NS CNO&TP Second District – Jim Pearson Photography

Norfolk Southern 169 crosses over the Cumberland River Bridge at Burnside, Kentucky

Norfolk Southern 169 crosses over the Cumberland River Bridge at Burnside, Kentucky as it heads north on the NS CNO&TP (Rathole) Second District on April 29th, 2024.

According to American-rails.com, It used to be called the Rathole Division when it was the Southern Railway and is often remembered as a road with relatively flat and tangent main lines due to the region in which it operated. However, the system did feature its share of steep, circuitous main lines such as Saluda Grade in western North Carolina and its famed “Rathole Division” through Kentucky and Tennessee that reached as far north as Cincinnati.

Technically, this stretch of the Southern main line was known as the 2nd District of subsidiary Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific (CNO&TP), which was plagued for years by numerous tunnels resulting in its famous nickname by the crews which operated over it.

Over the years the Southern worked to daylight or bypass these obstacles as the route saw significant freight tonnage, a task finally completed during the 1960s. Today, the Rathole remains an important artery in Norfolk Southern’s vast network.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 120.

Norfolk Southern 8023 brings up the rear as DPU on NS 167 at New River Bridge, New River, TN

Norfolk Southern 8023 brings up the rear as DPU on NS 167 as they make their way across the New River Bridge under stormy skies as they head southbound on the NS CNO&TP (Rathole) Second District at New River, Tennessee. On April 30th, 2024.

DPU Stands for Distributed Power Unit, a locomotive set capable of remote-control operation in conjunction with locomotive unites at the train’s head end. DPUs are placed in the middle or at the rear of heavy trains (such as coal, or grain) to help climb steep grades.

According to the Historic Bridges website: This bridge is a very large high level deck cantilever truss bridge. It was constructed in 1963 and as such is a late example of its type, but still noteworthy as an uncommon structure type and for its size. Typical of 1960s truss bridges, the bridge still has riveted built-up beams, but v-lacing and lattice are absent in the built-up beams, and truss connections are bolted instead of riveted. It is 1,622.0 Feet (494.4 Meters) long, with 3 Main Span(s) and 6 Approach Span(s) is over 300 feet above the river.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/240, ISO 150.

Norfolk Southern 4413 and 9783 lead 29F at Revelo, Sterns, TN

Norfolk Southern 4413 and 9783 lead 29F as they pass the old mine loadout at Revelo outside Sterns, Kentucky with their train, which includes 10 flats loaded with John Deere Tractors behind the power, as they head south on NS CNO&TP (Rathole) Subdivision, on April 29th, 2024. stormy skies.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 120.

Norfolk Southern 143 southbound at Keno Cut, Tateville, Ky

Norfolk Southern 143 (Elkhart, IN, DeButts Yard – Chattanooga, TN) heads south at Keno cut on the NS CNO&TP (Rathole) Second District south of Tateville, Kentucky, on April 29th, 2024.

This was my first time shooting from this location and really love it! A big shout out to Andrew Stephenson and Matt Murphy for help during my trip along the Second District!! Because of you it was a very successful trip!

I didn’t make it all the way to Danville, Ky like I had planned as the time caught up with me, so I guess that means another trip down the road!! Stay tuned as I have a lot of photos and videos, I’m working on to share with everyone!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 160.

Norfolk Southern 168 is led by the Southern Heritage Unit, 8099 at Keno Cut, Tateville, KY

Norfolk Southern 168 is led by the Southern Heritage Unit, 8099, as it heads north at Keno cut on the NS CNO&TP (Rathole) Second District at Tateville, Kentucky, on April 29th, 2024.

This scheme is from the Southern Railway (GE) which originated as the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company in 1827. On Christmas Day, 1830, it put into service the nation’s first regularly scheduled steam passenger train, “The Best Friend of Charleston.” Southern was incorporated in 1894 from the reorganization and consolidation of numerous predecessors and absorbed another 68 railroad companies over the next six years.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

Norfolk Southern 890 passes the old mine loadout at Revelo outside Sterns, Kentucky

Norfolk Southern 890 passes the old Southfork Coal Company mine loadout at Revelo outside Sterns, Kentucky as they head southbound with a load of coal on the NS CNO&TP (Rathole) Subdivision, on April 29th, 2024. The coal was picked up at Warrior Coal mine on the Paducah and Louisville Railway, outside of Nebo, Kentucky and is headed for the TVA power plant at Kingston, Ky under stormy skies.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

WEB-06.15.19 Waiting on a train at North Wye on Buster Pike, Danville, Ky

Waiting on a train at the north wye…

June 15, 2019 – Waiting on a train at the north wye, on the Buster Pike overpass, north of Danville, Ky on the NS CNO&TP First District, during a day of railfanning will fellow photographers, David Higdon Jr, Bryan Burton, Ryan Scott and a Facebookless, Bill Crecco! A great time by all and a great day of railfanning with friends!

WEB-06.15.19 NS 7630 passing station at Danville, Ky

NS 7630 leads a northbound Intermodal…

June 15, 2019 – NS 7630 leads a northbound Intermodal as it passes the old depot on the CNO&TP Second District at Danville, Kentucky where it’ll take the NS Louisville District towards Louisville, Ky, at the wye just north of the city.

According to American-rails.com, It used to be called the Rathole Division when it was the Southern Railway and is often remembered as a road with relatively flat and tangent main lines due to the region in which it operated. However, the system did feature its share of steep, circuitous main lines such as Saluda Grade in western North Carolina and its famed “Rathole Division” through Kentucky and Tennessee that reached as far north as Cincinnati.

Technically, this stretch of the Southern main line was known as the 2nd District of subsidiary Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific (CNO&TP), which was plagued for years by numerous tunnels resulting in its famous nickname by the crews which operated over it.

Over the years the Southern worked to daylight or bypass these obstacles as the route saw significant freight tonnage, a task finally completed during the 1960s. Today, the Rathole remains an important artery in Norfolk Southern’s vast network.