Todays post is a bit different for me as I normally post only one picture a day, but today I’m submitting 12 images for your enjoyment of the newly refurbished New Brunswick Southern Railway (NBSR) tied down in the north end of the yard at the Paducah and Louisville Railway in Paducah, Ky with PRLX switcher 1308. Give me your thoughts on which image you like the best and why. Click on each thumbnail to view the full picture.
I considered posting these as just one a day but felt that folks would enjoy seeing the different views of this locomotive that was refurbished at the Progress Rail shops in Mayfield, Ky all at once. Locomotive 6401 is the first of six units that are being refurbished by Progress Rail for NBSR out of Saint John, NB, Canada. The other units are 6402-6406 and they are all SD70M-2 units that are ex-Norfolk Southern. Below is the list from what I’ve found.
• NBSR 6401 – ex-NS 2659
• NBSR 6402 – ex-NS 2779 (NS 2650)
• NBSR 6403 – ex-NS 2777
• NBSR 6404 – ex-NS 2666
• NBSR 6405 – ex-NS 2674
• NBSR 6406 – ex-NS 2715
According to Wikipedia: The New Brunswick Southern Railway Company Limited (reporting mark NBSR) is a 131.7 mi (212.0 km) Canadian short line railway owned by the New Brunswick Railway Company Limited, a holding company that is part of “Irving Transportation Services”, a division within the industrial conglomerate J.D. Irving Limited.
Together with its sister company Eastern Maine Railway (reporting mark EMRY), NBSR and EMRY form a continuous 189.5 mi (305.0 km) main line connecting Saint John, New Brunswick Canada, with Brownville Junction, Maine. NBSR also operates an additional 41.7 mi (67.1 km) of branch lines in New Brunswick.
NBSR was established as a corporate entity in November 1994 by J.D. Irving Ltd. to purchase 131.7 miles of physical railway assets of the Canadian Pacific Railway within the province of New Brunswick; these being the 84.4 mile McAdam Subdivision, the 5.6 mile section of the Mattawamkeag Subdivision within Canada, as well as the West Saint John Spur, Milltown Spur, and the St. Stephen Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 110
I love the play of shadows and the lines in this shot of CSX K442-19 and Q513 as they pass each other at Nortonville, Kentucky. CSX K442 was running with a rainbow of power consisting of Canadian Pacific 8519, 9359, Kansas City Southern 4699 and Ferromex 4054 on April 20th, 2021, along the Henderson Subdivision and prompted me to give chase.
K442 was a combined empty ethanol train, heading back north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision with a length of 12,500 feet and with that length, there were only a few places along the line between Nashville, TN, and Evansville, IN where they could meet other trains, and the two-track main between Romney and Oak Hill is one of them.
I had been following the progress of this train for a couple days and thanks to a heads up from fellow railfan Reed Reding about it being north of Nashville and then another railfan, Steve Miller that it was passing through Hopkinsville, Ky I decided it was time to get dressed (about 7:30am) and head south to find this interesting move! About 20 miles later I found it waiting in the siding at Kelly in plenty of time to catch it and then chase it back to Madisonville, catching it a few more times!
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.
BNSF 5202 and KCS 4677 lead CSX K443, a loaded ethanol train, southbound past the north end of Kelly Siding on the Henderson Subdivision at Kelly, Ky on April 22nd, 2021.
I tried catching this train at the south end of Slaughters, Hanson and at Nortonville, but ended up arriving at each of my spots as the train was passing through them! It seemed like every traffic light was red and every car that drove 10mph under the speed limit was between me and my next spot!! It happens sometimes and while I didnt get the shots I wanted at each of those locations, I did at several others such as this one at Kelly! Sometimes you must be persistent in your pursuit of photos!
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
The late afternoon sunlight rakes across the scene as newly refurbished Metra passenger engine #97 trails behind CSXT 749 and 345 on CSX Q648 passes the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad Depot in downtown Madisonville, as it heads north on the CSX Henderson Subdivision on June 14th, 2021.
This depot was originally dedicated in 1929 and last saw passenger service about 1968 when L&N built an office at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville and the passenger train service was moved to that location. Currently the station is owned by the city of Madisonville and houses one of the hubs of the Kentucky Innovation Stations, which helps courageous entrepreneurs, creative business founders, high-growth startups, and savvy investors star in their own success stories.
According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is a commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific and BNSF Railways. The system operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/400, ISO 100.
CSX President’s Passenger train P001 heads south as it passes through the S curve at Nortonville, Ky on the Henderson Subdivision, with CSX Gevo units 3310, 3271 leading and CSXT 1 & 2 trailing as they pull 11 cars at a little over 1,000ft long.
From what I’m told they had problems with PTC on CSXT 1 & 2 and that’s why they had to put the Gevos on the front during their run back south on June 10th, 2021.
CSX repainted two of its F40PH locomotives, to be used on its business train, into predecessor Baltimore & Ohio’s blue, gray, and black paint scheme. CSX1 is former 9998 (former Amtrak 288) and from what I can find out CSXT 2 is the former F40PH 9993 (former Amtrak 395) but can’t really confirm it for sure. The other F40s are expected to be painted in the same scheme in the coming months as they are cycled through the shops.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 100.
The late afternoon sunlight rakes across the landscape a newly refurbished Metra passenger engine #97 trails behind CSXT 749 and 345 on CSX Q648 as it heads north through Mortons Junction on the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Ky on June 14th, 2021.
One of the many things I enjoy about railfanning the Henderson Subdivision is all interesting and unusual moves we get through here, such as this Metra unit. The subdivision currently sees about 20-30 trains a day, with foreign power mixed in, such as CP, CN, rebuilds, BNSF, KCS and from time to time even NS.
According to Wikipedia: Metra (reporting mark METX) is a commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific and BNSF Railways. The system operates 242 stations on 11 rail lines. It is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.
CSXT 3322 and 322 lead as CSX J801-06 creeps along as it begins loading at the Warrior Coal mine loop, just outside of Nebo, Kentucky on June 7th, 2021 under stormy skies. This train comes out of CSX Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Ky where it will return to after loading and be combined with another loaded coal train of similar length before heading south on the Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.
CSX President’s Passenger train P001 heads south up the viaduct approaching the bridge over the Ohio River at Henderson, Ky from Evansville, IN, with CSX Gevo units 3310, 3271 leading and CSXT 1 & 2 trailing as they pull 11 cars at a little over 1,000 ft long. Not sure, but I heard they had problems with PTC on CSXT 1 & 2 and thats why they had to put the Gevos on the front on June 10th, 2021.
CSX has repainted two of its F40PH locomotives, to be used on its business train, into predecessor Baltimore & Ohio’s blue, gray, and black paint scheme. CSX1 is former 9998 (former Amtrak 288) and from what I can find out CSXT 2 is the former F40PH 9993 (former Amtrak 395) but cant really confirm it for sure. The other F40s are expected to be painted in the same scheme in the coming months as they are cycled through the shops.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.
Switcher GMTX 397 backs a string of tank cars under the flyover for the CN at the Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) yard at Paducah, Kentucky on June 8th, 2021 as a PAL yard crew works on building trains on a stormy afternoon.
According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The 270-mile line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.
The 223-mile (359 km) main route runs between Paducah and Louisville with branch lines from Paducah to Kevil and Mayfield, Kentucky, and another from Cecilia to Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The PAL interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Canadian National (CN), formerly Illinois Central Railroad, in Paducah. In Madisonville, the line interchanges with CSX Transportation (CSXT).
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.
CSXT 3322 and 322 lead as CSX J801-06 creeps along as it starts to load at the Warrior Coal mine loop, just outside of Nebo, Kentucky on June 7th, 2021 under stormy skies. This train comes out of CSX Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Ky where it will return to after loading and be combined with another loaded coal train of similar length before heading south on the Henderson Subdivision.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.
A Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) crew pulls an empty coal drag into the north end of their yard in downtown Paducah, Kentucky on May7th, 2021 after finishing their run from the loadout at Calvert City, Ky, with DPU 6252 leading.
The PAL crew will tie the train down in the south end of the yard where itll wait for a BNSF crew to take it on south for another load of coal.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 380mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 450.
On May 28th, 2021 Paducah and Louisville Railways UK 2012 leads on LG1 (Louisville Gas and Electric) as the train pulls away from the Warrior Coal Mine loop, just outside Nebo, Kentucky as it begins its trip north to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant just outside Louisville, Ky to deliver yet another load of coal!
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm with a 1.4 teleconverter @ 850mm, f/9, 1/1600, ISO 1800.
On May 8th, 2021 Paducah and Louisville Railway’s 4516 and 4503 bring up the rear as DPUs on LG1 (Louisville Gas and Electric) as the last few cars pass under the loadout at Warrior Coal Mine, just outside Nebo, Kentucky.
Once finished loading this train made its way north to the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant just outside Louisville, Ky to deliver yet another load of black gold! This train runs loaded toward Louisville every other day and the empties run on the opposite days back to Warrior Coal or Armstrong Coal at McHenry, Ky for loading.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.
Canadian National U72481-05 heads southbound over the Ohio River bridge between Metropolis, IL and West Paducah, KY carrying a load of Iron ore from Keenan, MN to Convent, LA on the CN Bluford Subdivision.
According to Wikipedia: The Mesabi Iron Range is a mining district in northeastern Minnesota following an elongate trend containing large deposits of iron ore. It is the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. First described in 1866, it is the chief iron ore mining district in the United States. The district is located largely in Itasca and Saint Louis counties. It has been extensively worked since 1892 and has seen a transition from high-grade direct shipping ores through gravity concentrates to the current industry exclusively producing iron ore (taconite) pellets.
There are three iron ranges in northern Minnesota, the Cuyuna, the Vermilion, and the Mesabi. Most of the world’s iron ore, including that contained in northern Minnesota, was formed during the middle Precambrian period.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.
CSX K442 starts to pull away from the north end of the siding at Rankin, Kentucky as it makes its way south on the Henderson Subdivision on May 7th, 2021 with Canadian Pacific 9736 leading an empty ethanol train with Progress Rail 7205 (SD70ACe-T4), trailing behind.
According to Wikipedia: Progress Rail Locomotives, doing business as Electro-Motive Diesel is an American manufacturer of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products, and diesel engines for the rail industry.
The company is owned by Caterpillar through its subsidiary Progress Rail. Electro-Motive Diesel traces its roots to the Electro-Motive Engineering Corporation, a designer and marketer of gasoline-electric self-propelled rail cars founded in 1922 and later renamed Electro-Motive Company.
In 1930, General Motors purchased Electro-Motive Company and the Winton Engine Co. and in 1941 expanded EMDs realm to locomotive engine manufacturing as Electro-Motive Division.
In 2005, GM sold EMD to Greenbriar Equity Group and Berkshire Partners, which formed Electro-Motive Diesel to facilitate the purchase. In 2010, Progress Rail completed the purchase of Electro-Motive Diesel from Greenbriar, Berkshire, and others.
Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 600mm, f/8.5, 1/1000, ISO 720.
Music City Star NRTX 121 (Ex Amtrak F40PH 398) trails on CSX Q513-22 as it passes through Mortons Junction at Mortons Gap, Ky on its way back south to Nashville, Tennessee, on the Henderson Subdivision, sporting a fresh coat of paint on May 23, 2021.
According to Wikipedia: The Music City Star is a commuter rail service running between Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee. The service uses the existing track of the Nashville and Eastern Railroad. The line stops at seven stations: Riverfront, Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, Martha, Hamilton Springs, and Lebanon. The operation covers 32 miles of rail line. Service began on September 18, 2006 and is owned by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.
One Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) crew departs the Calvert City Terminal loop with BNSF 6252 leading from the DPU end of a empty coal train as a newly arrived PAL train prepares to drop its load on May 7th, 2021 at Calvert City, Kentucky.
Calvert City Terminal is located at Mile 14 on the lower Tennessee River, near its confluence with the Ohio River, Calvert City Terminal is strategically located on the Paducah and Louisville Railroad in a large industrial park at Calvert City, Kentucky. This central location provides ready access to BNSF, CNIC, UP, NS, and CSX railroads, as well as the Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.
They provide rail & barge loading, rail & barge unloading, short and long-term storage, and material blending services.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/730, ISO 100.
Paducah and Louisville Railways specialty painted University of Kentucky unit 2012 leads a loaded coal train through the unloading pit at Calvert City Terminal as it prepares to unload its coal on May 7th, 2021 at Calvert City, Kentucky.
Calvert City Terminal is located at Mile 14 on the lower Tennessee River, near its confluence with the Ohio River, Calvert City Terminal is strategically located on the Paducah and Louisville Railroad in a large industrial park at Calvert City, Kentucky. This central location provides ready access to BNSF, CNIC, UP, NS, and CSX railroads, as well as the Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.
The American Duchess, a river cruise paddle-wheeler owned and operated by American Queen Steamboat Company passes under southbound Canadian National U72481-05 on the bridge over the Ohio River between Metropolis, IL and West Paducah, KY. U72481-05 is carrying a load of Iron ore from Keenan, MN to Convent, LA on the CN Bluford Subdivision.
According to Wikipedia: The American Duchess is a river cruise paddle-wheeler owned and operated by American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC). It is the third addition to their fleet and is advertised as being the most luxurious option of the line’s vessels. The riverboat’s itineraries include routes on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, and Illinois Rivers.
Before it was American Duchess, this vessel was originally designed and built for Isle of Capri Casinos as a casino boat named Bettendorf Capri.
After going land-based, Isle of Capri sold the paddle-wheeler to AQSC in 2016. On October 16, 2016, Bettendorf locals gathered on the levee to give their farewell to the 21-year-old casino boat and watched her pull off the riverbank to sail south to undergo her reconstruction.
Contracted to Bollinger Shipyards in Morgan City, Louisiana, the vessel would be gutted, remodeled, and relaunched as a river cruise liner the following year. The conversion from a casino boat to an overnight passenger vessel involved the removal of over 1,000 slot machine bases and 1,200 steel chairs, the construction of new dividing walls to form 83 passenger cabins, the addition of a crew hold, a completely new interior layout and design, modifications to propulsion and a new exterior paint job.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.
Paducah and Louisville Railway 2013 (University of Louisville Unit) and 4518 lead the Louisville Gas and Electric (LG1) as it snakes its way out of the Warrior Coal loadout on May 8th, 2021 at Nebo, Kentucky on the 2021 National Train Day.
According to the Web: National Train Day is a holiday thats honors the history of the train in the U.S and promotes rail travel for all Americans. Its observed annually on the Saturday closest to the 10th of May every year and is an opportunity for everyone to learn about how trains have revolutionized civilization and united a country at the same time.
National Train Day was invented in May of 2008 by Amtrak. They wanted a way to promote rail travel, to spread information about trains to the public, and to reiterate the history of trains, so they invented this holiday. In 2011, Amtrak used the holiday as a part of its 40th-anniversary celebration. Amtrak discontinued National Train Day in 2015 to replace it with Amtrak Train Days, but people all over the world continue to celebrate this holiday as it was originally imagined.
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 100.