September 22, 2020 - CSXT 290 leads K997 across Trident as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky. 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

CSXT 290 leads K997 across Trident at Madisonville, Ky

September 22, 2020 – CSXT 290 leads K997 across Trident as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0173.JPG

Paducah and Louisville Coal Train southbound across Barkley Dam, Ky

September 24, 2020 – Paducah & Louisville (PAL) 4512 and Evansville Western 4511 lead a 5,400ft loaded coal train across Barkley Dam at Grand Rivers, Kentucky on the Cumberland River, as they head for the Calvert City Coal Terminal at Calvert City, Ky.

Barkley Dam construction along with Kentucky Dam formed the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area by stopping the flow of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, forming Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake respectively and the PAL mainline runs right across the dam.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2107, leads LV1, a Scotty’s Rock train, south with PAL 2106, 2121 and 2100 trailing, on the elevated tracks past the location of the old Illinois Central (IC) Depot in Central City, Kentucky, after picking a load of rock cars from Scotty’s Contracting & Stone at Litchfield, bound for their Madisonville operation.

Around 1920 the IC elevated the mainline through Central City, KY. As part of the project the IC built a new passenger station. The station was a bit unusual, for the actual depot was at street level, and passengers/baggage/freight would take an elevator up to the tracks.

The IC crossed over the L&N's "Owensboro & Nashville" line (where the bridge is in the curve) from Owensboro south to Adairville, KY. The Louisville and Nashville (L&N) passenger trains also used the station until the L&N dropped service on the line in 1941.

The IC discontinued passenger service on the Kentucky Division in 1957. It's suspected the Central City station was demolished soon afterwards. (Thanks to Cliff Downey for the information on the depot!)

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.

PAL 2107 leads Scotty’s Rock train at Central City, Ky

May 13, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2107, leads LV1, a Scotty’s Rock train, south with PAL 2106, 2121 and 2100 trailing, on the elevated tracks past the location of the old Illinois Central (IC) Depot in Central City, Kentucky, after picking a load of rock cars from Scotty’s Contracting & Stone at Litchfield, bound for their Madisonville operation.
 
Around 1920 the IC elevated the mainline through Central City, KY. As part of the project the IC built a new passenger station. The station was a bit unusual, for the actual depot was at street level, and passengers/baggage/freight would take an elevator up to the tracks.
 
The IC crossed over the L&N’s “Owensboro & Nashville” line (where the bridge is in the curve) from Owensboro south to Adairville, KY. The Louisville and Nashville (L&N) passenger trains also used the station until the L&N dropped service on the line in 1941.
 
The IC discontinued passenger service on the Kentucky Division in 1957. It’s suspected the Central City station was demolished soon afterwards. (Thanks to Cliff Downey for the information on the depot!)
 
Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/160, ISO 100.
 
 
DCIM100MEDIADJI_0160.JPG

Paducah & Louisville local WW1 at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

September 22, 2020 – On the first day of fall Paducah & Louisville local WW1, led by PAL 2112 crosses of the CSX Henderson Subdivision at the location known as Monarch in Madisonville, Ky.

The local was on its way to CSX’s Atkinson yard to perform interchange work between the PAL and CSX after making their way from the PAL yard at Princeton, Kentucky. Still working on trying to catch two trains at this spot! It will happen!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/140, ISO 100.

September 21, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012 leads the afternoon Louisville Gas and Electric coal train as it skirts the downtown area of Central City, Kentucky on its way north to Louisville.

The grassy area below is the general location of the old Illinois Central depot from the days when passenger trains used to service Central City. There used to be an elevator that took the passengers up to the tracks to catch their trains. 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012…

September 21, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky locomotive 2012 leads the afternoon Louisville Gas and Electric coal train as it skirts the downtown area of Central City, Kentucky on its way north to Louisville.

The grassy area below is the general location of the old Illinois Central depot from the days when passenger trains used to service Central City. There used to be an elevator that took the passengers up to the tracks to catch their trains.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south across the bridge over the Red River as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Adams, Tennessee.

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

CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south at Adams, TN

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 3411 and 3087 lead Q503 south across the bridge over the Red River as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Adams, Tennessee.

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

August 29, 2020 - The light from the early morning sunrise illuminates the scene as Canadian National 9634 and 8879 lead CN L533-91 around a curve as they head west into Teutopolis, Illinois on CN's Effingham Subdivision. 

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 460mm, f/6 1/1000, ISO 180.

Canadian National 9634 and 8879 lead CN L533-91…

August 29, 2020 – The light from the early morning sunrise illuminates the scene as Canadian National 9634 and 8879 lead CN L533-91 around a curve as they head west into Teutopolis, Illinois on CN’s Effingham Subdivision.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 460mm, f/6 1/1000, ISO 180.

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 710 & 3050 run point on CSX Q025-17 as they pull their hot intermodal train across the Sulfur Fork Creek Trestle headed south on the Henderson Subdivision at Springfield, Tennessee.

They were running a bit late today as they encountered a truck on the tracks somewhere between Hopkinsville, Ky and this point, putting their train into emergency. From what I could find out no one was hurt in the incident, put it did cause a delay, which they don't like to have happen on this, one of four hot intermodals that run daily between Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago, Illinois on this subdivision.

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

CSXT 710 & 3050 run point on CSX Q025-17

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 710 & 3050 run point on CSX Q025-17 as they pull their hot intermodal train across the Sulfur Fork Creek Trestle headed south on the Henderson Subdivision at Springfield, Tennessee.

They were running a bit late today as they encountered a truck on the tracks somewhere between Hopkinsville, Ky and this point, putting their train into emergency. From what I could find out no one was hurt in the incident, put it did cause a delay, which they don’t like to have happen on this, one of four hot intermodals that run daily between Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago, Illinois on this subdivision.

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

September 13, 2020 - Norfolk Southern 168, with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 leading on the NS Southern East District, departs the west end of the siding at Ayrshire Township, Indiana as it heads west toward St. Louis, MO. 

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm,  f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO 360.

Norfolk Southern 168, with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 at Ayrshire…

September 13, 2020 – Norfolk Southern 168, with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 leading on the NS Southern East District, departs the west end of the siding at Ayrshire Township, Indiana as it heads west toward St. Louis, MO.

Tech Info: Full Frame Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO 360.

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 3439 and 275 lead loaded coal train CSX N040 south on the Henderson Subdivision as it approaches the John Rivers Rd. crossing at south Casky in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

CSXT 3439 and 275 lead loaded coal train CSX N040…

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 3439 and 275 lead loaded coal train CSX N040 south on the Henderson Subdivision as it approaches the John Rivers Rd. crossing at south Casky in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

September 17, 2020 - CSXT 3439 and 20 lead CSX Q026-16 across the Sulfur Creek Trestle, north of Springfield, TN as they lead the hot intermodal north on the Henderson Subdivision to Chicago, IL from Jacksonville, FL.

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

CSX Q026-16 crosses Sulfur Creek Trestle, Springfield, TN

September 17, 2020 – CSXT 3439 and 20 lead CSX Q026-16 across the Sulfur Creek Trestle, north of Springfield, TN as they lead the hot intermodal north on the Henderson Subdivision to Chicago, IL from Jacksonville, FL.

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

September 14, 2020 - BNSF 5794 and 6299 lead a loaded coal train through the loop at the Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky as it is halfway through unloading its train.

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

BNSF 5794 and 6299 lead a loaded coal train…

September 14, 2020 – BNSF 5794 and 6299 lead a loaded coal train through the loop at the Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky as it is halfway through unloading its train.

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

September 15, 2020 - CSX Q513-15 sits at the south end of Howell Yard after making a pickup as it waits for CSX Q028, 648 and 512 to clear his location so it can continue its move south on the Henderson Subdivision, with United States Army 4607 and 1869 running dead in tow as its last two units.

Both Army units look to be freshly painted and perhaps refurbished, although I've not been able to find out much details on them. Anyone have a clue?

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

CSX Q513-15 sits at the south end of Howell Yard with two Army Units…

September 15, 2020 – CSX Q513-15 sits at the south end of Howell Yard after making a pickup as it waits for CSX Q028, 648 and 512 to clear his location so it can continue its move south on the Henderson Subdivision, with United States Army 4607 and 1869 running dead in tow as its last two units.

Both Army units have been refurbished and I found out that 4607 is heading to Hopkinsville, KY (Ft. Campbell) and 1869 is heading to Leland, NC.

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

September 12, 2020 - CSX K811 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision as it passes the old Louisville & Nashville Depot at Henderson, Kentucky.

From various sources on the web: The first L&N depot in Henderson, at Fourth and Adams streets, was constructed in 1875. The two-story, wood-framed passenger depot for the L&N cost $2,000 to erect and contained five offices and two waiting rooms. The Ohio Valley Railroad was built in 1892 between Hopkinsville and Gracey, who had built a depot at Ninth Street. The Ohio Valley was acquired by the IC in 1897.

A replacement depot, built of brick and granite, was constructed by the local firm Bailey & Koerner opened at the cost of $25,000 on July 1, 1902. The Union Station replaced the separate stations for the L&N and the IC. The former L&N depot was converted into the residence for the local yard foreman while the former IC station was used until it was demolished in November 1942.

By 1922, Union Station was handling 24 passenger trains daily, but the advent of the automobile and the construction of the interstate highway system and parkways in the region decimated passenger trains. The IC ceased passenger operations on February 13, 1941, and the station was closed by the L&N after it ceased passenger trains in 1971.

In 2015, the city requested bids to either demolish or restore Union Station. 7 Two companies placed bids to tear down the building while Architectural Renovators of Evansville, Indiana submitted the only bid to restore the depot. The city awarded the contract to Architectural Renovators in December and agreed to pay $80,000 towards restoring the building: Additionally, the city deeded the building over to Architectural Renovators, who were required to begin construction within six months and to complete exterior restoration within 36 months or be forced to give up the deed to the building.

Work to restore the building began almost immediately although the restoration company found the inside in worse condition than expected. A new roof was installed by the conclusion of 2016, with all exterior work mostly finished by February 2017. There's been no visible work on the depot since then.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

CSX K811 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision…

September 12, 2020 – CSX K811 heads south on the Henderson Subdivision as it passes the old Louisville & Nashville Depot at Henderson, Kentucky.

From various sources on the web: The first L&N depot in Henderson, at Fourth and Adams streets, was constructed in 1875. The two-story, wood-framed passenger depot for the L&N cost $2,000 to erect and contained five offices and two waiting rooms. The Ohio Valley Railroad was built in 1892 between Hopkinsville and Gracey, who had built a depot at Ninth Street. The Ohio Valley was acquired by the IC in 1897.

A replacement depot, built of brick and granite, was constructed by the local firm Bailey & Koerner opened at the cost of $25,000 on July 1, 1902. The Union Station replaced the separate stations for the L&N and the IC. The former L&N depot was converted into the residence for the local yard foreman while the former IC station was used until it was demolished in November 1942.

By 1922, Union Station was handling 24 passenger trains daily, but the advent of the automobile and the construction of the interstate highway system and parkways in the region decimated passenger trains. The IC ceased passenger operations on February 13, 1941, and the station was closed by the L&N after it ceased passenger trains in 1971.

In 2015, the city requested bids to either demolish or restore Union Station. 7 Two companies placed bids to tear down the building while Architectural Renovators of Evansville, Indiana submitted the only bid to restore the depot. The city awarded the contract to Architectural Renovators in December and agreed to pay $80,000 towards restoring the building: Additionally, the city deeded the building over to Architectural Renovators, who were required to begin construction within six months and to complete exterior restoration within 36 months or be forced to give up the deed to the building.

Work to restore the building began almost immediately although the restoration company found the inside in worse condition than expected. A new roof was installed by the conclusion of 2016, with all exterior work mostly finished by February 2017. There’s been no visible work on the depot since then.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

September 13, 2020 - I got word from a fellow railfan out of Louisville, Austin Bell, that Norfolk Southern 168 was headed west from Louisville, Kentucky with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 leading on the NS Southern East District. He knew it was one of three that I still needed to fill my collection of the 20 Heritage Paint Units that NS has put out. (Now I need NS 1065 and NS 1700)  

I typically don't railfan Sundays as I do church and edit the videos from the live stream in the afternoon and update our web locations with the same. However, I answered the call this afternoon and made the 1.5 hour drive to Princeton, Indiana to capture this shot of the train as it heads west through the yard at Princeton with my drone!   

I actually caught it starting at west end of Ashire, Indiana and chased it to Princeton and was able to catch it at several spots along the route with my D800 and the drone, but in this case the drone won out because of the new angle it gives me!  

I also met up with a lot of railfan friends that were trackside for the same train and got to finally meet Railfan Julian (6 year old railfan that loves trains) and his mom!  

If you want to encourage young railfans I invite you to give his page a like here on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/railfan.julian.5   

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.

NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 at Princeton, IN

September 13, 2020 – I got word from a fellow railfan out of Louisville, Austin Bell, that Norfolk Southern 168 was headed west from Louisville, Kentucky with NS Pennsylvania Heritage unit 8102 leading on the NS Southern East District. He knew it was one of three that I still needed to fill my collection of the 20 Heritage Paint Units that NS has put out. (Now I need NS 1065 and NS 1700)

I typically don’t railfan Sundays as I do church and edit the videos from the live stream in the afternoon and update our web locations with the same. However, I answered the call this afternoon and made the 1.5 hour drive to Princeton, Indiana to capture this shot of the train as it heads west through the yard at Princeton with my drone!

I actually caught it starting at west end of Ashire, Indiana and chased it to Princeton and was able to catch it at several spots along the route with my D800 and the drone, but in this case the drone won out because of the new angle it gives me!

I also met up with a lot of railfan friends that were trackside for the same train and got to finally meet Railfan Julian (6 year old railfan that loves trains) and his mom!

If you want to encourage young railfans I invite you to give his page a like here on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/railfan.julian.5

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 100.

September 12, 2020 - CSXT 945 leads Q503 south as it makes its way up the final leg of the viaduct to the bridge across the Ohio river at Henderson, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on the dog days of summer!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

CSXT 945 leads Q503 south at Henderson, Ky

September 12, 2020 – CSXT 945 leads Q503 south as it makes its way up the final leg of the viaduct to the bridge across the Ohio river at Henderson, Ky as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision on the dog days of summer!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

September 10, 2020 - Paducah and Louisville 4518 & 4522 lead PRX1, a loaded coal train, as they depart Warrior Coal at Nebo, Kentucky, headed southbound for the barge loading and blending facility at Calvert City, Ky.

I've shot trains coming out of here for well over 15 years now and this is the first time I'm able to get this view thanks to my new camera platform, the DJI Mavic Mini Drone. To say this device has opened up a whole new world of pictures and videos is an understatement!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm lens (24mm Equivalent), f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville 4518 & 4522 lead PRX1…

September 10, 2020 – Paducah and Louisville 4518 & 4522 lead PRX1, a loaded coal train, as they depart Warrior Coal at Nebo, Kentucky, headed southbound for the barge loading and blending facility at Calvert City, Ky.

I’ve shot trains coming out of here for well over 15 years now and this is the first time I’m able to get this view thanks to my new camera platform, the DJI Mavic Mini Drone. To say this device has opened up a whole new world of pictures and videos is an understatement!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm lens (24mm Equivalent), f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

September 7, 2020 - CSXT 872 heads up loaded grain train G419  as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm (24mm Equivalent), f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

CSXT 872 heads up loaded grain train G419…

September 7, 2020 – CSXT 872 heads up loaded grain train G419 as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Nortonville, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm (24mm Equivalent), f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

September 7, 2020 - CSXT 3244 leads loaded ethanol train K423-05 off the Earlington Cutoff track at Mortons Junction as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on a beautiful summer afternoon.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

CSXT 3244 leads loaded ethanol train K423-05…

September 7, 2020 – CSXT 3244 leads loaded ethanol train K423-05 off the Earlington Cutoff track at Mortons Junction as it heads south on the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on a beautiful summer afternoon.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

September 7, 2020 - A topside view of the hottest intermodals on the CSX system, Q025 passes through Mortons Junction as it heads south on the the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Kentucky.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

A topside view of the hottest intermodals on the CSX system…

September 7, 2020 – A topside view of the hottest intermodals on the CSX system, Q025 passes through Mortons Junction as it heads south on the the Henderson Subdivision at Mortons Gap, Kentucky.

I’ll also point out that this is a cropped image from high up and the drone was moved out of the way before the train moved directly under it.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, Lens 4.5mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 100.

September 7, 2020 - CSXT 3350 heads up Q028-06 as it passes under the Paducah and Louisville Railway line at Monarch as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Ky. My goal is to one day catch a train on both tracks at this spot! Now that I have a new vantage point, it will eventually happen!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm lens, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

CSXT 3350 heads up Q028-06 as it passes…

September 7, 2020 – CSXT 3350 heads up Q028-06 as it passes under the Paducah and Louisville Railway line at Monarch as it heads north on the Henderson Subdivision at Madisonville, Ky. My goal is to one day catch a train on both tracks at this spot! Now that I have a new vantage point, it will eventually happen!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Mini Drone, JPG, 4.5mm lens, f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.