B&O 185th Anniversary Caboose northbound at Princeton, Indiana

Just something you don't see much these days is a caboose on the end of a train, such as here where the B&Q 185th Anniversary Caboose bringing up the rear of CSX Q0648 as it passes the signal at the north end of Dugger Siding at Princeton, Indiana on the CSX CE&D Subdivision on May 1st, 2021.

I still remember as clear as day the times when this was an everyday occurrence and even manned with a crew, but today, it's a rare occurrence and almost never with a crew. Mostly they're in museums or used as shoving platforms for a crew when they're working a yard or industrial complex that requires the conductor to ride on the end of the train as the engine shoves the train.

According to Wikipedia: A caboose is a manned North American railroad car coupled at the end of a freight train. Cabooses provide shelter for crew at the end of a train, who were formerly required in switching and shunting, keeping a lookout for load shifting, damage to equipment and cargo, and overheating axles.

Originally flatcars fitted with cabins or modified box cars, they later became purpose-built with projections above or to the sides of the car to allow crew to observe the train from shelter. The caboose also served as the conductor's office, and on long routes included sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities.

A similar railroad car, the brake van, was used on British and Commonwealth railways (the role has since been replaced by the crew car in Australia). On trains not fitted with continuous brakes, brake vans provided a supplementary braking system, and they helped keep chain couplings taut.

Cabooses were used on every freight train in the United States until the 1980s, when safety laws requiring the presence of cabooses and full crews were relaxed. Developments in monitoring and safety technology, such as lineside defect detectors and end-of-train devices, resulted in crew reductions and the phasing out of caboose cars. Nowadays, they are generally only used on rail maintenance or hazardous materials trains, as a platform for crew on industrial spur lines when it is required to make long reverse movements, or on heritage and tourist railroads.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

B&O 185th Anniversary Caboose northbound at Princeton, Indiana

Just something you don’t see much these days is a caboose on the end of a train, such as here where the B&Q 185th Anniversary Caboose bringing up the rear of CSX Q0648 as it passes the signal at the north end of Gibson Siding at Princeton, Indiana on the CSX CE&D Subdivision on May 1st, 2021.

I still remember as clear as day the times when this was an everyday occurrence and even manned with a crew, but today, it’s a rare occurrence and almost never with a crew. Mostly they’re in museums or used as shoving platforms for a crew when they’re working a yard or industrial complex that requires the conductor to ride on the end of the train as the engine shoves the train.

According to Wikipedia: A caboose is a manned North American railroad car coupled at the end of a freight train. Cabooses provide shelter for crew at the end of a train, who were formerly required in switching and shunting, keeping a lookout for load shifting, damage to equipment and cargo, and overheating axles.

Originally flatcars fitted with cabins or modified box cars, they later became purpose-built with projections above or to the sides of the car to allow crew to observe the train from shelter. The caboose also served as the conductor’s office, and on long routes included sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities.

A similar railroad car, the brake van, was used on British and Commonwealth railways (the role has since been replaced by the crew car in Australia). On trains not fitted with continuous brakes, brake vans provided a supplementary braking system, and they helped keep chain couplings taut.

Cabooses were used on every freight train in the United States until the 1980s, when safety laws requiring the presence of cabooses and full crews were relaxed. Developments in monitoring and safety technology, such as lineside defect detectors and end-of-train devices, resulted in crew reductions and the phasing out of caboose cars. Nowadays, they are generally only used on rail maintenance or hazardous materials trains, as a platform for crew on industrial spur lines when it is required to make long reverse movements, or on heritage and tourist railroads.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

BUGX 1752 heads into Troy, Indiana


Ohio River Scenic Railway BUGX 1752 (EMD FP9A) leads the last train of the day, on May 1st, 2021, as it approaches the Indiana 64 crossing at Troy, Indiana as they begin their reverse move back downtown, where their passengers will be allowed to disembark for a walk around the riverfront and downtown. Afterwards they reboarded the train for the return trip to Tell City, IN.

BUGX 1752 is an ex-CN Rebuilt EMD that is leased now by the Ohio River Scenic Railway from Dieselmotive Company of Northern California. It is a former Canadian National FP9A unit, which was recently sold by Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway to Dieselmotive and has become one of their lease units.

Ohio River Scenic Railway is headquartered out of Tell City, Indiana and they run through Perry and Spencer Counties in southern Indiana on the weekends. For more and updated information visit their website at https://www.ohiorivertrain.com/ and take a ride behind this beautiful locomotive! 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

BUGX 1752 heads into Troy, Indiana

Ohio River Scenic Railway BUGX 1752 (EMD FP9A) leads the last train of the day, on May 1st, 2021, as it approaches the Indiana 66 crossing at Troy, Indiana as they begin their reverse move back downtown, where their passengers will be allowed to disembark for a walk around the riverfront and downtown. Afterwards they reboarded the train for the return trip to Tell City, IN.

BUGX 1752 is an ex-CN Rebuilt EMD that is leased now by the Ohio River Scenic Railway from Dieselmotive Company of Northern California. It is a former Canadian National FP9A unit, which was recently sold by Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway to Dieselmotive and has become one of their lease units.

Ohio River Scenic Railway is headquartered out of Tell City, Indiana and they run through Perry and Spencer Counties in southern Indiana on the weekends. For more and updated information visit their website at https://www.ohiorivertrain.com/ and take a ride behind this beautiful locomotive!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

NS 224 WB meets NS 167 WB at East Junction, Princeton, Indiana

Norfolk Southern Intermodal NS 224 heads east as it passes westbound NS 167 at East Junction as the two trains meet in Princeton, Indiana on April 21st, 2021 on the NS Southern East/West District.

BUGX 1752, a former Canadian National FP9A unit, which was recently sold by Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway, trails as the last of 7 units 167 after it worked at the Princeton Yard, dropping off and picking up.

BUGX 1752 was on the final leg of its journey to a new home at the Ohio River Scenic Railway in Tell City, Indiana, where it will power their tourist line trains that run through Perry and Spencer Counties in southern Indiana and I'm told that its first revenue run on the tourist line will be on April 24th, 2021 at 1pm.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 100.

NS 224 WB meets NS 167 EB at East Junction, Princeton, Indiana

Norfolk Southern Intermodal NS 224 heads west as it passes eastbound NS 167 at East Junction as the two trains meet in Princeton, Indiana on April 21st, 2021 on the NS Southern East/West District.

BUGX 1752, a former Canadian National FP9A unit, which was recently sold by Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway, trails as the last of 7 units 167 after it worked at the Princeton Yard, dropping off and picking up.

BUGX 1752 was on the final leg of its journey to a new home at the Ohio River Scenic Railway in Tell City, Indiana, where it will power their tourist line trains that run through Perry and Spencer Counties in southern Indiana and I’m told that its first revenue run on the tourist line will be on April 24th, 2021 at 1pm.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 100.

BUGX on the move!

BUGX 1752, a former Canadian National FP9A unit, which was recently sold by Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway, trails as the last unit on Norfolk Southern Railways train 167 as it sits at "Smoot" just west of Princeton, Indiana on April 21st, 2021, waiting to meet two eastbound trains on the NS Southern East/West District.

The unit was on the final leg of its journey to a new home at the Ohio Scenic Railway in Tell City, Indiana, where it will power their tourist line trains that runs through Perry and Spencer Counties in southern Indiana.

This was without a doubt the longest and shortest chase I've done in a long time!

I started from my home in Richland, KY to travel to Princeton, IN to meet up with fellow railfan Ryan Scott to catch this train. Well, after the 1.5hr drive and hoping I hadn't missed it, I finally linked up with Ryan, who had been sitting a couple hours west of Princeton, waiting to catch it also!

Well, needless to say, we were worried that we'd missed it somehow as it was last reported around Centralia, IL at 8am and the trip to Princeton normally takes a couple hours and by the time I linked up with Ryan it had been close to 4!

Ryan jumped in with me (I like to drive) and we decided to head west looking for the train and low and behold, we found it in the siding at Smoot, just west of town!

Well, it sat there for two west bounds before it headed into the yard for a crew change at Ohio Street. After the crew change, they had to do their work, where they dropped off one engine, picked up three more and then two exceptionally long stings of cars! Needless to say, it was 6pm before they finished their work, moved to East Junction where they where they had to wait for two more west bounds!! A total of 6 hours to move about 6 miles, but finally they made their way out of town to Huntingburg where they dropped of the FP9A unit for a local to take it to Tell City. Some days railfanning is like this!

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

BUGX on the move!

BUGX 1752, a former Canadian National FP9A unit, which was recently sold by Pioneer RailCorp affiliate Keokuk Junction Railway, trails as the last unit on Norfolk Southern Railways train 167 as it sits at “Smoot” just west of Princeton, Indiana on April 21st, 2021, waiting to meet two eastbound trains on the NS Southern East/West District.

The unit was on the final leg of its journey to a new home at the Ohio River Scenic Railway in Tell City, Indiana, where it will power their tourist line trains that runs through Perry and Spencer Counties in southern Indiana.

This was without a doubt the longest and shortest chase I’ve done in a long time!

I started from my home in Richland, KY to travel to Princeton, IN to meet up with fellow railfan Ryan Scott to catch this train. Well, after the 1.5hr drive and hoping I hadn’t missed it, I finally linked up with Ryan, who had been sitting a couple hours west of Princeton, waiting to catch it also!

Well, needless to say, we were worried that we’d missed it somehow as it was last reported around Centralia, IL at 8am and the trip to Princeton normally takes a couple hours and by the time I linked up with Ryan it had been close to 4!

Ryan jumped in with me (I like to drive) and we decided to head west looking for the train and low and behold, we found it in the siding at Smoot, just west of town!

Well, it sat there for two west bounds before it headed into the yard for a crew change at Ohio Street. After the crew change, they had to do their work, where they dropped off one engine, picked up three more and then two exceptionally long stings of cars! Needless to say, it was 6pm before they finished their work, moved to East Junction where they where they had to wait for two more west bounds!! A total of 6 hours to move about 6 miles, but finally they made their way out of town to Huntingburg where they dropped of the FP9A unit for a local to take it to Tell City. Some days railfanning is like this!

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

CSX Q025 Southbound prepares to cross the Ohio River

On March 10th, 2021 CSX hot intermodal Q025 pulls up the final stretch of the viaduct as it prepares to cross over the Ohio River bridge at Henderson, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision from Rahm, Indiana.

According to Wikipedia: The Henderson Bridge is a railroad bridge spanning the Ohio River between Henderson, Kentucky and Vanderburgh County, Indiana and the bridge is owned by CSX Transportation. The original bridge was constructed in 1884 to 1885 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad at a cost of $2,000,000.

The single-tracked bridge is approximately 3,686 feet long, and its longest span, at 525 feet, was reputed to be the longest trestle span in the world at that time. The bridge runs from the northern edge of Main Street in Henderson to the low water mark on the Indiana side, resting on 15 stone piers. 

It was designed to carry two 118,000-pound engines followed by 60,000-pound coal tenders, and its maximum uniform load capacity was 2,500 pounds per foot. 

A crowd of 8,000 watched the first train cross the bridge on July 13, 1885. Prior to the opening of the bridge, railroad passengers and freight had to be transferred to a ferry for the river crossing.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Q025 Southbound prepares to cross the Ohio River

On March 10th, 2021 CSX hot intermodal Q025 pulls up the final stretch of the viaduct as it prepares to cross over the Ohio River bridge at Henderson, Kentucky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision from Rahm, Indiana.

According to Wikipedia: The Henderson Bridge is a railroad bridge spanning the Ohio River between Henderson, Kentucky and Vanderburgh County, Indiana and the bridge is owned by CSX Transportation. The original bridge was constructed in 1884 to 1885 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad at a cost of $2,000,000 (It stood to the left where the pier is at).

The (Current bridge was built in 1932) single-tracked bridge is approximately 3,686 feet long, and its longest span, at 525 feet, was reputed to be the longest trestle span in the world at that time. The bridge runs from the northern edge of Main Street in Henderson to the low water mark on the Indiana side, resting on 15 stone piers.

The original bridge was designed to carry two 118,000-pound engines followed by 60,000-pound coal tenders, and its maximum uniform load capacity was 2,500 pounds per foot.

A crowd of 8,000 watched the first train cross the original bridge on July 13, 1885. Prior to the opening of the bridge, railroad passengers and freight had to be transferred to a ferry for the river crossing.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Q025 Southbound up the viaduct at Rahm, Indiana

On March 10th, 2021 I posted a shot of CSX Q025 (Bedford Park, IL - Jacksonville, FL) as it made its way up this viaduct at Rahm, Indiana while all the land here was covered with floodwaters. 

Many folks asked for a shot along the same viewpoint after the floodwaters receded back into the Ohio River and so here the shot a month later! On April 9th, 2021 CSX Q025 approaches the bridge over the Ohio river between Rahm, IN and Henderson, Ky as it makes its way south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on a breathtaking spring day!

From the Web: 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 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

CSX Q025 Southbound up the viaduct at Rahm, Indiana

On March 10th, 2021 I posted a shot of CSX Q025 (Bedford Park, IL – Jacksonville, FL) as it made its way up this viaduct at Rahm, Indiana while all the land here was covered with floodwaters.

Many folks asked for a shot along the same viewpoint after the floodwaters receded back into the Ohio River and so here the shot a month later! On April 9th, 2021 CSX Q025 approaches the bridge over the Ohio river between Rahm, IN and Henderson, Ky as it makes its way south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on a breathtaking spring day!

From the Web: 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 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Modern-Day Gandy Dancers

Today while out railfanning with fellow rail enthusiast and Facebook follower, Gary Winsett, we ran by the AB Brown power plant at West Franklin, Indiana to see if they were any trains there to catch and stumbled upon track crews from Alltrack Inc, working on placing a new track panel on the lead going into the power plant.

We were fortunate enough to get there just in time for me to grab this shot on April 9th, 2021 of the crew working a new section of track in place right before the overpass on Lower Mt. Vernon Road, in a great spot for photographing these modern-day Gandy Dancers at work.

According to Wikipedia: Gandy dancer is a slang term used for early railroad workers in the United States, more formally referred to as "section hands", who laid and maintained railroad tracks in the years before the work was done by machines. 

According to their website: Alltrack Inc. was established in March of 1988 by Lee Clark, Lester Binegar, and Robert Butler to perform railroad construction and maintenance work in the Indiana area.  In January of 1998 Jim & Jon Lawyer bought the business and later moved their operations to Pendleton, IN.  Alltrack Inc. has grown in recent years to service the entire Midwest & parts of the South.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-14mm @10mm, f/5, 1/1000, ISO 180.

Modern-Day Gandy Dancers

Today while out railfanning with fellow rail enthusiast and Facebook follower, Gary Winsett, we ran by the AB Brown power plant at West Franklin, Indiana to see if they were any trains there to catch and stumbled upon track crews from Alltrack Inc, working on placing a new track panel on the lead going into the power plant.

We were fortunate enough to get there just in time for me to grab this shot on April 9th, 2021 of the crew working a new section of track in place right before the overpass on Lower Mt. Vernon Road, in a great spot for photographing these modern-day Gandy Dancers at work.

According to Wikipedia: Gandy dancer is a slang term used for early railroad workers in the United States, more formally referred to as “section hands”, who laid and maintained railroad tracks in the years before the work was done by machines.

According to their website: Alltrack Inc. was established in March of 1988 by Lee Clark, Lester Binegar, and Robert Butler to perform railroad construction and maintenance work in the Indiana area. In January of 1998 Jim & Jon Lawyer bought the business and later moved their operations to Pendleton, IN. Alltrack Inc. has grown in recent years to service the entire Midwest & parts of the South.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-14mm @10mm, f/5, 1/1000, ISO 180.

Indiana Southern IPL load arrives at Petersburg Generating Station

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train as they pull their loaded coal train into the Petersburg Generating Station on February 13th, 2021. The ISRR repeats this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The "Petersburg Generating Station is a major coal-fired power plant in Indiana, rated at 2.146-GW nameplate capacity. It is located on the White River near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana, just 1 mile upstream from a much smaller coal-fired Frank E. Ratts Generating Station. Petersburg G.S. is owned and operated by Indianapolis Power & Light."

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon DX 10-20mm lens @20mm f/4.5, 1/1600, ISO 250.

Indiana Southern IPL load arrives at Petersburg Generating Station

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train as they pull their loaded coal train into the Petersburg Generating Station on February 13th, 2021. The ISRR repeats this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The “Petersburg Generating Station is a major coal-fired power plant in Indiana, rated at 2.146-GW nameplate capacity. It is located on the White River near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana, just 1 mile upstream from a much smaller coal-fired Frank E. Ratts Generating Station. Petersburg G.S. is owned and operated by Indianapolis Power & Light.”

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon DX 10-20mm lens @20mm f/4.5, 1/1600, ISO 250.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Petersburg, IN

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on the Petersburg Subdivision as they pull through their yard at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their pull through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant just north of Petersburg, Indiana. They repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. 

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Petersburg, IN

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on the Petersburg Subdivision as they pull through their yard at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their pull through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant just north of Petersburg, Indiana. They repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Digital Photo Art - Indiana Southern Railway pulls a Indiana Power and Light load of coal northbound at Oakland City, IN.

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Digital Photo Art – Indiana Southern Railway pulls a Indiana Power and Light load of coal northbound at Oakland City, IN.

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

NS 8173 leads loaded coal train across the Wabash River

I was about 14 degrees, with an even colder wind chill, as Norfolk Southern 8173 crossed over the Wabash River coming into Mt. Carmel, Illinois with load of coal for the Gibson Generating Station (Duke Energy) on February 13th, 2021 on the NS Southern West District.

Today was probably the coldest day I've flown my DJI Air 2 since I bought it last year and it handled the weather just fine. I did seem to notice that the flight time on the battery was less, but I expected that to be the case. Also, the gray color of the drone against the gray snowy skies is a little harder to keep track of in the air, but not flying it too far from my position helped! 

Any of my drone friends ever use any of the orange props? If so does it help with visibility? What other things do you do to help with visibility? Strobe lights? If so, what do you recommend?

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

NS 8173 leads loaded coal train across the Wabash River

I was about 14 degrees, with an even colder wind chill, as Norfolk Southern 8173 crossed over the Wabash River coming into Mt. Carmel, Illinois with load of coal for the Gibson Generating Station (Duke Energy) on February 13th, 2021 on the NS Southern West District.

Today was probably the coldest day I’ve flown my DJI Air 2 since I bought it last year and it handled the weather just fine. I did seem to notice that the flight time on the battery was less, but I expected that to be the case. Also, the gray color of the drone against the gray snowy skies is a little harder to keep track of in the air, but not flying it too far from my position helped!

Any of my drone friends ever use any of the orange props? If so does it help with visibility? What other things do you do to help with visibility? Strobe lights? If so, what do you recommend?

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Oakland City, IN

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Oakland City, IN

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

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 itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

NS 7586 takes a Roller Coaster ride at Hatfield Junction

One of my favorite things to photograph on the railroad with my long lens is places where the lay of and comes into full view with the long end of my zoom and Hatfield Junction is one such place!

Here we see NS 167, led by NS 7586, on January 28th, 2021 as it starts it's climb back up hill as it takes a roller coaster ride coming east out of Hatfield Junction, just east of Oakland City, Indiana on the Southern East District.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @460mm f/6, 1/1600, ISO 800.

NS 7586 takes a Roller Coaster ride at Hatfield Junction

One of my favorite things to photograph on the railroad with my long lens is places where the lay of and comes into full view with the long end of my zoom and Hatfield Junction is one such place!

Here we see NS 167, led by NS 7586, on January 28th, 2021 as it starts it’s climb back up hill as it takes a roller coaster ride coming east out of Hatfield Junction, just east of Oakland City, Indiana on the Southern East District.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @460mm f/6, 1/1600, ISO 800.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Ramsey, Indiana

With a winter wonderland scene and warm evening light we find Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow "Sonic Bonnets" leading empty autorack train 124 as they make their way west at Ramsey, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021. 

I passed this spot when I was on my way to setup for this same train as it passed through the cut at Tunnel Hill Road, about 4 miles to the east of this crossing. I loved the look of the snow on the trees and was hoping I'd be able to make it the four miles back to this spot before the train got there, after catching it at the cut. 

Well, needless to say I made it, but probably not more than 10 seconds to spare. Enough time to grab the D800 with my 10-20mm lens, step into position and fire off a burst of about 5 shots before the lead unit was through the crossing. This is my favorite!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX lens @15mm f/4, 1/640, ISO 320.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Ramsey, Indiana

With a winter wonderland scene and warm evening light we find Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow “Sonic Bonnets” leading empty autorack train 124 as they make their way west at Ramsey, Indiana on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021.

I passed this spot when I was on my way to setup for this same train as it passed through the cut at Tunnel Hill Road, about 4 miles to the east of this crossing. I loved the look of the snow on the trees and was hoping I’d be able to make it the four miles back to this spot before the train got there, after catching it at the cut.

Well, needless to say I made it, but probably not more than 10 seconds to spare. Enough time to grab the D800 with my 10-20mm lens, step into position and fire off a burst of about 5 shots before the lead unit was through the crossing. This is my favorite!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-20mm DX lens @15mm f/4, 1/640, ISO 320.

Click Here to Buy A Print Today!

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana

Norfolk Southern 1800 the Yellow Sonic Bonnets trails behind the black 4004 version, as they lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull into the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021 at dusk. 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana

Norfolk Southern 1800 the Yellow Sonic Bonnets trails behind the black 4004 version, as they lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull into the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021 at dusk.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

Click Here to Buy A Print Today!

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana

Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow "Sonic Bonnets" lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull through the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021. 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets at Taswell, Indiana

Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow “Sonic Bonnets” lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they slowly pull through the siding at Taswell, Indiana to meet eastbound NS 168, on the NS Southern-East District on January 28th, 2021.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 200.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets on the move

Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow "Sonic Bonnets" lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they chase the setting sun through the cut at Tunnel Hill Road, just west of Ramsey, Indiana as the light snowfall from the day before provides a nice dusting for this peaceful winter scene on the NS Southern-East District. 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern Sonic Bonnets on the move

Norfolk Southern 4004 and 1800, the Black and Yellow “Sonic Bonnets” lead NS empty autorack train 124 west as they chase the setting sun through the cut at Tunnel Hill Road, just west of Ramsey, Indiana as the light snowfall from the day before provides a nice dusting for this peaceful winter scene on the NS Southern-East District on January 28, 2021.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 100.

April 28, 2020 - As the late afternoon light rakes across the scene we find the crew on CSX Q513 getting ready to do a roll by inspection on CSX Q028 as it heads north end of the siding at Hazelton, Indiana on the CE&D Subdivision on a beautiful spring day. 

Tech: Nikon D800, Sigma 24-70 at 36mm, f/5, 1/800 @ ISO 125 in RAW.

Digital Art – CSX Q028 and 513 Meet

April 28, 2020 – As the late afternoon light rakes across the scene we find the crew on CSX Q513 getting ready to do a roll by inspection on CSX Q028 as it heads north end of the siding at Hazelton, Indiana on the CE&D Subdivision on a beautiful spring day.

CSXT 3222 heads north on EVWR out of Evansville, Indiana

After picking up empty coal train CSX E302 (Stilesboro, GA - Evansville, IN) at Howell Yard, a Evansville Western Railway crew heads north on their railroad as they approach the S curve, just south of the Peerless Road Crossing at in Evansville, Indiana with CSXT 3222 leading the way on New Years Day, January 1st, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @270mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 5000.

CSXT 3222 heads north on EVWR out of Evansville, Indiana

After picking up empty coal train CSX E302 (Stilesboro, GA – Evansville, IN) at Howell Yard, a Evansville Western Railway crew heads north on their railroad as they approach the S curve, just south of the Peerless Road Crossing at in Evansville, Indiana with CSXT 3222 leading the way on New Years Day, January 1st, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @270mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 5000.

Sunset arrival of Northbound CSX Q512-01 at Howell Yard, Evansville, IN

They say what you do on the first day of the New Year you'll continue to do till the next New Year and so of course I spent the day chasing trains around the Evansville, Indiana area.

Here we find the crew on CSX Q512 as they pull to a stop at the north end of CSX Howell Yard in Evansville as they prepare to conduct a crew change before heading on north, as dusk falls over the yard on New Years day, January 1st, 2021.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 400.

Sunset arrival of Northbound CSX Q512-01 at Howell Yard, Evansville, IN

They say what you do on the first day of the New Year you’ll continue to do till the next New Year and so of course I spent the day chasing trains around the Evansville, Indiana area.

Here we find the crew on CSX Q512 as they pull to a stop at the north end of CSX Howell Yard in Evansville as they prepare to conduct a crew change before heading on north, as dusk falls over the yard on New Years day, January 1st, 2021.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/120, ISO 400.