CSX I025 hot intermodal with a long string of autoracks carrying Tesla vehicles meets empty grain train G342 at the north end of the siding at Kelly, Kentucky as they head south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on June 14th, 2025.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 210.
CSXT 7247 leads hot intermodal I128 past a freshly cut hayfield at the north end of the siding at Crofton, Kentucky on June 14th, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 100.
Union Pacific 7314 leads a hot intermodal (Z183?) as it heads south through Kell, Illinois on the Union Pacific Mount Vernon Subdivision, on April 25th, 2025, passing the grain complex.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 160.
CSXT 3264 leads hot intermodal I026 as they head north under the north Main Street overpass at Madisonville, Ky at dusk, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on April 23, 2025.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 100.
CSX I025 heads south at Breton, Kentucky as CSX Monon Heritage Unit 1897 leads it under dark threatening skies on April 2nd, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The eleven autoracks behind the engine are loaded with Tesla’s bound for Florida and overseas market from what I’m told.
Capturing this engine means I’ve caught all of CSX’s Heritage units except for the Georgia Heritage Unit, and that one is only a matter of time!
According to a CSX Press Release: January 26, 2024 – In a tribute to its rich railroad history, CSX has unveiled its Monon 1897 heritage locomotive, marking the ninth release its ongoing heritage series honoring the company’s predecessor railroads.
“The Monon Railroad ran from Chicago down to Louisville but most of it was in Indiana,” explained CSX Carman Jason Merritt, who assisted with the heritage project. “Eventually it merged with the Louisville and Nashville Lines and was later absorbed by CSX.”
The new heritage locomotive emerges fresh from the Class I railroad’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga., showcasing a blend of modern and historic aesthetics. The design features the modern CSX design on the head end, transitioning seamlessly into the historic paint scheme and logo of the Monon line. This style reflects the approach taken with previous installations in the CSX heritage series, which often feature the current CSX paint scheme on the nose and the predecessor’s scheme on the body.
“A lot of hard work and planning goes into each project,” said Merritt. “We want to get these right, so we take pride in what we do, from the wash rack to moving them out the door.”
The new Monon heritage locomotive is a testament to the enduring legacy of America’s railroads. It stands as a symbol of the past while simultaneously pointing towards the future, embodying the spirit of evolution and innovation that drives CSX.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 140.
CSX I025 heads south at Hanson, Kentucky as CSX Monon Heritage Unit 1897 leads it under dark threatening skies on April 2nd, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The eleven autoracks behind the engine are loaded with Tesla’s bound for Florida and overseas market from what I’m told.
Capturing this engine means I’ve caught all of CSX’s Heritage units except for the Georgia Heritage Unit, and that one is only a matter of time!
According to a CSX Press Release: January 26, 2024 – In a tribute to its rich railroad history, CSX has unveiled its Monon 1897 heritage locomotive, marking the ninth release its ongoing heritage series honoring the company’s predecessor railroads.
“The Monon Railroad ran from Chicago down to Louisville but most of it was in Indiana,” explained CSX Carman Jason Merritt, who assisted with the heritage project. “Eventually it merged with the Louisville and Nashville Lines and was later absorbed by CSX.”
The new heritage locomotive emerges fresh from the Class I railroad’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga., showcasing a blend of modern and historic aesthetics. The design features the modern CSX design on the head end, transitioning seamlessly into the historic paint scheme and logo of the Monon line. This style reflects the approach taken with previous installations in the CSX heritage series, which often feature the current CSX paint scheme on the nose and the predecessor’s scheme on the body.
“A lot of hard work and planning goes into each project,” said Merritt. “We want to get these right, so we take pride in what we do, from the wash rack to moving them out the door.”
The new Monon heritage locomotive is a testament to the enduring legacy of America’s railroads. It stands as a symbol of the past while simultaneously pointing towards the future, embodying the spirit of evolution and innovation that drives CSX.
Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Nikon, 10-24mm @ 13mm, f/3.8, 1/1600, ISO 90.
CSX I128 heads down the viaduct from the bridge over the flooded Ohio River as it heads north out of Henderson, Kentucky on April 8th, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
This area of Kentucky and southern Indiana got record breaking rainfall throughout the region over a three-day period which resulted in major flooding on both sides of the Ohio River. In the distance you can see the farmlands which have been totally covered by the flooding and the ballast deck out of Evansville was close to being covered, but fortunately it didn’t happen.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100.
CSX I128 heads onto the south end of the bridge over the flooded Ohio River as it heads north from Henderson, Kentucky on April 8th, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.
This area of Kentucky and southern Indiana got record breaking rainfall throughout the region over a three-day period which resulted in major flooding on both sides of the Ohio River. In the distance you can see the farmlands which have been totally covered by the flooding and the ballast deck out of Evansville was close to being covered, but fortunately it didn’t happen.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 100.
CSX I128, with the New York Central heritage 1853 unit leading at Nortonville, Kentucky as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on April 11th, 2025.
According to the CSX Website: January 3, 2024 – A CSX locomotive commemorating the New York Central Railroad has become the eighth unit in CSX’s heritage locomotive fleet.
Designated CSX 1853 in recognition of the year the NYC was founded, the newest heritage unit was repainted in a special design combining the current CSX colors with the traditional gray and white of the NYC system. The NYC heritage unit has been placed into regular revenue service, proudly carrying the NYC colors across the CSX network.
All of the heritage unit paint schemes have been created at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop, where employees performed the challenging work of applying the unique designs. Click below to watch a video of CSX 1853 rolling out of the Waycross shop and hear employees describe the 22-day effort to repaint the unit.
At its height, the New York Central system encompassed more than 11,000 track miles and provided vital transportation service between New England and the Midwest. It merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad to become the Penn Central in 1968 and later became part of Conrail.
A majority of former NYC lines were acquired by CSX in 1998, and today CSX employees continue to operate trains across the primary NYC routes that have been carrying freight and supporting the U.S. economy for more than a century.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 140.
CSX I128, with the New York Central heritage 1853 unit leading passes the north signals at Hanson, Kentucky as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on April 11th, 2025.
According to the CSX Website: January 3, 2024 – A CSX locomotive commemorating the New York Central Railroad has become the eighth unit in CSX’s heritage locomotive fleet.
Designated CSX 1853 in recognition of the year the NYC was founded, the newest heritage unit was repainted in a special design combining the current CSX colors with the traditional gray and white of the NYC system. The NYC heritage unit has been placed into regular revenue service, proudly carrying the NYC colors across the CSX network.
All of the heritage unit paint schemes have been created at the CSX Waycross Locomotive Shop, where employees performed the challenging work of applying the unique designs. Click below to watch a video of CSX 1853 rolling out of the Waycross shop and hear employees describe the 22-day effort to repaint the unit.
At its height, the New York Central system encompassed more than 11,000 track miles and provided vital transportation service between New England and the Midwest. It merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad to become the Penn Central in 1968 and later became part of Conrail.
A majority of former NYC lines were acquired by CSX in 1998, and today CSX employees continue to operate trains across the primary NYC routes that have been carrying freight and supporting the U.S. economy for more than a century.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 150.
CSX I025 passes under the Sub Station Road overpass at the south end of Kelly, Kentucky as CSX Monon Heritage Unit 1897 leads it southbound under dark threatening skies on April 2nd, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The eleven autoracks behind the engine are loaded with Tesla’s bound for Florida and overseas market from what I’m told.
Capturing this engine means I’ve caught all of CSX’s Heritage units except for the Georgia Heritage Unit, and that one is only a matter of time!
According to a CSX Press Release: January 26, 2024 – In a tribute to its rich railroad history, CSX has unveiled its Monon 1897 heritage locomotive, marking the ninth release its ongoing heritage series honoring the company’s predecessor railroads.
“The Monon Railroad ran from Chicago down to Louisville but most of it was in Indiana,” explained CSX Carman Jason Merritt, who assisted with the heritage project. “Eventually it merged with the Louisville and Nashville Lines and was later absorbed by CSX.”
The new heritage locomotive emerges fresh from the Class I railroad’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga., showcasing a blend of modern and historic aesthetics. The design features the modern CSX design on the head end, transitioning seamlessly into the historic paint scheme and logo of the Monon line. This style reflects the approach taken with previous installations in the CSX heritage series, which often feature the current CSX paint scheme on the nose and the predecessor’s scheme on the body.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.
CSX I025 heads south at Crofton, Kentucky as CSX Monon Heritage Unit 1897 leads it under dark threatening skies on April 2nd, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The eleven autoracks behind the engine are loaded with Tesla’s bound for Florida and overseas market from what I’m told.
Capturing this engine means I’ve caught all of CSX’s Heritage units except for the Georgia Heritage Unit, and that one is only a matter of time!
According to a CSX Press Release: January 26, 2024 – In a tribute to its rich railroad history, CSX has unveiled its Monon 1897 heritage locomotive, marking the ninth release its ongoing heritage series honoring the company’s predecessor railroads.
“The Monon Railroad ran from Chicago down to Louisville but most of it was in Indiana,” explained CSX Carman Jason Merritt, who assisted with the heritage project. “Eventually it merged with the Louisville and Nashville Lines and was later absorbed by CSX.”
The new heritage locomotive emerges fresh from the Class I railroad’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga., showcasing a blend of modern and historic aesthetics. The design features the modern CSX design on the head end, transitioning seamlessly into the historic paint scheme and logo of the Monon line. This style reflects the approach taken with previous installations in the CSX heritage series, which often feature the current CSX paint scheme on the nose and the predecessor’s scheme on the body.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 110.
CSX I025 heads south through Mortons Junction at Mortons Gap, Kentucky as CSX Monon Heritage Unit 1897 leads it under dark threatening skies on April 2nd, 2025, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision. The eleven autoracks behind the engine are loaded with Tesla’s bound for Florida and overseas market from what I’m told.
Capturing this engine means I’ve caught all of CSX’s Heritage units except for the Georgia Heritage Unit, and that one is only a matter of time!
According to a CSX Press Release: January 26, 2024 – In a tribute to its rich railroad history, CSX has unveiled its Monon 1897 heritage locomotive, marking the ninth release its ongoing heritage series honoring the company’s predecessor railroads.
“The Monon Railroad ran from Chicago down to Louisville but most of it was in Indiana,” explained CSX Carman Jason Merritt, who assisted with the heritage project. “Eventually it merged with the Louisville and Nashville Lines and was later absorbed by CSX.”
The new heritage locomotive emerges fresh from the Class I railroad’s paint shop in Waycross, Ga., showcasing a blend of modern and historic aesthetics. The design features the modern CSX design on the head end, transitioning seamlessly into the historic paint scheme and logo of the Monon line. This style reflects the approach taken with previous installations in the CSX heritage series, which often feature the current CSX paint scheme on the nose and the predecessor’s scheme on the body.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 150.
CSX I025 with CSX NC&SL Heritage Unit 1851 leading, heads south into the S curve at Nortonville, Ky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on January 27th, 2025. This train typically runs with autoracks behind the power which contain Tesla’s bound for Florida.
According to a CSX Press Release: September 20, 2024 – Railroads have long played a crucial role in shaping the economic and cultural landscapes of the United States. Among these storied lines is the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis (NC&StL) Railway, a key player in the growth of the Southeast. CSX has unveiled its 19th heritage locomotive, a tribute to the NC&StL Railway, celebrating the rich legacy of a system integral to regional development.
Operating from 1851 to 1957, the NC&StL Railway was a vital freight and passenger route, connecting communities across Tennessee and other Southern states. It facilitated the movement of goods and people, boosting commerce and fostering community development along its routes. The railway’s strategic links between Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis significantly contributed to the urban and industrial growth of these cities, supporting industries such as agriculture, coal, and manufacturing.
To honor the historical significance of the NC&StL Railway, CSX introduced the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis heritage locomotive. This initiative is part of CSX’s broader program to preserve the legacy of railroads that are now part of its extensive network. Each heritage unit is carefully crafted to pay homage to the unique identity and history of its predecessor, featuring colors and designs reminiscent of the original rail lines.
Tech Info: Nikon Z6ii Mirrorless, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 420mm, f/6, 1/2500, ISO 560.
In this week’s Saturday Infrared Photo, CSXT 3261 leads intermodal train, I128, around the curve at the north end of Kelly, Kentucky, on the Henderson Subdivision as they head north on March 3rd, 2024.
Tech Info: Fuji XT-1, RAW, Converted to 720nm B&W IR, Nikon 70-300 @ 110mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 400.
Southbound CSX M513 waits at Romney, south of Nortonville, Kentucky as CSX northbound Intermodal I128 passes them on track 2, on January 17th, 2025, on the Henderson Subdivision.
M513 has PCS Group Switcher 1144 as the third unit and an ex-Union Pacific 4669 with reporting marks of SPTX stenciled on the side of the cab, with both units dead in tow.
According to their website, “PSC Group provides turnkey solutions for safe and efficient rail switching in some of the most challenging and complex sites throughout North America. We manage more than 75 rail switching sites using our own fleet of advanced locomotives and mobile railcar movers, proven safety methods, and highly skilled personnel. By working closely with our customers, we tailor our services to their unique needs, utilizing over 80 locomotives, 30 mobile railcar movers (Trackmobiles and Shuttle Wagons), and more than 1,000 skilled employees to enhance safety, decrease cycle time, prevent derailments, and optimize railcar utilization.
Over the years, we have found that performing railcar switching alongside loading/unloading, railcar repair, and inspections, creates a safer and more efficient operating environment while simultaneously delivering considerable savings. By bundling these synergistic services together, we can provide the most value to our customers’ operations.”
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 320.
CSX Hot intermodal I128 heads north from Henderson, Kentucky as it crosses over the bridge over the Ohio River, which has overflowed its banks into the floodplain due to the recent rainfall and snow melt, as they head north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on February 24th, 2025.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.
CSXT 3439 leads CSX hot intermodal I025 as it meets and passes northbound CSX I128 in the siding at Kelly, Ky, on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on February 22nd, 2025.
Tech Info: Nikon Z6ii, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 450.
CSXT 1973, Chessie System Heritage Unit, leads CSX I025 as it passes over the Red River Trestle just north of Adams, TN as it heads south on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on February 14th, 2025.
According to Wikipedia: The three railroads that would make up the Chessie System had been closely related since the 1960s. C&O had acquired controlling interest in B&O in 1962, and the two had jointly controlled WM since 1967.
Chessie System, Inc. was a holding company that owned the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O), the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), the Western Maryland Railway (WM), and Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad (B&OCT). Trains operated under the Chessie name from 1973 to 1987.
On November 1, 1980, Chessie System merged with Seaboard Coastline Industries to form CSX Corporation. Initially, the three Chessie System railroads continued to operate separately, even after Seaboard’s six Family Lines System railroads were merged into the Seaboard System Railroad on December 29, 1982. That began to change in 1983, when the WM was merged into the B&O. The Chessie image continued to be applied to new and re-painted equipment until July 1, 1986, when CSXT introduced its own paint scheme. In April 1987, the B&O was merged into the C&O. In August 1987, C&O merged into CSX Transportation, a 1986 renaming of the Seaboard System Railroad, and the Chessie System name was retired.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 140.
A flock of pigeons that were feeding on spilled corn from a passing train, take flight on the approach of CSX 3092, leading CSX hot intermodal I025, as they head south on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Junction after an overnight snowfall, on February 19th, 2025. This intermodal often runs with a string of autoracks, hauling Tesla’s bound for Florida.
Tech Info: Nikon Z30, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 210mm, f/5.3, 1/1000, ISO 100.
CSX I025 with CSX NC&SL Heritage Unit 1851 leading, heads south past the north end of the siding at Kelly, Kentucky on the CSX Henderson Subdivision, on January 27th, 2025. This train typically runs with autoracks behind the power which contain Tesla’s bound for Florida.
According to a CSX Press Release: September 20, 2024 – Railroads have long played a crucial role in shaping the economic and cultural landscapes of the United States. Among these storied lines is the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis (NC&StL) Railway, a key player in the growth of the Southeast. CSX has unveiled its 19th heritage locomotive, a tribute to the NC&StL Railway, celebrating the rich legacy of a system integral to regional development.
Operating from 1851 to 1957, the NC&StL Railway was a vital freight and passenger route, connecting communities across Tennessee and other Southern states. It facilitated the movement of goods and people, boosting commerce and fostering community development along its routes. The railway’s strategic links between Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis significantly contributed to the urban and industrial growth of these cities, supporting industries such as agriculture, coal, and manufacturing.
To honor the historical significance of the NC&StL Railway, CSX introduced the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis heritage locomotive. This initiative is part of CSX’s broader program to preserve the legacy of railroads that are now part of its extensive network. Each heritage unit is carefully crafted to pay homage to the unique identity and history of its predecessor, featuring colors and designs reminiscent of the original rail lines.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 100.