Evansville Western Railway 4510 and Paducah & Louisville Railway 4523 lead empty coal train WYX3 as it passes through the wetlands area on the way to pickup another load of coal at the Warrior Coal Mine loop outside of Nebo, Kentucky, on February 13th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
Well, I powered the Air 2S up after letting it dry out for three days and it did come on, but the camera and gimbal both are damaged so I’m using the DJI insurance to have it replaced. It’s running me $139, but it’s worth it as I have plans for this on as I also went forward and purchased the Mavic 3 Classic! Stay tuned for more on the Mavic 3 later.
I was trackside setting up for a photo with my drone earlier this week and was flying what I thought was high enough, but I snagged the top power line crossing the tracks!
The drone spun around for about 30 seconds before it finally came loose and it spiraled pretty much all the way to the ground till it reached about 5 feet and then started to automatically land and I couldn’t stop it.
Well as you can tell from this picture it landed softly, but in about 4 feet of water in clear flowing stream! Needless to say, the only way I could get to it is wade out, without my pants, shoes or socks and retrieve it! Man, it was COLD!
I couldn’t believe that the drone was still powered up as it set on the bottom of the creekbed! Once I got it to the bank I powered down, removed the battery and gave it a good shaking, at least the best I could under the conditions.
After getting dressed, also a good thing I was out in the middle of nowhere, I used my jacket to dry it off more. Now, with all this being said, I’m not sure if it will work or not, but I’ve had it drying out since then and don’t plan on powering it up till Thursday.
From what I read online, some drones fair better than others, but I’m encouraged that it was still powered up sitting there in the water. I don’t plan on trusting the battery, so it’s toast, but since the water in the creek was running fast and very clear, so I’m pretty sure no dirt or sediment is on the circuitry.
UPDATE:
As for the Air 2S replacement? Once it arrives I plan on using it to shoot Infrared train shots! I special ordered a custom cut 850nm IR filter from Kolari Vision! No sure just how it’s going to work with a drone just yet, but I’m excited to see what I can get! If nothing else I’ll be able to shoot trains that are stopped and hopefully some pan shots as well. Stay tuned for more on this!
February 25th, 2023 – Episode 8 – In this week’s edited rail video we catch rail action in and around CSX’s Howell Yard at Evansville, Indiana! Enjoy and please Like, Share and Subscribe!
This week’s Saturday Infrared photo is of CSX W001, a geometry train inspecting the siding track at Kelly, Kentucky under stormy skies as it works southbound on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on February 9th, 2023.
A geometry train measures the track geometry by using electromagnetic devices. These trains are used to pinpoint any kind of defect in the tracks that may affect the safe operation of trains.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/2000, ISO 400.
February 25th, 2023 – Episode 8 – In this week’s edited rail video we catch rail action in and around CSX’s Howell Yard at Evansville, Indiana! Enjoy and please Like, Share and Subscribe! Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to Subscribe and Ring the Notification Bell so you won’t miss any of my future videos! Have a blessed day everyone!!
Evansville Western Railway 4510 leads an empty coal train through a cut on the east leg of the Paducah and Louisville Railways wye at Madisonville, Kentucky as they make their way to the Warrior Coal Mine lead to pickup another load of coal from the Warrior Loop, outside of Nebo, Kentucky on February 13th, 2023.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, Irex 11mm, f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 200.
Union Pacific 4477 leads Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset as it passes through downtown Hanson, Kentucky on CSX S993 as it heads south on the CSX Henderson subdivision, on February 13th, 2023, on its way to Orlando, Florida.
According to the GoBrightline Facebook page, “This completes our fleet of 10 train sets and is the final of the five new trains for our Orlando extension! We can’t wait to welcome Bright Orange 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando. Safe travels, and see you soon, Bright Orange 2!”
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 200.
CSXT 991 leads hot intermodal I025 as it passes under the US 41 overpass at Barnsley, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on February 13th, 2023. The first string of cars behind the power are autoracks loaded with Tesla Automobiles bound for Florida. (Note that this is a cropped photo and the drone was moved away before the train reached its location.)
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 140.
Paducah and Louisville Railway’s 4516 and 4503 pull their empty coal train under the coaling temple at the Warrior Coal Mine loop, outside of Nebo, Kentucky as they prepare to load another train bound for the Louisville Gas & Electric power plant, outside of Louisville, Ky on January 12th, 2023.
Paducah and Louisville 4512 brings up the DPU end of empty coal train WYX3 as it passes through a wetlands area on the way to pickup another load of coal at the Warrior Coal Mine loop outside of Nebo, Kentucky, as the train is reflected in the calm waters on February 13th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 110.
Brightline’s Orange 2 trainset rolls over the Red River trestle with Union Pacific 4477 leading the way as it heads south on the CSX Henderson subdivision on CSX S993, at Adams, Tennessee, on February 13th, 2023.
According to the GoBrightline Facebook page, ‘’This completes our fleet of 10 train sets and is the final of the five new trains for our Orlando extension! We cant wait to welcome Bright Orange 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Orlando. Safe travels, and see you soon, Bright Orange 2!’’
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 200.
Canadian National 3143 and Union Pacific 6220 pull CSX M513 off the Earlington Cuttoff at Mortons Gap, Kentucky as the head south on the Henderson Subdivision on February 10th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 200.
February 18th, 2023 – Episode 7 – In this week’s edited rail video we catch rail action between Rankin and Kelly, Ky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision of CSX I028, S988, I025, I026, and M512 at various spots between Evansville, IN and Nashville, TN! Enjoy and please Like, Share and Subscribe!
Infrared photo of Nevada Northern Railway fireman Will Ebbert keeps a watchful eye from locomotive 81, as they head back through the yard at Ely, Nevada on February 12h, 2022 during during the museums 2022 Winter Photo Charter event.
Nevada Northern No. 81 is a “Consolidation” type (2-8-0) steam locomotive that was built for the Nevada Northern in 1917 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA, at a cost of $23,700. It was built for Mixed service to haul both freight and passenger trains on the Nevada Northern railway.
According to Wikipedia: The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicated to the preservation of the Nevada Northern Railway.
Tech Info: Fuji XT1 converted to 720nm, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/4, 1/220, ISO 200.
Indiana Southern Railroad locomotive 3382 leads an empty coal train through downtown Linton, Indiana as the Indiana Railroad Santa train sits on the main so Santa can pay a visit to the kids in the community.
The ISRR empty coal train is headed to Bear Run Mine, just outside Dugger, IN for another load of coal.
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 acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 130.
BNSF 5050 leads the BNSF local as pulls out of P&I Junction in Paducah, Kentucky after making its drop-off and pickup at the Paducah & Louisville Railway on November 23rd, 2022.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 140, -.3 stop.
Paducah and Louisville Railways’ 4516 and 4503 pull their empty coal train through the Warrior Coal Mine loop, outside of Nebo, Kentucky as they prepare to load their train, bound for the Louisville Gas & Electric power plant, outside of Louisville, Ky on January 12th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/60, ISO 100, -.7 stop.
Digital Photographic Art – Meadow River Lumber Company steam locomotive, Heisler No. 6, leads a freight train past a wetlands area at Hosterman, West Virginia during the Mountain Rail WV, Rail Heritage Photography Weekend. The event was held at the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, Durbin, WV, and Cass Scenic Railroad, Cass, WV, from November 4-6th, 2022.
According to Wikipedia: The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad (reporting mark DGVR) is a heritage and freight railroad in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia. It operates the West Virginia State Rail Authority-owned Durbin Railroad and West Virginia Central Railroad (reporting mark WVC), as well as the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in Virginia.
Beginning in 2015, DGVR began operating the historic geared steam-powered Cass Scenic Railroad, which was previously operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources as part of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
September 5, 2019 – The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332 steam locomotive from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum passes a small pond under full steam at Palmers around MP 15.5 on the North Shore Line as it pulls a excursion freight train north toward Twin Harbors from Duluth, Minnesota.
According to Wikipedia: Duluth & Northeastern 28 (also known as Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 332) is a restored 2-8-0 (consolidation) locomotive built in 1906 by the Pittsburgh Works of American Locomotive Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was restored to operating condition by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum from 2011-2017, and now operates in excursion service on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Irex 11mm, f/8, 1/320, ISO 280.
CSX C002 crosses over the diamond at Trident on the Henderson Subdivision, after coming off the Morganfield Branch after picking up a load of coal from Warrior Coal mine, as they head into CSX Atkinson Yard at Madisonville, Ky on January 25th, 2023.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.