April 9, 2022 – Norfolk Southern 167 heads East on the NS East District at Oakland City, Indiana crossing over the Indiana Southern line at the Diamond with NS 7624, 9627 and 9639 leading the way.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 110.
May 6th, 2022 – Drama, that’s one of the major things I like about the look of black and white Infrared photography of trains! It produces a great look for that I love, as with this shot of empty CSX grain express train, G304 as it rounds the curve coming into downtown Mortons Gap, Kentucky shows as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 18-250 @ 92mm, f/5, 1/160, ISO 200.
Canadian National 5651 leads a empty grain train out of the CN yard at Centralia, Illinois as it heads north on the Centralia Subdivision on April 27th, 2022, with another CN and BNSF unit trailing, as they pass over the ICG Crossing.
Centralia is named for the Illinois Central Railroad, which was built in 1853. The city was founded at the location where the two original branches of the railroad converged and today the line is owned by the Canadian National, although BNSF and Norfolk Southern also have a presence here now.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 150.
Paducah and Louisville Railway 2118 heads up the morning local on January 28, 2009 as it waits for a MOW crew to arrive at Richland, Kentucky to remove an ice laden tree from the tracks during the 2009 Ice Storm, as people around the state woke to over 2 of ice covering most of Western Kentucky.
This photo was made from the bottom of my driveway the morning of the ice storm, after I slowly made my way down the driveway to get the photo. At this time, I was still working for the Messenger Newspaper, and it ran on the front page as well on the Associated Press wire services.
It was an interesting time and my home, which is on a hill to the right out of frame, was without power for about 10 days, till I was finally able to get a generator to power the house. Of course, a day later I got the power restored, but the generator has been used several times since then when we lost power!
Tech Info: Nikon D300, JPG, Sigma 24-70 @ 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 1600.
There’s a new selection of videos on my Facebook and YouTube Channels! Stop by and pay them a visit!
Illinois Central Death Star locomotive 6250 sits dead in tow as the third unit, behind a CN and Norfolk southern unit, as they work on dropping off and picking up cars at the CN yard at Centralia, Illinois on CN A432 on April 27th, 2022.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 200.
Hostlers for Nevada Northern Railway watch as engine 81 backs out of the engine house into the frigid morning air at Ely, Nevada, during the museums 2022 Winter Photo Charter event on February 13th, 2022.
The Hostler is responsible for preparing the locomotive for use and maintaining safe and appropriate conditions. He will also direct and monitor the activities of the Hostler Helpers in their duties. The Hostler MUST have a thorough knowledge of the locomotive appliances and the operation of each.
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.
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, Nikon 10-24 @ 10mm, f/3.5, 1/160, ISO 400.
Evansville Western Railway 2115 leads the way as it heads south over the Canadian Nationals Centralia Subdivision in downtown Ashley, Illinois as it makes its way back to Mount Vernon, IN after working the Agripride Grainery in Nashville, IL on April 27th, 2022.
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 Paducah and Louisville Railway Transportation.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 150.
Illinois Central “Death Star” 1026 leads the daily A408 (Kirk Yard – Gary, IN – Centralia, IL) as it splits the signals just south of the Illinois Central Gulf crossing at Centralia, Illinois, arriving at its destination on April 27th, 2022.
According to Wikipedia: Centralia is named for the Illinois Central Railroad which was built in 1853. The city was founded at the location where the two original branches of the railroad converged. Centralia was first chartered as a city in 1859. Now Canadian National owns the line.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 140mm, f/4.8, 1/2500, ISO 280.
BNSF 5649 sits on the inside loop at Calvert City Terminal, (CCT) as the sun rises over the train while another day of railroading begins on April 27th, 2022, on the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL). CCT is located at Calvert City, Kentucky off the Paducah and Louisville Railway line and receives coal daily from either BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX and of course PAL as well.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 170mm, f/5, 1/2500, ISO 320, -2 stops.
CSX 483 leads CSX Q228 passes the east end of the siding, just west of Skillman, Kentucky on the CSX Texas Line (LH&StL Subdivision) as it as 228 heads west to the Toyota Plant in Princeton, Indiana from Louisville, KY on March 7th, 2022.
CSX currently runs two through trains daily along the line and it has been open now for about two weeks. It also sees several locals as well. While the bridge was shut down trains were pretty much just locals between Louisville and Henderson, Ky (where the Texas line runs).
According to Wikipedia: The LH&STL Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was originally built as the Louisville, Henderson, and Texas Railway in 1882, with the intent of building a line to Texas by way of St. Louis, Missouri. It was nicknamed “The Texas Line,” by which it is still often referred today. The line fell into bankruptcy and was reorganized as the Louisville, Henderson, and St. Louis Railway in 1896. The rail line was acquired by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1929; the parent company still exists and holds other rail-related assets. Through a series of mergers, the line is now operated by CSX.
The line runs from Louisville, Kentucky, to Henderson, Kentucky, for a total of 136.5 miles (219.7 km). At its east end the line continues west from the Louisville Terminal Subdivision, and at its west end the line continues west as the Henderson Subdivision of the Nashville Division.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/400, ISO 220.
On March 19th, 2022, CSX E895 with 1776, CSX’s Spirit of our Armed Forces unit sits tied down east of Avon yard at Craft Runner outside of Indianapolis, Indiana on the Indianapolis Terminal Subdivision. This is one of three specialty painted units done by CSXT honoring troops, first responders and Law Enforcement. I had hoped to chase it moving south to Princeton, IN where it will load their train, but it didn’t happen until after dark.
According to the CSXT website: new spirit of service and gratitude is rolling across the CSX rail network in the form of three locomotives that have been repainted and renamed in honor of our nation’s military and first responders.
The one-of-a-kind locomotives – the Spirit of our Armed Forces, the Spirit of our First Responders, and the Spirit of our Law Enforcement – are helping promote the CSX Pride in Service program, a signature community investment initiative with a goal of positively impacting 100,000 military service members, veterans, first responders and their families by 2020.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 240mm, f/5.3, 1/400, ISO 180.
CSXT 3343 leads I028 crosses the bridge over the Ohio River at Henderson, Kentucky as it makes its way north on the Henderson Subdivision on a beautiful spring day. It, along with about 7 other trains have been waiting on both sides of the river for a work curfew to expire that ran the length of the bridge and viaduct that runs between Henderson, Ky and Evansville, IN. Track crews have been working through the area all week, causing trains to back up on April 19th, 2022.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 200.
CSXT 3293 leads I025 as it passes a crane just south of downtown Hanson, Kentucky on April 19th, 2022, as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision. Preparations are underway at this spot to replace the bridge that the train is rolling across just south of the south end signals for the siding at Hanson.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2S Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.
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.
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.
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.