Shortline & Regional Railroads – Jim Pearson Photography

Paducah and Louisville Railway coal train crossing the wetlands at Sunset from Warrior Coal, Nebo, Ky

April 24, 2024, As many of you know I’ve been working on a landscapes photo challenge I’ve titled 7-Minutes till Sunset, but I fudged on this one again and it was shot at 17 minutes till Sunset, as it was when the train was in the right spot for me.

During this challenge have been photographing a landscape daily from the air at 7 minutes till sunset, but today I caught a loaded Paducah and Louisville Railway coal train crossing the wetlands after picking up a load of coal at Warrior Coal mine, just outside Madisonville, Ky, on April 24th, 2024.

I have been trying to catch a train here at this spot since I began this challenge on the 15th of April and today was the day!

Exposure was for the sun and then I brought up the mid-tones and shadows in the RAW file processing.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/5000, ISO 100.

A Paducah and Louisville Railway track maintenance team works on replacing ties at Richland, Ky

A Paducah and Louisville Railway track maintenance team works on replacing ties as they approach the highway 1337 crossing at Richland, Kentucky, on April 4th, 2024. The team has been making their way north from Dawson Springs for about a week or so and have just now reached the Defect Detector at MP 153.3 on the line, which is right next to my house here in Richland, so I didn’t have to go far to catch this shot!

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) 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 (430 km) line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 140.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 4503 brings up the rear as DPU on a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric coal train…

Paducah and Louisville Railway 4503 brings up the rear as DPU on a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric coal train as they pass over south Main Street in Madisonville, Ky, as they head north to the LGE power plant, just outside of Louisville, Ky, on April 3rd, 2024.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) 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 (430 km) line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 240.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 4518 and 4516 lead a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric coal train at Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 4518 and 4516 lead a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric coal train over the CSX Henderson Subdivision at the location called Monarch in Madisonville, Ky, as they head north to the LGE power plant, just outside of Louisville, Ky, on April 3rd, 2024.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) 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 (430 km) line was purchased from Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in August 1986.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 140.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 3812 leads a loaded ballast train over Clear Creek, Richland, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 3812 leads a loaded ballast train as they cross over Clear Creek as they work on dropping ballast between Richland and Madisonville, Kentucky on March 12th, 2024.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/2000, ISO 140.

After doing a train swap at Caneyville, Ky the conductor on the northbound Paducah and Louisville…

After doing a train swap at Caneyville, Ky the conductor on the northbound Paducah and Louisville (PAL) Louisville Gas and Electric coal train prepares to throw the switch at the north end of the siding, to continue their move north on February 1st, 2024.

The Louisville crew is taking the loaded train back to their home territory north on the PAL to deliver their load to Louisville Gas and Electric power plant, outside of Louisville, Ky. The Madisonville crew is taking the empty train back south (in the distance) for another load of coal from Warrior Coal Mine.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 370.

Paducah and Louisville Railway 3812 leads a loaded ballast train around Richland, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 3812 leads a loaded ballast train as they work on dropping ballast between Richland and Madisonville, Kentucky on March 12th, 2024, as spring starts to show in the surrounding area.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/2000, ISO 140.

Paducah and Louisville Railway’s University of Louisville locomotive 2013 northbound at Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway’s University of Louisville locomotive 2013 leads a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric coal train north as it passes over the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Monarch on March 7^th, 2024, at Madisonville, Kentucky as signs of spring are starting to show in the foliage.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/800, ISO 210.

Evansville Western Railway locomotive 3837 leads a daily local north from Evansville, Indiana

Evansville Western Railway locomotive 3837 leads a daily local north from Evansville, Indiana as it passes over the William Keck Bypass Road crossing at Mount Vernon, Indiana on March 11th, 2024.

According to Wikipedia: The Evansville Western Railway (reporting mark EVWR) is a Class II (as of 2022) regional railroad operating in the southern Illinois and Indiana region. It is one of three regional railroad subsidiaries owned and operated by P&L Transportation.

Founded in August 2005, the railroad commenced its first operations on January 1, 2006, when P&L Transportation, formerly Four Rivers Transportation, the parent company of both the Evansville Western and Paducah & Louisville railroads, leased 124.5 miles (200.4 km) of mainline track, ties and track equipment between CSX’s Howell Yard in Evansville, Indiana, and the end-of-track at Okawville, Illinois, from CSX Transportation.

This line was once part of the Louisville & Nashville’s former Saint Louis Subdivision route that previously terminated in the metro-area of East St. Louis, Illinois, before being embargoed and slightly shortened under CSX ownership during the fall of 1993. CSX Transportation retains title to the real estate comprising the right of way on which the railroad operates but has leased it to EVWR for an initial period of 20 years.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville Railway local WW1, running engines light northbound at Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway local WW1, running engines light northbound, passes a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric (LGE) coal train siting on the Warrior Mine lead, as WW1 heads to Atkison Yard at Madisonville, Ky and Central City, Ky to do their interchange work on February 29th, 2024. The LGE train will get a crew in about another hour and then head north to the power plant outside of Louisville, Ky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 260.

RJ Corman engines set outside the engine house at Guthrie, Ky

RJ Corman engines set outside the engine house at Guthrie, Ky as their crew prepares to head out for their daily local run to the Clarksville, TN area on February 22nd, 2024, on the RJC Memphis Line.

This train is referred to as the Cumberland City turn and departs from Guthrie, Ky weekdays, usually in the morning, runs the Memphis Line to Cumberland City, TN and then returns after working industries like this one along the way.

The Memphis Line currently covers just over 113 track miles between Bowling Green, Ky and Cumberland City, TN, servicing 47 customers along the line. It interchanges with CSX on average six days a week at Bowling Green and Guthrie, Ky. The yard office for this line is located at Guthrie.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 110.

February 17th, 2024 – Episode 58 Saturday Edited Video from Jim Pearson Photography

This week we catch trains from the ground and the air, including several meets on the Paducah and Louisville Railway and the CSX Henderson Subdivision. Sit back, turn up the sound, expand to full screen and enjoy and please like, share, subscribe, and thanks for watching!

Paducah and Louisville Railway locomotive 4504 leads LGE coal train NB at Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway locomotive 4504 leads a Louisville Gas and Electric loaded coal train as it heads north, crossing over the CSX Henderson Subdivision at Monarch, at Madisonville, Kentucky on February 7th, 2024, bound for the power plant outside of Louisville, Ky.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) 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 (430 km) 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 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2500, ISO 290.

PAL Louisville Gas and Electric loaded coal train as it heads north approaching Rockport, Kentucky

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012 leads a Louisville Gas and Electric loaded coal train as it heads north approaching Rockport, Kentucky on February 1st, 2024, after loading at Warrior Coal loop, outside of Nebo, Ky.

The engine was specially painted to honor the school’s NCAA basketball wins.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) 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 (430 km) 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 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 280.

During my trip to Colorado in 2023 to chase steam we stayed in Alamosa, Colorado

During my trip to Colorado in 2023 to chase steam we stayed in Alamosa for the Cumbres and Toltec portion of the trip. On October 18th, 2023, I captured this view of BUGX (ex-BNSF) power and coaches sitting in the Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad (SL&RG) yard there.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/8, 1/1250, ISO 160.

Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) locomotive 4120, ex UP 4120 south at Richland, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) locomotive 4120, ex UP 4120, pulls the daily local back south toward Princeton, Ky as it pulls through Richland, Ky, on January 31st, 2024. The unit is one of several Union Pacific engines that PAL recently acquired and unit they get their time in the paint shop, sport the PAL logo on the nose and side. With the paint over the UP herald, it looks like the engines have a mustache to me.

Tech Info: Nikon D810, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 90.

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Louisville locomotive 2013 pulls off the Warrior Lead…

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Louisville locomotive 2013 pulls a loaded Louisville Gas and Electric (LGE) coal train off the Warrior lead as they start their move north to the LGE power plant, just outside Louisville, Ky, on January 24th, 2024.

This engine is specially painted to honor the school’s NCAA basketball wins.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) is a Class II railroad that operates freight service between Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky. The line is located entirely within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 200.

Paducah and Louisville Railway crews conduct a train swap at Caneyville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville (PAL) crews on the Louisville Gas and Electric Paducah and Louisville (PAL) empty and loaded coal trains meet at Caneyville, Kentucky, and exchange trains on February 1st, 2024. The Louisville crew will take the loaded train back to their home territory north on the PAL to deliver their load to Louisville Gas and Electric power plant, outside of Louisville, Ky. The Madisonville crew will take the empty train back south for another load of coal from Warrior Coal Mine.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012 at Rosine, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012 leads a Louisville Gas and Electric loaded coal train as it heads north through Rosine, Kentucky on February 1st, 2024, after loading at Warrior Coal loop, outside of Nebo, Ky.

The engine was specially painted to honor the school’s NCAA basketball wins.

According to Wikipedia: The Paducah & Louisville Railway (reporting mark PAL) 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 (430 km) 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 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/2000, ISO 400.

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Louisville Locomotive 2013 and 4503 at Warrior Coal Loop

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Louisville Locomotive 2013 and 4503 pull their empty coal train under the coaling temple at the Warrior Coal Mine loop, outside of Nebo, Kentucky as they start to load another train bound for the Louisville Gas & Electric power plant, outside of Louisville, Ky on January 15th, 2024.

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

Paducah and Louisville (PAL) 2013 and 4505 with LGE train at Warrior Coal…

Paducah and Louisville (PAL) 2013 and 4505, on far right, pull through the loading facility at Warrior Coal mine on a snowy cold morning as they begin to load their empty coal train on January 15th, 2024, between Madisonville and Nebo, Kentucky. Once loaded this train will move north on the PAL to deliver their load to Louisville Gas and Electric power plant, outside of Louisville, Ky. PAL 2013 is painted in the University of Louisville colors to honor their different NCAA wins.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 22mm, f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.