Bathed in the light from a red signal, Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” sits at the depot at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023, as it waits for its next night run as part of the museum’s 70th Anniversary celebration. The IRM ran trains continuously from 11am on Saturday until 5pm Sunday during the event. According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today. When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.” The train set itself consists of the following five cars: Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/4, 15 seconds, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #NebraskaZephyr #IllinoisRailwayMuseum #IllinoisTrains #TrainsAtNight

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” Night shot, Union, Illinois

Bathed in the light from a red signal, Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” sits at the depot at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023, as it waits for its next night run as part of the museum’s 70th Anniversary celebration. The IRM ran trains continuously from 11am on Saturday until 5pm Sunday during the event.

According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today.

When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.”

Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 16mm, f/4, 15 seconds, ISO 100.

Steam locomotive Frisco 1630 makes its’ way east through the countryside after leaving the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) on a passenger, during their 70th anniversary weekend in Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023. According to IRM website: St. Louis – San Francisco Railroad (“Frisco”) 1630 is the museum’s most famous steam engine. A “Russian Decapod,” it was built in 1918 for export to Russia but was embargoed when the Bolshevik Revolution took place. Instead, the newly completed engine was sold to the Frisco, which used it in both freight and passenger service into the 1950s. The Frisco later sold it to Eagle-Picher Mining, where it saw use hauling freight and aggregate trains until the mid-1960s. It arrived at the IRM in 1967. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #IllinoisRailwayMuseum #IllinoisTrains #SteamTrains

Steam locomotive Frisco 1630 makes its’ way east through the countryside from Union, Illinois

Steam locomotive Frisco 1630 makes its’ way east through the countryside after leaving the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) on a passenger, during their 70th anniversary weekend in Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023.

According to IRM website: St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad (“Frisco”) 1630 is the museum’s most famous steam engine. A “Russian Decapod,” it was built in 1918 for export to Russia but was embargoed when the Bolshevik Revolution took place. Instead, the newly completed engine was sold to the Frisco, which used it in both freight and passenger service into the 1950s. The Frisco later sold it to Eagle-Picher Mining, where it saw use hauling freight and aggregate trains until the mid-1960s. It arrived at the IRM in 1967.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 120

There was a lot of luck that went into making this image of Steam locomotive Frisco 1630 at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) during their 70th anniversary weekend in Union, Illinois. In between the spitting rain on Saturday night, September 16th, 2023, I along with many other photographers were working on photographing the 1630 as it sat at the depot at IRM waiting for its next run. I was working with my D800 on a tripod shooting available light shots at 30 seconds each at f/4 with my Nikon 10-24mm lens, when several things happened. I started the 30 second exposure and about 20 seconds into the exposure the train started to depart the station, resulting in the streaks you see of the headlight and marker lights on 1630. At the same time, I had a trolly come to a stop, which you see in the circle of smoke and the headlight star in the distance is from the Nebraska Zephyr waiting to enter the station after the Frisco departs. The headlight from the Zephyr illuminated the steam surrounding the scene, providing an effect that would be hard replicate, let along plan! Sometimes, I just get lucky! According to IRM website: St. Louis – San Francisco Railroad (“Frisco”) 1630 is the museum’s most famous steam engine. A “Russian Decapod,” it was built in 1918 for export to Russia but was embargoed when the Bolshevik Revolution took place. Instead, the newly completed engine was sold to the Frisco, which used it in both freight and passenger service into the 1950s. The Frisco later sold it to Eagle-Picher Mining, where it saw use hauling freight and aggregate trains until the mid-1960s. It arrived at the IRM in 1967. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @15mm, f/5.6, 30 Seconds, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #UPtrains #NikonD800 #IllinoisRailwayMuseum #Frisco1630 #trainsatnight #illinoistrains #steamtrains

A lucky late night shot!

There was a lot of luck that went into making this image of Steam locomotive Frisco 1630 at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) during their 70th anniversary weekend in Union, Illinois.

In between the spitting rain on Saturday night, September 16th, 2023, I along with many other photographers were working on photographing the 1630 as it sat at the depot at IRM waiting for its next run. I was working with my D800 on a tripod shooting available light shots at 30 seconds each at f/4 with my Nikon 10-24mm lens, when several things happened.

I started the 30 second exposure and about 20 seconds into the exposure the train started to depart the station, resulting in the streaks you see of the headlight and marker lights on 1630. At the same time, I had a trolly come to a stop, which you see in the circle of smoke and the headlight star in the distance is from the Nebraska Zephyr waiting to enter the station after the Frisco departs. The headlight from the Zephyr illuminated the steam surrounding the scene, providing an effect that would be hard replicate, let along plan! Sometimes, I just get lucky!

According to IRM website: St. Louis – San Francisco Railroad (“Frisco”) 1630 is the museum’s most famous steam engine. A “Russian Decapod,” it was built in 1918 for export to Russia but was embargoed when the Bolshevik Revolution took place. Instead, the newly completed engine was sold to the Frisco, which used it in both freight and passenger service into the 1950s. The Frisco later sold it to Eagle-Picher Mining, where it saw use hauling freight and aggregate trains until the mid-1960s. It arrived at the IRM in 1967.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @15mm, f/5.6, 30 Seconds, ISO 100.

Digital Photo Art – Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023. According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today. When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.” The train set itself consists of the following five cars: Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/1250, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #NebraskaZephyr #IllinoisRailwayMuseum #digitalphotoart

Digital Photo Art – Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot”

Digital Photo Art – Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Nebraska Zephyr “Silver Pilot” at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM), Union, Illinois on September 16th, 2023.

According to the IRM website: The Nebraska Zephyr is the most famous train at the Illinois Railway Museum. It is an articulated streamlined train built entirely of stainless steel. The train is known as the “Train of the Goddesses” because each of its five cars is named after a classical deity. It is the only complete Zephyr train from the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad in operation today.

When it was built, the Nebraska Zephyr was pulled by a two-unit set of “shovel nose” diesels. In later years it was commonly hauled by stainless steel E5 passenger diesels, and today the train is still hauled by the last surviving E5, CB&Q 9911A “Silver Pilot.” The train set itself consists of the following five cars:

Tech Info: Nikon D800, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/1250, ISO 100.

CSX Heritage series locomotive 1973, the Chessie System unit, pulls a empty coal train at Trident in Madisonville, Kentucky onto the Morganfield Branch as they head for the Warrior Coal Loop, outside of Nebo, Kentucky on August 13th, 2023, where it will load their train CSX R592. According to Wikipedia: The three railroads that would make up the Chessie System had been closely related since the 1960s. C&O had acquired controlling interest in B&O in 1962, and the two had jointly controlled WM since 1967. Chessie System, Inc. was a holding company that owned the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O), the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), the Western Maryland Railway (WM), and Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad (B&OCT). Trains operated under the Chessie name from 1973 to 1987. On November 1, 1980, Chessie System merged with Seaboard Coast Line Industries to form CSX Corporation. Initially, the three Chessie System railroads continued to operate separately, even after Seaboard's six Family Lines System railroads were merged into the Seaboard System Railroad on December 29, 1982. That began to change in 1983, when the WM was merged into the B&O. The Chessie image continued to be applied to new and re-painted equipment until July 1, 1986, when CSXT introduced its own paint scheme. In April 1987, the B&O was merged into the C&O. In August 1987, C&O merged into CSX Transportation, a 1986 renaming of the Seaboard System Railroad, and the Chessie System name was retired. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 130. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #csxt #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #CSXHeritageUnits

CSX Heritage series locomotive 1973, the Chessie System unit at Madisonville, Kentucky

CSX Heritage series locomotive 1973, the Chessie System unit, pulls a empty coal train at Trident in Madisonville, Kentucky onto the Morganfield Branch as they head for the Warrior Coal Loop, outside of Nebo, Kentucky on August 13th, 2023, where it will load their train CSX R592.

According to Wikipedia: The three railroads that would make up the Chessie System had been closely related since the 1960s. C&O had acquired controlling interest in B&O in 1962, and the two had jointly controlled WM since 1967.

Chessie System, Inc. was a holding company that owned the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O), the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), the Western Maryland Railway (WM), and Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad (B&OCT). Trains operated under the Chessie name from 1973 to 1987.

On November 1, 1980, Chessie System merged with Seaboard Coast Line Industries to form CSX Corporation. Initially, the three Chessie System railroads continued to operate separately, even after Seaboard’s six Family Lines System railroads were merged into the Seaboard System Railroad on December 29, 1982. That began to change in 1983, when the WM was merged into the B&O. The Chessie image continued to be applied to new and re-painted equipment until July 1, 1986, when CSXT introduced its own paint scheme. In April 1987, the B&O was merged into the C&O. In August 1987, C&O merged into CSX Transportation, a 1986 renaming of the Seaboard System Railroad, and the Chessie System name was retired.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 130.

A short Indiana Railroad coal train, EHWBR (Empty Hiawatha to Bear Run) loads at Bear Run Mine, at Dugger, Indiana, on August 26th, 2023. The short load of 14 cars is destined to a customer somewhere in Wisconsin. According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Railroad (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles (249 km). This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road’s Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC/ICG line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham. The company was formed in 1986 by entrepreneur Thomas Hoback, who retired as president and chief executive officer in 2015. CSX Transportation now owns a majority interest in the parent company. The company's executive and administrative offices are in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 180. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #coaltrain #INRD #bearrunmine #DuggerIndiana

A short Indiana Railroad coal train, EHWBR, loads at Bear Run Mine, Dugger, Indiana

A short Indiana Railroad coal train, EHWBR (Empty Hiawatha to Bear Run) loads at Bear Run Mine, at Dugger, Indiana, on August 26th, 2023. The short load of 14 cars is destined to a customer somewhere in Wisconsin.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Railroad (reporting mark INRD) is a United States Class II railroad, originally operating over former Illinois Central Railroad trackage from Newton, Illinois, to Indianapolis, Indiana, a distance of 155 miles (249 km). This line, now known as the Indiana Rail Road’s Indianapolis Subdivision, comprises most of the former IC/ICG line from Indianapolis to Effingham, Illinois; Illinois Central successor Canadian National Railway retains the portion from Newton to Effingham.

The company was formed in 1986 by entrepreneur Thomas Hoback, who retired as president and chief executive officer in 2015. CSX Transportation now owns a majority interest in the parent company. The company’s executive and administrative offices are in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 180.

BNSF 1093 and 1005, in H1 paint scheme, lead loaded potash train CSX B207 as they pass the old L&N Depot at Henderson, Kentucky on their way north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on September 9th, 2023. I am told that Railmark Holdings, Inc has purchased the depot and is currently continuing restoration on the station. I have not been able to find out what their plans for the depot include yet. According to their website: Railmark, its brands, and subsidiaries are leaders in the railroad industry in North America and around the world. An accomplished provider of railroad transportation, rail services, and rail systems development, Railmark provides a complete and fully integrated program for rail network improvement and rail management services to railroads, governments, municipalities, and industrial clients. Railmark also owns and operates railroads in North America and sponsors philanthropic initiatives through its Railmark Foundation Limited. Together the Railmark group of rail service companies work around the world each day to make rail transportation better by improving economies and the quality of human life. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 120. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #csxt #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone

BNSF 1093 and 1005 northbound at the old L&N Depot, Henderson, Ky

BNSF 1093 and 1005, in H1 paint scheme, lead loaded potash train CSX B207 as they pass the old L&N Depot at Henderson, Kentucky on their way north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on September 9th, 2023.

I am told that Railmark Holdings, Inc has purchased the depot and is currently continuing restoration on the station. I have not been able to find out what their plans for the depot include yet.

According to their website: Railmark, its brands, and subsidiaries are leaders in the railroad industry in North America and around the world. An accomplished provider of railroad transportation, rail services, and rail systems development, Railmark provides a complete and fully integrated program for rail network improvement and rail management services to railroads, governments, municipalities, and industrial clients.

Railmark also owns and operates railroads in North America and sponsors philanthropic initiatives through its Railmark Foundation Limited. Together the Railmark group of rail service companies work around the world each day to make rail transportation better by improving economies and the quality of human life.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 120.

CSX M500 heads north at Slaughters, Kentucky, on the Henderson Subdivision, with 7 locomotives on the head end of their train on August 15th, 2023. Not all units were under power, and they were CSXT 983, 832, 237, 5472, 5418, CEFX 1055 and CSXT 5279. This is the power on the train that I featured in my Saturday Edited Video clip where the clip of this train cost me $500! I had the tripod setup to record the trains passing through the north end of Slaughters as I captured this shot from my drone. After shooting this shot, I flew back to where I was at to land and while landing a gust of wind that blew through a string of empty lumber spine cars blew the tripod over and broke the screen big time on my iPhone 14 Pro, as I was tending to the landing of the drone. I should have let the drone hover till the train passed, but I wanted to get to another spot to catch it again and stepped about 6-8 feet away from the tripod, too far to catch it before it hit the ground. The screen repair for the iPhone 14Pro was $450 plus tax and labor! Was I upset? Of course, but it’s the hazards of the game and so live and learn! Check out Episode 36 of my Saturday edited video if you’d like to watch the fall! Next time the drone hovers! Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 160. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #csxt #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone

CSX M500 heads north at Slaughters, Kentucky with seven locomotives

CSX M500 heads north at Slaughters, Kentucky, on the Henderson Subdivision, with 7 locomotives on the head end of their train on August 15th, 2023. Not all units were under power, and they were CSXT 983, 832, 237, 5472, 5418, CEFX 1055 and CSXT 5279. This is the power on the train that I featured in my Saturday Edited Video clip where the clip of this train cost me $500!

I had the tripod setup to record the trains passing through the north end of Slaughters as I captured this shot from my drone. After shooting this shot, I flew back to where I was at to land and while landing a gust of wind that blew through a string of empty lumber spine cars blew the tripod over and broke the screen big time on my iPhone 14 Pro, as I was tending to the landing of the drone. I should have let the drone hover till the train passed, but I wanted to get to another spot to catch it again and stepped about 6-8 feet away from the tripod, too far to catch it before it hit the ground.

The screen repair for the iPhone 14Pro was $450 plus tax and labor! Was I upset? Of course, but it’s the hazards of the game and so live and learn! Check out Episode 36 of my Saturday edited video if you’d like to watch the fall! Next time the drone hovers!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 160.

CSX M513 makes their way across Gum Lick Trestle, approaching Kelly, Ky, with two brand new large Caterpillar D11 Dozers at the front of their train, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on July 31st, 2023. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #trains #csxt #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone

CSX M513 makes their way across Gum Lick Trestle, approaching Kelly, Ky

CSX M513 makes their way across Gum Lick Trestle, approaching Kelly, Ky, with two brand new large Caterpillar D11 Dozers at the front of their train, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on July 31st, 2023.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

In this week’s Saturday Infrared photo, we catch CSXT 921 leading M512 as it splits the signals at the south end of the Latham siding at Hopkinsville, Ky on August 19th, 2023, as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Sigma 150-600 @ 280mm, f/10, 1/400, ISO 400. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #infraredtrainphotography #infraredphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #CSXRailorad #HopkinsvilleKy

Saturday Infrared photo, we catch CSXT 921 leading M512 at Hopkinsville, Ky

In this weeks Saturday Infrared photo, we catch CSXT 921 leading M512 as it splits the signals at the south end of the Latham siding at Hopkinsville, Ky on August 19th, 2023, as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.

Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Sigma 150-600 @ 280mm, f/10, 1/400, ISO 400.