I got a nice surprise in the mail yesterday! I have been blessed that one of my pictures has been used in a TRAINS Magazine special edition 'CSX at 40' along with several other great photographers! The cold weather shot of CSX Q025 heading south through ice covered trees at Nortonville, Ky looks really good!!! Thank you to Jim Wrinn, Angela Pusztai-Pasternak, and all the Trains staff, 'CSX at 40' looks fantastic with great stories and photography inside! My first published photo in TRAINS Magazine!

I got a nice surprise in the mail yesterday!

I got a nice surprise in the mail yesterday! I have been blessed that one of my pictures has been used in a TRAINS Magazine special edition ‘CSX at 40’ along with several other great photographers!

The cold weather shot of CSX Q025 heading south through ice covered trees at Nortonville, Ky looks really good!!! Thank you to Jim Wrinn, Angela Pusztai-Pasternak, and all the Trains staff, ‘CSX at 40’ looks fantastic with great stories and photography inside! My first published photo in TRAINS Magazine!

July 17, 2020 - RJ Corman 7116 moves at a snails pace as it leads the empty ALCAN train southbound through downtown Frankfort, Kentucky on its way to Logan Aluminum in Brea, Kentucky to pickup another load of aluminum ingots. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @ 75mm, f/5.6, 1/4000, ISO 220.

RJ Corman 7116 southbound with the ALCAN train at Frankfort, Ky

July 17, 2020 – RJ Corman 7116 moves at a snails pace as it leads the empty ALCAN train southbound through downtown Frankfort, Kentucky on its way to Tri-Arrows Aluminum in Brea, Kentucky to pickup another load of aluminum ingots.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Nikkor 70-300 @ 75mm, f/5.6, 1/4000, ISO 220.

July 17, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 3645 leads a empty coal train as it passes through the cut at Tunnel Hill road overpass, just west of Ramsey, Indiana, with stormy skies looming to the east on the NS Southern-East District. This cut was constructed to bypass the original tunnel through this area and I'm told it can still be seen via Google Earth Maps of the area. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 1600.

Norfolk Southern 3645 leads a WB empty coal train at Tunnel Hill

July 17, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 3645 leads a empty coal train as it passes through the cut at Tunnel Hill road overpass, just west of Ramsey, Indiana, with stormy skies looming to the east on the NS Southern-East District. This cut was constructed to bypass the original tunnel through this area and I’m told it can still be seen via Google Earth Maps of the area.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 1600.

July 15, 2020 - Union Pacific 7074 leads UP IDLC as it approaches the Green Street overpass at Mount Vernon, Illinois as it makes its way north on the Mt. Vernon Subdivision. Fellow railfan, Cooper Smith and I spent the day railfanning in southern Illinois today and while we got a few nice shots and had a great time, the trains just didn't cooperate! We went from Kentucky to Bruceton, Illinois to catch UP and CN action through the diamond there, as well at Christopher and Du Quoin. However, after spending the whole day trackside we pretty much caught one train we each like at each location. Turns out after the one train on the busy UP line we caught at Mt. Vernon, that line was shut down the rest of the day till 9pm. We had no clue it was scheduled, but that's the way trains roll sometime! The other lines we railfanned were just having a very slow day, however we did catch at least something everywhere we stopped... eventually! The last stop of the day was at Anna, IL where we caught CN A431 being led by CN 2460 (a "Blue Devil" unit) as the very last light of a stormy evening stole the light from the day. I'll be posting a few others from the trip along with a couple videos for everyone's viewing pleasure! Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 370mm, f/6, 1/640, ISO 320.

UP intermodal IDLC NB at Mount Vernon, IL

July 15, 2020 – Union Pacific 7074 leads UP IDLC as it approaches the Green Street overpass at Mount Vernon, Illinois as it makes its way north on the Mt. Vernon Subdivision. Fellow railfan, Cooper Smith and I spent the day railfanning in southern Illinois today and while we got a few nice shots and had a great time, the trains just didn’t cooperate!

We went from Kentucky to Bruceton, Illinois to catch UP and CN action through the diamond there, as well at Christopher and Du Quoin. However, after spending the whole day trackside we pretty much caught one train we each like at each location. Turns out after the one train on the busy UP line we caught at Mt. Vernon, that line was shut down the rest of the day till 9pm. We had no clue it was scheduled, but that’s the way trains roll sometime!

The other lines we railfanned were just having a very slow day, however we did catch at least something everywhere we stopped… eventually! The last stop of the day was at Anna, IL where we caught CN A431 being led by CN 2460 (a “Blue Devil” unit) as the very last light of a stormy evening stole the light from the day.

I’ll be posting a few others from the trip along with a couple videos for everyone’s viewing pleasure!

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 370mm, f/6, 1/640, ISO 320.

June 2, 2020 - It was the dead of night, crickets, frogs and an occasional car passing through the crossing breaking the silence at the Rosewood Crossing, as the moon illuminated the tracks headed out of the south end of the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Paducah, Kentucky toward Mayfield. Moonlight provides a mystical light in my opinion. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mn, f/5, 30 seconds, +2 stops, ISO 640 on a Gitzo Tripod, camera timer, 3 second delay, Mirror Locked up.

Moonlit Tracks on the PAL Railway, Paducah, Kentucky

June 2, 2020 – It was the dead of night, crickets, frogs and an occasional car passing through the crossing breaking the silence at the Rosewood Crossing, as the moon illuminated the tracks headed out of the south end of the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Paducah, Kentucky toward Mayfield. Moonlight provides a mystical light in my opinion.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mn, f/5, 30 seconds, +2 stops, ISO 640 on a Gitzo Tripod, camera timer, 3 second delay, Mirror Locked up.

May 27, 2020 - Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit 1070 passes through the NS/UP Diamond at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, as it leads NS 224 westbound on the NS Southern-West District. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 350mm, f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 560.

Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit at Mt. Vernon, IL

May 27, 2020 – Norfolk Southern Railway Wabash heritage unit 1070 passes through the NS/UP Diamond at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, as it leads NS 224 westbound on the NS Southern-West District under stormy skies.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 360.

May 30, 2020 - CSXT 5366 leads a loaded military train from Ft. Campbell, Ky as it pulls upgrade at the south end of Pembroke, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on the traditional Memorial Day. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, Sigma 24-70 @ 37mm, f/5, 1/2000, ISO 200.

CSXT 5366 leads loaded military train W831 from Ft. Campbell, Ky

May 30, 2020 – CSXT 5366 leads loaded military train W831 from Ft. Campbell, Ky as it pulls upgrade at the south end of Pembroke, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on the traditional Memorial Day.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, Sigma 24-70 @ 37mm, f/5, 1/2000, ISO 200.

June 18, 2020 - Engineer Travis Collins heads southbound on the Indiana Railroad with engine 9004 leading, after meeting and trading trains with the northbound INRD 9005, at the north end of BLS Siding at Switz City, Indiana as the last light of day fades from the sky. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 2,500.

Indiana Railroad 9004 passing 9005 at Switz City, IN

June 18, 2020 – Engineer Travis Collins heads southbound on the Indiana Railroad with engine 9004 leading, after meeting and trading trains with the northbound INRD 9005, at the north end of BLS Siding at Switz City, Indiana as the last light of day fades from the sky.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 2,500.

June 22, 2020 - Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 past a string of empty grain cars at the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Madisonville, Kentucky as it heads for Warrior Coal Main in Nebo, Ky to pickup a load of coal.. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, ISO 400.

NS 1098 SB at PAL West Yard, Madisonville, Ky

June 22, 2020 – Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 leads empty coal train WYX1 past a string of empty grain cars at the Paducah and Louisville Railway yard at Madisonville, Kentucky as it heads for Warrior Coal Main in Nebo, Ky to pickup a load of coal.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, ISO 400.

June 6, 2020 - LORAM Railgrinder 403 approaches the Davis Road overpass just south of Mannington, Kentucky, as it heads south to it's next grinding spot on the Henderson Subdivision, as it's lights illuminate the right-of-way in the fading daylight. According to Wikipedia: A rail grinder is a maintenance of way vehicle or train used to restore the profile and remove irregularities from worn tracks to extend its life and to improve the ride of trains using the track. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8. 1/160, ISO 3200.

LORAM Railgrinder 403 approaches the Davis Road overpass…

June 6, 2020 – LORAM Railgrinder 403 approaches the Davis Road overpass just south of Mannington, Kentucky, as it heads south to it’s next grinding spot on the Henderson Subdivision, as it’s lights illuminate the right-of-way in the fading daylight.

According to Wikipedia: A rail grinder is a maintenance of way vehicle or train used to restore the profile and remove irregularities from worn tracks to extend its life and to improve the ride of trains using the track.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8. 1/160, ISO 3200.

June 22, 2020 - A fresh Paducah and Louisville Railway crew climbs aboard Norfolk Southern T4 locomotive 1098 at Central City, Kentucky as they prepare to continue to move empty coal train WYX1 on south to Warrior Coal mine, west of Madisonville, Ky. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 260mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 500.

Paducah and Louisville Railway on WYX1 prepares to depart…

June 22, 2020 – A fresh Paducah and Louisville Railway crew climbs aboard Norfolk Southern locomotive 1098 at Central City, Kentucky as they prepare to continue to move empty coal train WYX1 on south to Warrior Coal mine, west of Madisonville, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 260mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 500.

June 18, 2020 - A different take on a picture I shared yesterday of a string of power that is stored on the Landree Lead at Indiana Railroads Hiawatha Yard in Jasonville, Indiana. Years ago this track led to the Landree mine which no longer exists. Two of these units have been placed back in service since I shot this and INRD SD90s & SD40s are stored currently due to not being needed at the moment. The INRD GP38s are stored Out of Service. All the CEFX, CITX, (etc) are stored pending repairs work, or new lease from the customer. Tech Info: Full Frame D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, F/6.3, 1/2000, ISO 250.

Power that is stored at Indiana Railroads, Jasonville, Indiana

June 18, 2020 – A different take on a picture I shared yesterday of a string of power that is stored on the Landree Lead at Indiana Railroads Hiawatha Yard in Jasonville, Indiana. Years ago this track led to the Landree mine which no longer exists.

Two of these units have been placed back in service since I shot this and INRD SD90s & SD40s are stored currently due to not being needed at the moment. The INRD GP38s are stored Out of Service. All the CEFX, CITX, (etc) are stored pending repairs work, or new lease from the customer.

Tech Info: Full Frame D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, F/6.3, 1/2000, ISO 250.

June 18, 2020 - Switcher 1598 heads up a string of power stored on the Landree Lead at Indiana Railroads Hiawatha Yard in Jasonville, Indiana. Years ago this track led to the Landree mine which no longer exists. Two of these units have been placed back in service since I shot this and INRD SD90s & SD40s are stored currently due to not being needed at the moment. The INRD GP38s are stored Out of Service. All the CEFX, CITX, (etc) are stored pending repairs work, or new lease from the customer. Tech Info: Full Frame D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 140mm, F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 360.

Switcher 1598 heads up a string of power at Jasonville, IN

June 18, 2020 – Switcher 1598 heads up a string of power stored on the Landree Lead at Indiana Railroads Hiawatha Yard in Jasonville, Indiana. Years ago this track led to the Landree mine which no longer exists.

Two of these units have been placed back in service since I shot this and INRD SD90s & SD40s are stored currently due to not being needed at the moment. The INRD GP38s are stored Out of Service. All the CEFX, CITX, (etc) are stored pending repairs work, or new lease from the customer.

Tech Info: Full Frame D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 140mm, F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 360.

June 3, 2020 - Kasgro (KRL) Caboose 073 brings up the rear of CSX W993-31, with CSXT 5263 leading, as it backs onto the MH&E branch at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. They parked it there for a short while as it waited for a fresh crew to take over the train and continue on it's northbound move. The train was running with an oversized load General Electric load on a Kasgro 20 Axel Depressed Deck Car KRL 204040 that has a load limit of 943,900lbs. Kasgro Rail Corporation builds, maintains, and manages a fleet of nearly 500 specialty railcars which are used for transporting oversized and heavy "dimensional" loads anywhere in the United States Railroad system. Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/800 sec, ISO 280.

CSX W993-31 at Atkinson Yard, Madisonville, Ky with a oversized GE load

June 3, 2020 – Kasgro (KRL) Caboose 073 brings up the rear of CSX W993-31, with CSXT 5263 leading, as it backs onto the MH&E branch at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. They parked it there for a short while as it waited for a fresh crew to take over the train and continue on it’s northbound move.

The train was running with an oversized load General Electric load on a Kasgro 20 Axel Depressed Deck Car KRL 204040 that has a load limit of 943,900lbs.

Kasgro Rail Corporation builds, maintains, and manages a fleet of nearly 500 specialty railcars which are used for transporting oversized and heavy “dimensional” loads anywhere in the United States Railroad system.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/11, 1/800 sec, ISO 280.

June 29, 2020 - I was in the middle of getting in my 10,000 steps for the day at Madisonville when I got a call from fellow railfan Cooper Smith, in Clarksville, TN, about CSX W016-27 heading north out of Hopkinsville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. So, I pulled out my iPhone and tuned into another railfan friend, Steve Miller's Broadcastify scanner feed for the Henderson Sub around Hopkinsville, as I crossed over the north Main Street bridge in Madisonville above the mainline through town, to keep track on it's move as I still was about 2 miles from my RAV4.. At this point since we'd only heard it on the scanner we figured it was another windmill turbine move, but another railfan friend, Tom Wortham was trackside on the Henderson Cutoff track and caught sight and photographed it and let us all know that it was a rail train, which I caught here coming through Arklow, back onto the main at Madisonville, Ky and chased it north to Henderson, Ky shooting videos of its move north to Effingham, IL. So, this is what the railfan community is all about! Sharing information with other's in our community to allow all of us to pursue or passion for trains! Thanks guys!! Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 190mm, f/5.3, 1/1600, ISO 720.

The railfan community helps me catch railtrain W016-17!

June 29, 2020 – I was in the middle of getting in my 10,000 steps for the day at Madisonville when I got a call from fellow railfan Cooper Smith, in Clarksville, TN, about CSX W016-27 heading north out of Hopkinsville, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision. So, I pulled out my iPhone and tuned into another railfan friend, Steve Miller’s Broadcastify scanner feed for the Henderson Sub around Hopkinsville, as I crossed over the north Main Street bridge in Madisonville above the mainline through town, to keep track on it’s move as I still was about 2 miles from my RAV4.

At this point since we’d only heard it on the scanner we figured it was another windmill turbine move, but another railfan friend, Tom Wortham was trackside on the Henderson Cutoff track and caught sight and photographed it and let us all know that it was a rail train, which I caught here coming through Arklow, back onto the main at Madisonville, Ky and chased it north to Henderson, Ky shooting videos of its move north to Effingham, IL.

So, this is what the railfan community is all about! Sharing information with other’s in our community to allow all of us to pursue or passion for trains! Thanks guys!!

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 190mm, f/5.3, 1/1600, ISO 720.