VR Location suggestions on the CSX Henderson Subdivision

Mortons Gap, Kentucky, Initial Contact, Ricky Bivins, he has contacts for the community and lives right by the mainline. His number is: 270-875-7838, Ricky is a past president of the West Kentucky Chapter of the NRHS.

This location is where the Henderson Cutoff that runs around Earlington and Madisonville, Ky come back together and allows a view of all traffic on the Henderson Subdivision. Also known as Mortons Junction.

Mortons Gap Photo 1 is looking north from a height of a pole that currently has power on the east side of the tracks.

Mortons Gap Photo 2 is looking south from the same location.

Mortons Gap Photo 3 is looking at the top of the pole

Crofton, Kentucky, Contact, Mayor Danny Lacy, 270-985-0695, This is our suggestion for a location. The mayor here is familiar with the West Kentucky Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and is railfan friendly. He is also working towards a grant to open a railfan park with a caboose here in the city and while I didn’t get a shot of the pole from the east side of the track you can see edges of the parking lot from the views where he hopes the railpark will go. He’s been made aware that someone may call about the possibility of putting a VR camera there.

This location has a siding where many trains meet and is a nice long straight stretch in both directions. I think he’d be open to installing a pole anywhere you’d like it.

Crofton Photo 1 is looking south as a north bound train passes a train in the siding. This view is from the west side of the tracks.
Crofton Photo 2 is looking south as a north bound train passes a train in the siding. This view is from the west side of the tracks. The building across the tracks is part of the fire department and to the left where you can see a parking area is where the purposed railfan park and caboose will be. The east side views are from the power pole in the middle of the parking area.
Crofton Photo 3 is looking south again showing the pole with a train in the siding. This view is from the west side of the tracks.
Crofton Photo 4 is looking north again showing the pole with a train in the siding. This view is from the west side of the tracks.
Crofton Photo 5 is looking north as a north bound train passes a train in the siding. This view is from the east side of the tracks from the pole where the purposed railfan park and caboose will be.
Crofton Photo 6 is looking south as a north bound train passes a train in the siding. This view is from the east side of the tracks from the pole where the purposed railfan park and caboose will be.
In this going away shot we see the full 8,256 feet of CSX I028 as it heads north across the Ohio River Bridge and viaduct on the CSX Henderson Subdivision from Henderson, Kentucky on April 19th, 2022. Between the viaduct and the bridge the total span above ground is just at 4.5 miles long. The current viaduct and bridge 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 erected in 1885, also built by the L&N, which 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, 1/2000, ISO 160 #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

CSX I028 northbound over the Ohio River at Henderson, Kentucky with a 8,256 ft train

In this going away shot we see the full 8,256 feet of CSX I028 as it heads north across the Ohio River Bridge and viaduct on the CSX Henderson Subdivision from Henderson, Kentucky on April 19th, 2022. Between the viaduct and the bridge the total span above ground is just at 4.5 miles long.

The current viaduct and bridge 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 erected in 1885, also built by the L&N, which 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, 1/2000, ISO 160

Going Away shot - Looks can be deceiving as in this going away shot that looks like it is coming at us, as I caught Norfolk Southern Heritage Unit 1072, Illinois Terminal, and NS 8090 bringing up the rear of a loaded coal train on April 7th, 2022, as it headed north on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Central City, Kentucky. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 130. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Norfolk Southern Heritage Unit 1072, Illinois Terminal northbound at Central City, Kentucky

Going Away shot – Looks can be deceiving as in this going away shot that looks like it is coming at us, as I caught Norfolk Southern Heritage Unit 1072, Illinois Terminal, and NS 8090 bringing up the rear of a loaded coal train on April 7th, 2022, as it headed north on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Central City, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1500, ISO 130.

On March 14th, 2022, United States Army Gensets 6519 and 6520 head south as they approach the Locus Grove Road crossing at Hopkinsville, Kentucky with another loaded military train, returning from military exercises somewhere out west. The equipment was delivered by CSX S864, which was a Rose Lake, IL – Hopkinsville, Ky train and was one of about 5 trains that ran down the CSX CE&D and Henderson Subdivisions to Hopkinsville over the past week, returning equipment from training to Ft. Campbell. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 360mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

United States Army Gensets 6519 and 6520 head south from Hopkinsville, Kentucky with a military train

On March 14th, 2022, United States Army Gensets 6519 and 6520 head south as they approach the Locus Grove Road crossing at Hopkinsville, Kentucky with another loaded military train, returning from military exercises somewhere out west.

The equipment was delivered by CSX S864, which was a Rose Lake, IL – Hopkinsville, Ky train and was one of about 5 trains that ran down the CSX CE&D and Henderson Subdivisions to Hopkinsville over the past week, returning equipment from training to Ft. Campbell.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 360mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 100.

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotive #93 pulls a wreck train southbound through Robinson Canyon after departing Ely, Nevada on the final day of their 3-day Winter Photography Charter on February 13th, 2022. 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. The museum is situated at the East Ely Yards, which are part of the Nevada Northern Railway. The site is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as the Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops and is also known as the "Nevada Northern Railway Complex". The rail yards were designated a National Historic Landmark District on September 27, 2006. The site was cited as one of the best-preserved early 20th-century railroad yards in the nation, and a key component in the growth of the region's copper mining industry. Developed in the first decade of the 20th century, it served passengers and freight until 1983, when the Kennecott Copper Company, its then-owner, donated the yard to a local non-profit for preservation. The property came complete with all the company records of the Nevada Northern from its inception.” Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored to service in 1993. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #nevadanorthernrailway #steamtrain

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotive #93 pulls a wreck train out of Ely, Nevada

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotive #93 pulls a wreck train southbound through Robinson Canyon after departing Ely, Nevada on the final day of their 3-day Winter Photography Charter on February 13th, 2022.

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.

The museum is situated at the East Ely Yards, which are part of the Nevada Northern Railway. The site is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as the Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops and is also known as the “Nevada Northern Railway Complex”. The rail yards were designated a National Historic Landmark District on September 27, 2006. The site was cited as one of the best-preserved early 20th-century railroad yards in the nation, and a key component in the growth of the region’s copper mining industry. Developed in the first decade of the 20th century, it served passengers and freight until 1983, when the Kennecott Copper Company, its then-owner, donated the yard to a local non-profit for preservation. The property came complete with all the company records of the Nevada Northern from its inception.

Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored to service in 1993.

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

Norfolk Southern Heritage unit 8100, Nickel Plate Road, and Canadian National 5702 lead CSX Q512-24 (Radnor Yard - Nashville, TN - Avon, IN Daily) as it pulls out of the yard at Casky after picking up 10 loads of truck frames at Hopkinsville, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on February 24th, 2022. One of the things I like about railfanning the Henderson Subdivision is because we get all kinds of interesting and different foreign power that runs up and down the line! While most of it is CSX, we do get a mix of just about every major railroad on this line at some point in time during each week. You never know when it’s coming, but when it does as with this unit, railfans gather along the tracks for their own crack at capturing their own images of the move and I’m no exception! While you can’t control the weather for these shots, railroads operate in all kinds of weather and so I’m trackside when the train is! Hardest thing about shooting in bad weather is getting out the door in my opinion! A large golf umbrella helps a lot!! Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, f/4.5, 1/125, ISO 280. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Norfolk Southern Heritage unit 8100, Nickel Plate Road leads CSX Q512 northbound from Casky Yard, Hopkinsville, Ky

Norfolk Southern Heritage unit 8100, Nickel Plate Road, and Canadian National 5702 lead CSX Q512-24 (Radnor Yard – Nashville, TN – Avon, IN Daily) as it pulls out of the yard at Casky after picking up 10 loads of truck frames at Hopkinsville, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on February 24th, 2022.

One of the things I like about railfanning the Henderson Subdivision is because we get all kinds of interesting and different foreign power that runs up and down the line! While most of it is CSX, we do get a mix of just about every major railroad on this line at some point in time during each week. You never know when it’s coming, but when it does as with this unit, railfans gather along the tracks for their own crack at capturing their own images of the move and I’m no exception!

While you can’t control the weather for these shots, railroads operate in all kinds of weather and so I’m trackside when the train is! Hardest thing about shooting in bad weather is getting out the door in my opinion! A large golf umbrella helps a lot!!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 210mm, f/4.5, 1/125, ISO 280.

Live Saturday from Jim Pearson Photography from the Princeton, Indiana area

Live Saturday – April 9, 2022 – CSX I025 heads south past the old depot at Princeton, Indiana on the CE&D Subdivision. This location is one of the Virtual Railfan cameras as well. I’ll do a walk around the depot after the train gets by.

This past Saturday I did a day of Live videos from the Princeton, Indiana area including CSX and Norfolk Southern Action. I plan to try and do at least one day a week of live videos from both the air and the ground so be sure to Follow my page on Facebook so you don’t miss any of the live action! You can view many more videos from April 9th, 2022 by visiting my YouTube Channel or Facebook Page!

On April 8th, 2022, CSX Q513 heads south through downtown Hanson, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as ex-Illinois Central Executive E8 Unit 101 runs dead in tow behind the mid train DPU 3282. The E unit was purchased by Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway Company (ACWR) and on its way to be delivered at Aberdeen, NC. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/5000, ISO 640. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer

Ex-Illinois Central Executive E8 Unit 101 southbound at Hanson, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision

On April 8th, 2022, CSX Q513 heads south through downtown Hanson, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision as ex-Illinois Central Executive E8 Unit 101 runs dead in tow behind the mid train DPU 3282. The E unit was purchased by Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Railway Company (ACWR) and on its way to be delivered at Aberdeen, NC.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/5000, ISO 640.

Nevada Northern Railway hostler Gary Hansen works on one of the marker lamps on engine 93 as he helps prepare the locomotive for another day of service at Ely, Nevada on February 12th, 2022. The hostler prepares an engine for the day’s duties before the crew arrives. During the age of steam, hostlers were a full-time position, and they covered the overnight span when the engines weren’t in use. Gary is also a diesel locomotive engineer for the NNRY. Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored to service in 1993. 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: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 15mm, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 1000. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #steamtrains #nevadanorthernrailway

Nevada Northern Railway hostler Gary Hansen prepares #93 for a day of work at Ely, Nevada

Nevada Northern Railway hostler Gary Hansen works on one of the marker lamps on engine 93 as he helps prepare the locomotive for another day of service at Ely, Nevada on February 12th, 2022.

The hostler prepares an engine for the day’s duties before the crew arrives. During the age of steam, hostlers were a full-time position, and they covered the overnight span when the engines weren’t in use. Gary is also a diesel locomotive engineer for the NNRY.

Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored to service in 1993.

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: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm @ 15mm, f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 1000.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #steamtrains #nevadanorthernrailway

Early morning golden light rakes across the engine house as Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 pull out into the frigid air at Ely, Nevada, during the museums 2022 Winter Photo Charter event on February 12th, 2022. 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. The museum is situated at the East Ely Yards, which are part of the Nevada Northern Railway. The site is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as the Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops and is also known as the "Nevada Northern Railway Complex". The rail yards were designated a National Historic Landmark District on September 27, 2006. The site was cited as one of the best-preserved early 20th-century railroad yards in the nation, and a key component in the growth of the region's copper mining industry. Developed in the first decade of the 20th century, it served passengers and freight until 1983, when the Kennecott Copper Company, its then-owner, donated the yard to a local non-profit for preservation. The property came complete with all the company records of the Nevada Northern from its inception.” According to the NNRY website, #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored back into service in 1993. Locomotive #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. Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/7.1, 1/800, ISO 280. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #steamtrains #nevadanorthernrailway#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 pull out into the frigid air at Ely, Nevada

Early morning golden light rakes across the engine house as Nevada Northern Railway steam locomotives 93 and 81 pull out into the frigid air at Ely, Nevada, during the museums 2022 Winter Photo Charter event on February 12th, 2022.

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.

The museum is situated at the East Ely Yards, which are part of the Nevada Northern Railway. The site is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as the Nevada Northern Railway East Ely Yards and Shops and is also known as the “Nevada Northern Railway Complex”. The rail yards were designated a National Historic Landmark District on September 27, 2006. The site was cited as one of the best-preserved early 20th-century railroad yards in the nation, and a key component in the growth of the region’s copper mining industry. Developed in the first decade of the 20th century, it served passengers and freight until 1983, when the Kennecott Copper Company, its then-owner, donated the yard to a local non-profit for preservation. The property came complete with all the company records of the Nevada Northern from its inception.”

According to the NNRY website, #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored back into service in 1993.

Locomotive #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.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/7.1, 1/800, ISO 280.

April 1, 2022 – CSX I025 rolls though the site of the December 10th, 2021, tornado that derailed CSX Q500 on the Henderson Subdivision and devastated the small community Barnsley, Kentucky, and many others along its path as it plowed through 6 states. After four months a lot of debris has been cleared, homeowners have begun to rebuild their homes and lives. Fortunately, this community didn’t lose anyone to the storm and there were miracles, one of which was when two Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies along with other rescuers found 3- and 15-month baby boys safe inside a bathtub where they'd been hidden to shelter before the Kentucky tornado that killed 78 people in its path, sucked up the whole tub with them inside and flung it from their house. The boys - 15-month-old Kaden and three-month-old Dallas - were ripped from the home in Barnsley when the tornado struck on December 10. Their grandmother had tucked them into the bathtub for shelter with blankets and a Bible as the storm bore down on them. They all survived the tornado. Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography

CSX I025 rolls though the site of the December 10th, 2021, tornado at Barnsley, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision

April 1, 2022 – CSX I025 rolls though the site of the December 10th, 2021, tornado that derailed CSX Q500 on the Henderson Subdivision and devastated the small community Barnsley, Kentucky, and many others along its path as it plowed through 6 states. After four months a lot of debris has been cleared, homeowners have begun to rebuild their homes and lives.

Fortunately, this community didn’t lose anyone to the storm and there were miracles, one of which was when two Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies along with other rescuers found 3- and 15-month baby boys safe inside a bathtub where they’d been hidden to shelter before the Kentucky tornado that killed 78 people in its path, sucked up the whole tub with them inside and flung it from their house.

The boys – 15-month-old Kaden and three-month-old Dallas – were ripped from the home in Barnsley when the tornado struck on December 10. Their grandmother had tucked them into the bathtub for shelter with blankets and a Bible as the storm bore down on them. They all survived the tornado.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.

In this dramatic black and white Infrared photo Nevada Northern Railway engine 93 heads back to Ely, Nevada with an empty ore train under the control of engineer Jim Montague and fireman, as they pass the old ore loading docks at the Lackawanna Crossing on the Robinson Canyon Route on February 12th, 2022. They weren’t moving ore but was a part of the museums three-day Winter Photo Charter event that ran from February 11-13th, 2022. This was my first trip to the Nevada Northern and won’t be my last! Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored back into service in 1993, according to the NNRY website. 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 XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 14mm, f/4, 1/750, ISO 200. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #infraredtrainphotography #infraredphotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #steamtrains #nevadanorthernrailway

Nevada Northern Railway engine 93 heads back to Ely, Nevada in this Infrared photo

In this dramatic black and white Infrared photo Nevada Northern Railway engine 93 heads back to Ely, Nevada with an empty ore train under the control of engineer Jim Montague and fireman, as they pass the old ore loading docks at the Lackawanna Crossing on the Robinson Canyon Route on February 12th, 2022.

They weren’t moving ore but was a part of the museums three-day Winter Photo Charter event that ran from February 11-13th, 2022. This was my first trip to the Nevada Northern and won’t be my last!

Locomotive #93 is a 2-8-0 that was built by the American Locomotive Company in January of 1909 at a cost of $17,610. It was the last steam locomotive to retire from original revenue service on the Nevada Northern Railway in 1961 and was restored back into service in 1993, according to the NNRY website.

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 XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 10-24 @ 14mm, f/4, 1/750, ISO 200.