Paducah & Louisville Railway 35th Anniversary units, 2021 and 1986 work at the north end of the yard in this Infrared photo from July 8th, 2022, at Paducah, Kentucky.
The two engines have been painted in colors and scheme closely matching the original PAL paint scheme from 1986 and are in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Paducah and Louisville Railway.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 24mm, f/7.1, 1/250, ISO 200.
CSXT 911 leads a northbound empty coke train B420, on May 15th, 2022, as it pulls away from Arklow at Madisonville, Kentucky with an empty coke train after dropping off its load at Calvert City Terminal at Calvert City, Ky on the Paducah and Louisville Railway.
CSXT 911 is one of several specialty painted units that CSX has painted in the last few years and this unit honors First Responders.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 330mm, f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 250.
Paducah and Louisville Railways’ (PAL) newly painted 35th Anniversary engines 2021 and 1986, work in the north end of the yard on July 8th, 2022, at Paducah, Kentucky.
According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.
Flown and access with permission from the Paducah and Louisville Railway.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 130.
Several firsts for me in this drone image from June 24th, 2022, showing the whole loop at Warrior Coal outside Nebo, Kentucky! On this Norfolk Southern coal train, we find NS Illinois Terminal Heritage Unit 1072 leading with Paducah and Louisville University of Kentucky locomotive, 4522 trailing, as they prepare to load an empty coal drag, with NS Southern Heritage Unit 8114 bringing up the rear.
This was my first time catching a coal train with a heritage unit leading and as a DPU on the rear, plus doing so on the Paducah and Louisville Railway with one of the University of Kentucky units in the consist was pretty cool!
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 130.
CSX 914 travels through the expansive flood plain with the fields full of corn and soybeans, as CSX loaded grain train heads south out of Evansville, Indiana on the Henderson Subdivision on July 14th, 2022. Here they are staring the climb up the viaduct over the Ohio River to Henderson, Kentucky, and points south. During the rainy season much of this area as far as the eye can see is prone to floodwaters from the Ohio River.
This is a favorite area for me and many other railfans to chase and photograph trains because of the uniqueness of the long viaduct which is right at 4.5 miles long.
The viaduct and bridge over the river were built by the L&N railroad and were dedicated on the last day of 1932 at a cost about $4 million. It replaced one that was erected in 1885, also built by the L&N, and at that time was the longest channel span of that type in the world at 2.3 miles long.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.
UP 5970 leads CSX S988 as it heads south through the S Curve at Nortonville, Kentucky with two new Brightline Green and Pink commuter train sets, as they head for Florida, on the Henderson Subdivision on July 16th, 2022.
These train sets were built by Siemens in Sacramento, California and are destined for service along Brightlines routes in Florida.
According to Wikipedia: Brightline is a privately run intercity rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida that runs on track owned by Florida East Coast Railway. An extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport is expected to open in 2023.
Brightline is the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. Its development started in March 2012 as All Aboard Florida by Florida East Coast Industries; a Florida real estate developer owned by Fortress Investment Group. Construction began in November 2014 and the route opened in January 2018.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.
Evansville Western Railway 6003 leads the daily local run between Mt. Vernon, IN and Evansville, IN as it approaches the north end of Nations siding on its return trip to Mt. Vernon on July 15th, 2022.
According to Wikipedia: The Evansville Western Railway (reporting mark EVWR) is a Class III common carrier shortline railroad operating in the southern Illinois and Indiana region. It is one of three regional railroad subsidiaries owned and operated by P&L Transportation. The other one is the Appalachian & Ohio Railroad operating out of West Virginia.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 130.
CSX S988 heads south over Gum Lick Trestle, just north of Kelly, Kentucky with two new Brightline Green and Pink commuter train sets, with UP 5970 leading, as they head for Florida, on the Henderson Subdivision on July 16th, 2022.
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, and it is the highest trestle on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
These train sets were built by Siemens in Sacramento, California and are destined for service along Brightlines routes in Florida.
According to Wikipedia: Brightline is a privately run inter-city rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida that runs on track owned by Florida East Coast Railway. An extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport is expected to open in 2023.
Brightline is the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. Its development started in March 2012 as All Aboard Florida by Florida East Coast Industries; a Florida real estate developer owned by Fortress Investment Group. Construction began in November 2014 and the route opened in January 2018.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 120.
CSX I028 makes its way down the Viaduct after crossing the Ohio River docked at Henderson, Kentucky, after passing the American Duchess paddle wheeler at Henderson, as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Rahm, Indiana on July 14th, 2022.
This is one of several great shots I snagged in this area while out railfanning with outstanding rail photographer Brian Caswell. We’ve been friends here on Facebook for some time and finally met up in person for a half day on the Henderson Subdivision. Check out his page SpeedShot Train Photography and give it a like for some inspiring train photography!!
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 110.
#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography
What could be better than the light at dusk and five beautiful BNSF units leading a northbound loaded potash and empty ethanol combined train? Well, actually I can think of a lot of things, but still a nice picture!
I first caught this CSX B207 as it headed across the CR Drawbridge in downtown Nashville, Tennessee as it began its trip north on July 12th, 2022. That was about 4pm in the afternoon and I had no idea Id catch up with it as it was about 5:30 before I left town, and traffic was pretty congested all the way to Clarksville, TN! But here I was, ahead of it at Mortons Gap, KY almost 4 hours later, on the Henderson Subdivision, getting this nice light shot at 7pm! There was also two CSX units on it as mid train DPUs.
The power was: BNSF 3687, 8028, 4397, 6714, 5992 leading with CSXT 3430 and 3387 as mid train DPUs. Actually, they were also heading up the empty ethanol train.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/4, 1/320, ISO 1100.
Paducah and Louisville Railways’ (PAL) newly painted 35th Anniversary engines 2021 and 1986, sit in the wye next the locomotive shop on July 8th, 2022, at Paducah, Kentucky. Both units were done by Progress Rails shops in Mayfield, KY.
I’m told the two engines have been painted in colors and scheme closely matching the original PAL paint scheme from 1986 and are in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Paducah and Louisville Railway.
Flown and access with permission from the Paducah and Louisville Railway.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
Paducah and Louisville Railways’ (PAL) newly painted 35th Anniversary engines 2021 and 1986, work out of the north end of the yard on July 8th, 2022, at Paducah, Kentucky as they build a train.
The two engines have been painted in colors and scheme closely matching the original PAL paint scheme from 1986 and are in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Paducah and Louisville Railway. Currently these two engines are only seeing yard service at Paducah while they are put through their paces before taking to the road.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography
Here’s one of five new videos I’ve added to my YouTube Channel on a railfan trip I did on July 5th, 2022 from between Nashville, TN and Kelly, Kentucky. Visit my YouTube channel for the the other videos!
For me, this is a rare and unknown, catch of this switcher #13 operating at the Arkema plant in the industrial area in Calvert City, Kentucky on July 6th, 2022.
Rare and unknown is because after 20 years of photographing around the Calvert City industrial area I’ve never seen or knew this unit even existed! I have always assumed that the Paducah and Louisville Railway worked this plant, as it does many others in the area. It’s possible it’s fairly new at the plant, as when I look at the earth view on Google Maps, I don’t see it anywhere on the property.
It’s always nice to stumble on something different in my travels, as myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott found on our trip to Paducah, Ky yesterday to photograph their 35th Anniversary locomotives!
I don’t have any lineage on this unit at all, and I’m not a power guy, so all I know is it is at the Arkema plant in Calvert City. It is a specialty chemicals and advanced materials company headquartered in Colombes, near Paris, France, which is organized into three business segments: Coating Solutions, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 230mm, f/3.5, 1/1000, ISO 250.
#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography
Paducah and Louisville Railways’ (PAL) newly painted 35th Anniversary engines 1986 and 2021, work in the yard on July 6th, 2022, at Paducah, Kentucky. The two engines have been painted in the original PAL paint scheme from 1986 and were in celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Paducah and Louisville Railway. Currently these two engines are only seeing yard service at Paducah while they are put through their paces before taking to the road, which Im told they will do before long.
I had hoped for a better side view so you can see both engines, but PAL doesnt allow drones over their yard without permission now and the engines didnt come south through the yard enough for a good side view shot. I hope to have some better images by next week, as PAL has asked me to come to the yard and photograph them for their PR department. Stay tuned!
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 500mm, f/6, 1/1000, ISO 560.
A Union Pacific loaded coal train heads across the bridge over the Kansas River towards Santa Fe Junction on the Kansas City Terminal Railroad (KCT) High Line at on June 29th, 2022.
The bridge is KCTs double deck, double track crossing of the Kansas River. The odd-looking silver towers on the bridge are lift mechanisms to raise the bridge in the event of flooding and are not connected most of the time. The upper deck line was primarily used by passenger trains from UP and Rock Island, moving to and from Kansas through the KC Union Station. Today primarily freight trains use this bridge.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO.
After spending a couple days railfanning the Kansas City areas, myself and fellow railfan Ryan Scott of SteelRails started our trip back home and decided to railfan our way back which brought us to this scene at Marshall, Missouri on the afternoon of June 30th, 2022.
We came here to try and catch something coming through the flyover here where the UP and KCS cross each other, but never made it to the location because we heard from a fellow railfan, Drew Davison, there was a westbound Kansas City Southern fright headed to Marshall. We decided to wait here to get a shot of it passing the old Chicago and Alton Depot here at Marshall. Now, we didn’t expect a 3-4 hour wait, but that’s what it turned out to be, but the shot was well worth it!
According to the website roadtrippers.com, The Chicago and Alton Depot, also known as the Illinois Central Gulf Depot, is a historic train station located at Marshall, Saline County, Missouri. It was designed by the noted architect Jarvis Hunt and built in 1906 by the Chicago and Alton Railroad. It is a one-story, brick and stone building with Jacobethan Revival and Mission Revival style design elements. The building measures approximately 113 feet 2 inches in length and 42 feet 11 inches wide. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100.
#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography
A Union Pacific loaded coal train heads across Santa Fe Junction on the Kansas City Terminal Railroad (KCT) High Line at sunset as it approaches Tower #3, on June 29th, 2022.
Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing in addition to Tower 3, which is used by maintenance of way these days. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic.
The Kansas City Terminal Railway Company (KCT) is a Class III railroad located in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. KCT serves as a terminal railroad for its five Class I railroad owners (Union Pacific, BNSF, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific). Amtrak also operates over the KCT providing passenger service to and from Union Station. Currently the second largest rail hub in the United States, KCT owns and dispatches 95 miles of track spanning Missouri and Kansas.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/8000, ISO 110 underexposed by 3 stops for the sun.
Union Pacific 8897 brings up rear as DPU on a grain train as it heads across Santa Fe Junction on the Kansas City Terminal Railroad (KCT) High Line, while BNSF 7767 and 3947 lead a westbound train past Tower #3 on June 30th, 2022.
Santa Fe Junction sees on average over 100 trains a day and it hosts the double decked railroad (ATSF Double Deck Railroad) bridge that crosses the Kansas River into Missouri, a triple crossing in addition to Tower 3, which is used by maintenance of way these days. The junction is partly in Missouri and Kansas and sees BNSF, UP, KCT, Amtrak, KCS, NS and CP traffic, from what I saw during my visit.
The Kansas City Terminal Railway Company (KCT) is a Class III railroad located in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas. KCT serves as a terminal railroad for its five Class I railroad owners (Union Pacific, BNSF, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific). Amtrak also operates over the KCT providing passenger service to and from Union Station. Currently the second largest rail hub in the United States, KCT owns and dispatches 95 miles of track spanning Missouri and Kansas.
According to the website railfanguides.us Santa Fe Junction Interlocking is easily the busiest location for trains in Kansas City and trains from any of the five railroads which jointly own KCT can be seen here. Tower #3 was closed in 1969 when a central dispatching center replaced it and all the other towers KCT had at the time.
The black bridge is KCTs double deck, double track crossing of the Kansas River. The odd-looking silver towers on the bridge are lift mechanisms to raise the bridge in the event of flooding and are not connected most of the time. The upper deck line was primarily used by passenger trains from UP and Rock Island, moving to and from Kansas through the KC Union Station. Today primarily freight trains use this bridge.
The tracks through the junction have been reduced or changed around over the years, but the area remains one of KCs Busiest locations.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.
Norfolk Southern Heritage 1072 “Illinois Terminal” locomotive and Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 4522, leads an empty coal train as they cross the marshland on the way to Warrior Coal Loop, just outside Nebo, Kentucky on June 24th, 2022.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 110.