, 2021 as the morning light rakes across the landscape sending shadows across the forest floor. The "Gum Lick" name comes from the fact that the valley here is named Gum Lick Hollow and it sits between Crofton and Kelly Kentucky where it crosses over the West Fork of Pond River. It's located between J. Knight road crossing and the Cavanaugh Lane overpass. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Southbound Intermodal at Gum Lick Trestle

CSX Q029 heads south, across Gum Lick, the highest trestle on the Henderson Subdivision, in the frigid cold, on February 19th, 2021 as the morning light rakes across the landscape sending shadows across the forest floor.

The “Gum Lick” name comes from the fact that the valley here is named Gum Lick Hollow and it sits between Crofton and Kelly Kentucky where it crosses over the West Fork of Pond River.

It’s located between J. Knight road crossing and the Cavanaugh Lane overpass.

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

A snowy meet at Slaughters, Kentucky Another biting cold snow shot from February 17th, 2021 as loaded CSX coal train N302 heads south as empty ethanol train K442 waits in the siding for him to pass at Slaughters, ky on the Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 400.

A snowy meet at Slaughters, Kentucky

Another biting cold snow shot from February 17th, 2021 as loaded CSX coal train N302 heads south as empty ethanol train K442 waits in the siding for him to pass at Slaughters, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision.

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

Digital Photo Art - Indiana Southern Railway pulls a Indiana Power and Light load of coal northbound at Oakland City, IN. Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021. They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012. Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Digital Photo Art – Indiana Southern Railway pulls a Indiana Power and Light load of coal northbound at Oakland City, IN.

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

PAL 2104 Dashing through the Snow! The Princeton to Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway local dashes through the snow past the backside of my property on the right as it heads north at Richland, Kentucky through the freshly fallen snow! We got probably another 3-5 inches of fresh snow this morning, February 18th, 2021, and while listening to my scanner and trying to decide if I wanted to venture down off the hill at my home I heard the Paducah and Louisville Railway local getting track warrants about 3 miles from the house. I put on my boots and went dashing through the snow to put my drone up before it got to me and grabbed this shot of PAL 2104, 2101, 2121 and 2112 leading. At Madisonville they'll do their interchange work in the cold frigid weather with CSX at Atkinson Yard, dropping of these cars and picking up others! A scene repeated all around the country on various railroads, by dedicated railroaders! Hats off to all the crews that run during frigid weather like this and all the behind the scenes folks that make it all happen! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

PAL 2104 Dashing through the Snow!

The Princeton to Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway local dashes through the snow past the backside of my property on the right as it heads north at Richland, Kentucky through the freshly fallen snow!

We got probably another 3-5 inches of fresh snow this morning, February 18th, 2021, and while listening to my scanner and trying to decide if I wanted to venture down off the hill at my home I heard the Paducah and Louisville Railway local getting track warrants about 3 miles from the house.

I put on my boots and went dashing through the snow to put my drone up before it got to me and grabbed this shot of PAL 2104, 2101, 2121 and 2100 leading.

At Madisonville they’ll do their interchange work in the cold frigid weather with CSX at Atkinson Yard, dropping of these cars and picking up others!

A scene repeated all around the country on various railroads, by dedicated railroaders! Hats off to all the crews that run during frigid weather like this and all the behind the scenes folks that make it all happen!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Waiting on a train in a fresh snowfall! Well, we got probably another 3-5 inches of fresh snow this morning, February 18th, 2021, and while listening to my scanner and trying to decide if I wanted to venture down off the hill at my home I heard the Paducah and Louisville Railway local getting track warrants about 3 miles from the house. I put on my boots and went dashing through the snow to put my drone up before it got to me! After getting it airborne I grabbed this aerial shot of my home from the sky before heading over the trees to setup my shot for the local heading north through Richland to Madisonville, Ky. I'm posting the shot I got after this post so everyone can see what I was waiting on! Good things come to those who wait, even on a cold, snowy morning in Western Kentucky! Oh, yes, that's me in the middle of my driveway! #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Waiting on a train in a fresh snowfall!

Well, we got probably another 3-5 inches of fresh snow this morning, February 18th, 2021, and while listening to my scanner and trying to decide if I wanted to venture down off the hill at my home I heard the Paducah and Louisville Railway local getting track warrants about 3 miles from the house.

I put on my boots and went dashing through the snow to put my drone up before it got to me! After getting it airborne I grabbed this aerial shot of my home from the sky before heading over the trees to setup my shot for the local heading north through Richland to Madisonville, Ky.

I’m posting the shot I got after this post so everyone can see what I was waiting on! Good things come to those who wait, even on a cold, snowy morning in Western Kentucky! Oh, yes, that’s me in the middle of my driveway!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

An almost empty CSX Q025 southbound through the snow! February 16th, 2021 was another frigid, snowy, cold winter day, which is pretty much normal this week with the artic cold we've been having all around the country! When I launched my Air 2 drone for this shot of CSX Q025 heading south through Earlington, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision I didn't expect what showed up! What made this move even more different is that it only had 13 loads behind the power and everything else on the train was empties! Looks like the cold and freezing weather up north has put a damper of the cargo loading operations and so it's reflected in the almost empty hot intermodal heading for Jacksonville, Florida. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

An almost empty CSX Q025 southbound through the snow!

February 16th, 2021 was another frigid, snowy, cold winter day, which is pretty much normal this week with the artic cold we’ve been having all around the country! When I launched my Air 2 drone for this shot of CSX Q025 heading south through Earlington, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision I didn’t expect what showed up!

What made this move even more different is that it only had 13 loads behind the power and everything else on the train was empties! Looks like the cold and freezing weather up north has put a damper of the cargo loading operations and so it’s reflected in the almost empty hot intermodal heading for Jacksonville, Florida.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Broom work is never done after a good snow on the PAL! It's February 16th, 2021 and a cool 10 degrees outside (even colder with the wind chill) as two Paducah and Louisville Railway employees work on clearing snow and ice from the switches at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. On shortline and regional railroads this scene is repeated a lot, even on many of the class ones, epically with the recent snow front that moved through much of south in areas that normally don't get snow! I'm told that CSX in the Nashville area had crews doing this same thing all around the city! Remember, it's not always about the power on the railroad! It's folks behind the scenes like the maintainers, MOW folks, Dispatchers, ect. that make it all move! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 185mm f/5, 1/1250, ISO 100 -0.7 Exp. Comp.

Broom work is never done after a good snow on the PAL!

It’s February 16th, 2021 and a cool 10 degrees outside (even colder with the wind chill) as two Paducah and Louisville Railway employees work on clearing snow and ice from the switches at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky.

On shortline and regional railroads this scene is repeated a lot, even on many of the class ones, epically with the recent snow front that moved through much of south in areas that normally don’t get snow! I’m told that CSX in the Nashville area had crews doing this same thing all around the city!

Remember, it’s not always about the power on the railroad! It’s folks behind the scenes like the maintainers, MOW folks, Dispatchers, ect. that make it all move!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 185mm f/5, 1/1250, ISO 100 -0.7 Exp. Comp.

CSX dashing through the snow with a full load of coal! Well, along with mostly everyone else it seems around the country we got a lot of snow between Sunday and Monday, at least for our area! I haven't heard the official count, but I'd between 4-8 inches after the first round of the artic front that moved through. They're calling for another round starting tomorrow! Anyway, I had to venture out during the storm and see what I could find moving in the cold, blowing snowfall and I caught CSXT 967 and 116 leading N302 as they head south to hopefully warmer weather on February 15th, 2021 on the Henderson Subdivision at the S curve in Nortonville, Kentucky. It's weather like this that makes me happy I have my all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4!! Just gotta take it slow, bundle up and stay very socially distant from any other vehicles around!! LOL Be careful trackside folks if you decide to get out in this mess! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX Lens @ 22mm f/4.5, 1/1250, ISO 140.

CSX dashing through the snow with a full load of coal!

Well, along with mostly everyone else it seems around the country we got a lot of snow between Sunday and Monday, at least for our area! I haven’t heard the official count, but I’d between 4-8 inches after the first round of the artic front that moved through. They’re calling for another round starting tomorrow!

Anyway, I had to venture out during the storm and see what I could find moving in the cold, blowing snowfall and I caught CSXT 967 and 116 leading N302 as they head south to hopefully warmer weather on February 15th, 2021 on the Henderson Subdivision at the S curve in Nortonville, Kentucky.

It’s weather like this that makes me happy I have my all-wheel drive Toyota RAV4!! Just gotta take it slow, bundle up and stay very socially distant from any other vehicles around!! LOL Be careful trackside folks if you decide to get out in this mess!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX Lens @ 22mm f/4.5, 1/1250, ISO 140.

NS 8173 leads loaded coal train across the Wabash River I was about 14 degrees, with an even colder wind chill, as Norfolk Southern 8173 crossed over the Wabash River coming into Mt. Carmel, Illinois with load of coal for the Gibson Generating Station (Duke Energy) on February 13th, 2021 on the NS Southern West District. Today was probably the coldest day I've flown my DJI Air 2 since I bought it last year and it handled the weather just fine. I did seem to notice that the flight time on the battery was less, but I expected that to be the case. Also, the gray color of the drone against the gray snowy skies is a little harder to keep track of in the air, but not flying it too far from my position helped! Any of my drone friends ever use any of the orange props? If so does it help with visibility? What other things do you do to help with visibility? Strobe lights? If so, what do you recommend? Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

NS 8173 leads loaded coal train across the Wabash River

I was about 14 degrees, with an even colder wind chill, as Norfolk Southern 8173 crossed over the Wabash River coming into Mt. Carmel, Illinois with load of coal for the Gibson Generating Station (Duke Energy) on February 13th, 2021 on the NS Southern West District.

Today was probably the coldest day I’ve flown my DJI Air 2 since I bought it last year and it handled the weather just fine. I did seem to notice that the flight time on the battery was less, but I expected that to be the case. Also, the gray color of the drone against the gray snowy skies is a little harder to keep track of in the air, but not flying it too far from my position helped!

Any of my drone friends ever use any of the orange props? If so does it help with visibility? What other things do you do to help with visibility? Strobe lights? If so, what do you recommend?

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

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Oakland City, IN Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021. They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012. Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Oakland City, IN

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

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

CSX W992-06 High and Wide Clear North Kelly The rain stopped long enough on February 10th, 2021, where I could put up my Air 2 Drone twice for CSX high and wide train W992-06 as it headed south on the Henderson Subdivision. In this shot I caught it as it passed through the crossing at the north end of the siding at Kelly, Kentucky. This was an Emmert International train move with CSXT SD40-3 #4020 as power and BBCX 1002 as the trailing manned caboose with what appeared to be a steam generator of some sort that was being hauled on their BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar. According to the Emmert International website: "Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is specifically designed to carry heavy (up to 1 million pounds) and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to a pivot above an assembly of pivots and frames that carry the weight of the load and the lifting arm. For loads not designed to be part of the car Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with a deck designed to carry the loads in standard configuration up to 836,000 pounds. Customized decks can be manufactured to increase the overall payload weight. Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with hydraulic equipment that will either lift the load vertically or horizontally shift the load while in transit to clear obstructions along the car’s route. With 20 axles (ten for each half) containing four trucks connected by a complex system of span bolsters its tare (unloaded) weight without deck is 424,000 lbs. The BBCX1000’s empty car length is 115’ 10” with a maximum length with the loading deck at 168’ 9”. Maximum vertical load shifting ability is 14” and the maximum horizontal load shifting ability is 22”. The heavy duty AAR railcar mechanical designation is “LS”." Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is accompanied by the BBCX 1002 Caboose and BBCX1003 flat car that carries the deck when not in service. The BBCX1000 is pulled by special train service and requires 2 operators. When in transport not carrying loads the BBCX is limited to 40 mph. When loaded or empty with deck in place the BBCX1000 is limited to 25 mph." The crews that control the BBCX 1000 railcar ride in the caboose. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 200.

CSX W992-06 High and Wide Clear North Kelly

The rain stopped long enough on February 10th, 2021, where I could put up my Air 2 Drone twice for CSX high and wide train W992-06 as it headed south on the Henderson Subdivision. In this shot I caught it as it passed through the crossing at the north end of the siding at Kelly, Kentucky.

This was an Emmert International train move with CSXT SD40-3 #4020 as power and BBCX 1002 as the trailing manned caboose with what appeared to be a steam generator of some sort that was being hauled on their BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar.

According to the Emmert International website: “Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is specifically designed to carry heavy (up to 1 million pounds) and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to a pivot above an assembly of pivots and frames that carry the weight of the load and the lifting arm.

For loads not designed to be part of the car Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with a deck designed to carry the loads in standard configuration up to 836,000 pounds. Customized decks can be manufactured to increase the overall payload weight.

Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with hydraulic equipment that will either lift the load vertically or horizontally shift the load while in transit to clear obstructions along the car’s route.
With 20 axles (ten for each half) containing four trucks connected by a complex system of span bolsters its tare (unloaded) weight without deck is 424,000 lbs. The BBCX1000’s empty car length is 115’ 10” with a maximum length with the loading deck at 168’ 9”. Maximum vertical load shifting ability is 14” and the maximum horizontal load shifting ability is 22”. The heavy duty AAR railcar mechanical designation is “LS”.”

Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is accompanied by the BBCX 1002 Caboose and BBCX1003 flat car that carries the deck when not in service. The BBCX1000 is pulled by special train service and requires 2 operators. When in transport not carrying loads the BBCX is limited to 40 mph. When loaded or empty with deck in place the BBCX1000 is limited to 25 mph.”

The crews that control the BBCX 1000 railcar ride in the caboose.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 200.

Southbound CSX W992-06 High and Wide I was on my way North on Main Street here in Madisonville, Ky, through the heavy overcast and misty freezing rain yesterday, February 10th, 2021, when I encountered CSX high and wide train W992-06 heading south on the Henderson Subdivision. I hadn't received any heads up on this move from my friends to the north and so I was caught completely by surprise when I saw the red caboose on the end of this shot train! I immediately made a u-turn and the chase was on! While the predicted ice storm was passing through our area, the temperatures were slightly above freezing and I knew the roads were just wet and not ice coated yet, plus I knew that this train would be moving at a restricted speed of 25mph, which is normal for high and wide moves and that I wouldn't have any problems keeping ahead of it as I got to some good spots to catch it's move, despite the bad weather. This was my first spot which is the S curve approaching the New Salem Church overpass in Nortonville, Kentucky. It was a Emmert International train move with CSXT SD40-3 #4020 as power and BBCX 1002 as the trailing caboose with what appeared to be a steam generator of some sort. It was being hauled on their BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar. According to the Emmert International website: "Emmert International's BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is specifically designed to carry heavy (up to 1 million pounds) and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to a pivot above an assembly of pivots and frames that carry the weight of the load and the lifting arm. For loads not designed to be part of the car Emmert International's BBCX1000 is equipped with a deck designed to carry the loads in standard configuration up to 836,000 pounds. Customized decks can be manufactured to increase the overall payload weight. Emmert International's BBCX1000 is equipped with hydraulic equipment that will either lift the load vertically or horizontally shift the load while in transit to clear obstructions along the car's route. With 20 axles (ten for each half) containing four trucks connected by a complex system of span bolsters its tare (unloaded) weight without deck is 424,000 lbs. The BBCX1000's empty car length is 115'10" with a maximum length with the loading deck at 168’ 9". Maximum vertical load shifting ability is 14” and the maximum horizontal load shifting ability is 22". The heavy duty AAR railcar mechanical designation is “LS”." Emmert International's BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is accompanied by the BBCX 1002 Caboose and BBCX1003 flat car that carries the deck when not in service. The BBCX1000 is pulled by special train service and requires 2 operators. When in transport not carrying loads the BBCX is limited to 40 mph. When loaded or empty with deck in place the BBCX1000 is limited to 25 mph. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @290mm f/7.6, 1/640, ISO 640.

Southbound CSX W992-06 High and Wide

I was on my way North on Main Street here in Madisonville, Ky, through the heavy overcast and misty freezing rain yesterday, February 10th, 2021, when I encountered CSX high and wide train W992-06 heading south on the Henderson Subdivision.

I hadn’t received any heads up on this move from my friends to the north and so I was caught completely by surprise when I saw the red caboose on the end of this shot train! I immediately made a u-turn and the chase was on!

While the predicted ice storm was passing through our area, the temperatures were slightly above freezing and I knew the roads were just wet and not ice coated yet, plus I knew that this train would be moving at a restricted speed of 25mph, which is normal for high and wide moves and that I wouldn’t have any problems keeping ahead of it as I got to some good spots to catch it’s move, despite the bad weather.

This was my first spot which is the S curve approaching the New Salem Church overpass in Nortonville, Kentucky.

It was a Emmert International train move with CSXT SD40-3 #4020 as power and BBCX 1002 as the trailing caboose with what appeared to be a steam generator of some sort. It was being hauled on their BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar.

According to the Emmert International website: “Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is specifically designed to carry heavy (up to 1 million pounds) and oversized loads in such a way that the load itself makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to a pivot above an assembly of pivots and frames that carry the weight of the load and the lifting arm.

For loads not designed to be part of the car Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with a deck designed to carry the loads in standard configuration up to 836,000 pounds. Customized decks can be manufactured to increase the overall payload weight. Emmert International’s BBCX1000 is equipped with hydraulic equipment that will either lift the load vertically or horizontally shift the load while in transit to clear obstructions along the car’s route.

With 20 axles (ten for each half) containing four trucks connected by a complex system of span bolsters its tare (unloaded) weight without deck is 424,000 lbs. The BBCX1000’s empty car length is 115’10” with a maximum length with the loading deck at 168’ 9″. Maximum vertical load shifting ability is 14” and the maximum horizontal load shifting ability is 22″. The heavy duty AAR railcar mechanical designation is “LS”.”

Emmert International’s BBCX1000 Schnabel Railcar is accompanied by the BBCX 1002 Caboose and BBCX1003 flat car that carries the deck when not in service. The BBCX1000 is pulled by special train service and requires 2 operators. When in transport not carrying loads the BBCX is limited to 40 mph. When loaded or empty with deck in place the BBCX1000 is limited to 25 mph.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @290mm f/7.6, 1/640, ISO 640.

Northbound load of coal at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 4522 and 2012 power their way north as they cross over the CSX Mainline on the Henderson Subdivision, at the location known as Monarch, in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 9th, 2021. They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky, after picking up a load of coal the Warrior Coal Mine in Nebo, Ky. This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture! Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Northbound load of coal at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 4522 and 2012 power their way north as they cross over the CSX Mainline on the Henderson Subdivision, at the location known as Monarch, in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 9th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky, after picking up a load of coal the Warrior Coal Mine in Nebo, Ky.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

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

KCS southbound at Kelly, Kentucky It's not everyday we get Kansas City Southern (KCS) leading any kind of train on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, so when I got reports from friends up the line to the north that CSX K443 was southbound with two coming I had to get trackside! This shot from January 20th, 2021 captures KCS 4605 and 4192 leading K443 south at the north end of Kelly siding at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision as it's long string of tank car's loaded with ethanol, string off into the distance like a giant anaconda. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

KCS southbound at Kelly, Kentucky

It’s not everyday we get Kansas City Southern (KCS) leading any kind of train on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, so when I got reports from friends up the line to the north that CSX K443 was southbound with two coming I had to get trackside!

This shot from January 20th, 2021 captures KCS 4605 and 4192 leading K443 south at the north end of Kelly siding at Kelly, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision as it’s long string of tank car’s loaded with ethanol, string off into the distance like a giant anaconda.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Must be nice to be a big boy on the block!! CSX J732 and a empty coal train, behind my view here on the Church Street overpass at Nortonville, Kentucky, both give way for CSX Q025, one of four hot intermodals that travel up and down the Henderson Subdivision on a daily basis. In this view from January 30th, 2021 the crew off of local J732, with three variations of SD40's leading their train, stand on either side of Q025 as it makes it's way south to do their roll-by inspection. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @150mm f/5, 1/1250, ISO 500.

Must be nice to be a big boy on the block!!

CSX J732 and a empty coal train, behind my view here on the Church Street overpass at Nortonville, Kentucky, both give way for CSX Q025, one of four hot intermodals that travel up and down the Henderson Subdivision on a daily basis.

In this view from January 30th, 2021 the crew off of local J732, with three variations of SD40’s leading their train, stand on either side of Q025 as it makes it’s way south to do their roll-by inspection.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @150mm f/5, 1/1250, ISO 500.